Nanjing deserves more than a hurried stop between Shanghai and Beijing. Three days let you see the old capital through its walls, neighborhoods, museums and food without crossing the city repeatedly. Choose one main area each day and leave time for the history you encounter.
Day 1: Old south, then a different kind of night
Begin at Zhonghua Gate, walk into Laomendong (老门东), and continue toward the Qinhuai River. Our Nanjing city walk maps the core route. For the evening, choose between the familiar Fuzimiao riverfront and Xinanli (熙南里), where lanes, performance spaces and food make a less linear night out. Nanjing's 2026 night-route program deliberately connects these districts; individual performances and boat departures still need a same-day check.
Day 2: The city wall and a museum
Choose a manageable section of the Nanjing City Wall rather than attempting to walk the entire circuit. Pair it with one museum whose subject matters to you. The Nanjing Museum and the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre are very different visits; give the latter the time and respect it requires, with a quiet break afterward. Confirm current opening days, identity requirements and reservation rules on the institution's official channel.
Day 3: Choose your version of modern Nanjing
Take the Changjiang Road museum corridor if you want the city's institutions in conversation with its streets, or use Yihe Road (颐和路) and nearby bookshops for a quieter architecture walk. A third option is a slow circuit by Xuanwu Lake. The city's 2026 night routes also place Yihe Road and the lake in different evening stories; do not force both into one afternoon. If leaving by train, check whether the ticket says Nanjing or Nanjing South and keep your final stop near that route.
For a two-day stay, keep the Qinhuai walk and one history day. Book the attraction that matters most first, then let the remaining stops fit around its real opening hours and your walking comfort.