Nanjing February Plum Blossom Walking Tour Guide
48 Hours to Explore Jinling City
🌸 【Walking Route: Subway + Bike to Explore Jinling's Best Attractions】
Day 1: Journey Through Six Dynasties' Charm
🚇 Transportation Tips: Nanjing's subway is super convenient! Get a Jinling Tong transit card on Alipay for seamless travel.
1. Morning: Muxuyuan Station (Subway Line 2) → Plum Blossom Mountain at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (February is the International Plum Blossom Festival! Tickets are 60 yuan, free before 6:30 am! Pink and white plum blossoms covering the mountainside + red walls and glazed tiles, perfect for photos in Hanfu)
2. Noon: 10-minute bike ride → Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum (Free, climb 392 steps for a panoramic view of Zijin Mountain, remember to book in advance on the official WeChat account)
3. Afternoon: Transfer from Subway Line 2 to Line 3 → Confucius Temple - Qinhuai River (A night cruise on the Qinhuai River is a must! But daytime is less crowded and more efficient. Visit the Imperial Examination Museum + Wuyi Alley, grab a painting boat ticket at 5 pm, the 80-yuan night cruise with lantern displays is worth the price)
4. Evening: Walk → Laomendong (Lanterns adorn the brick alleys, Lu's plum blossom cakes and Lan Laoda's sugar porridge with lotus root are must-tries!)
Day 2: Where Modern and Traditional Collide
1. Morning: Subway Line 1 → Xuanwu Lake (Free! Enjoy the subtle fragrance of wintersweet on Liangzhou Island, feed pigeons at Lovers' Garden and admire the reflection of Zifeng Tower)
2. Morning: 15-yuan taxi ride → Yihe Road ("Museum of Republican Architecture," plane trees and shadows + yellow walls and western-style buildings, a paradise for art lovers)
3. Afternoon: Subway Line 2 → Nanjing Museum (Free! Don't miss the Republic of China Hall for photos, book 3 days in advance!)
4. Evening: Shared bike → Ke Alley Food Market (Locals' favorite food: lotus root cakes from Tao Ji Authentic Dezhou Braised Chicken, Xu Auntie's qingtuan, a full meal for 10 yuan!)
🏨 【Budget-friendly Accommodation: 100+ yuan per person for a taste of Jinling's history】
*Budget travelers: Hostels near Xinjiekou/Confucius Temple subway stations (50-80 yuan/night, "Yijian Senlin" has a great social atmosphere)
*Unique stays: Boutique hotels in renovated Ming and Qing Dynasty courtyards in Laomendong ("Huaji Hotel" 200+ yuan per person, open the window to see black tiles and horse head walls)
*Convenient option: Chain hotels in Xinjiekou (e.g., JI Hotel, Atour, located at the subway hub, Mingwalang snack street is just downstairs for late-night snacks)
🦆 【Must-Eat List: 24-Hour Nanjing Food Guide】
🔥 Breakfast:
- Fangpo Pastry Shop (Wufan rice wrapped youtiao + fermented glutinous rice balls, 6 yuan for a filling breakfast! Arrive before 7 am to avoid queues)
- Li Ji Halal Restaurant (Juicy beef pan-fried dumplings! With a bowl of wontons, 10 yuan for pure happiness)
🍜 Main Courses:
- Xiao Pan Ji Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup (38 yuan for the family combo, duck liver + duck tongue + rice crust, incredibly delicious)
- Minguo Hong Gongguan (150 yuan per person for exquisite Huaiyang cuisine, Meiling porridge and salted duck are must-tries)
🍡 Late-Night Snacks:
- "Tofu Dynasty" Blizzard Stinky Tofu in Laomendong (10 yuan, the durian flavor is surprisingly addictive!)
- Master Zuo's Plum Blossom Cakes at Confucius Temple (Red bean paste filling for 5 yuan, be careful it's hot!)
💡 Tips: Snacks in the core area of Confucius Temple are overpriced! Walk 10 minutes to Sanqiba Alley or Caixia Street for local prices.
💰 【Money-Saving Tips: Save Time and Money】
1. Combo tickets save 30%: Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum + Meiling Palace + Music Stage combo ticket for 100 yuan, 40 yuan cheaper than buying separately!
2. Free observation deck: The lobby of the Grand Hyatt Nanjing on the 45th floor of Zifeng Tower offers a 360° view of Nanjing. Order a coffee and feel like royalty.
3. Off-peak visits: Visit popular attractions (like the museum and Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum) on working days around noon for fewer crowds and good lighting.
4. Bonus tip: Follow the "Nanjing Culture and Tourism" WeChat account for limited-time discounts and intangible cultural heritage activities in February!
📸 【February's Romantic Spots: Must-Visit Photo Spots】
- Changsheng Deer Park at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (Buy deer biscuits for 30 yuan and take photos with the deer)
- Beamless Hall at Linggu Temple with magnolias (White magnolias bloom in late February, adding to the temple's Zen atmosphere)
- Librairie Avant-Garde on Yihe Road (Cross-shaped windows + rotating book tower, a paradise for bookworms)
✨ February in Nanjing is a symphony of plum blossoms and festive cheer, a parallel world of history and vibrant life. Follow this guide for 48 hours, unlock the secrets of early spring in Jinling with a bowl of warm duck blood vermicelli soup!
🚀 Are you ready for this journey through a thousand years of history? Save this guide, book your tickets, and let's go! Leave a comment if you're looking for travel buddies, maybe we can team up and save some money~