Collection China Travel 2026.08.24

The Ming Dynasty Capital of Nanjing Along the City Walls

A Historical Journey to Discover the Structure of Nanjing's Capital Through Palaces, City Gates, and Walls

#Overseas Travel #Free Travel #Traveling in China #Nanjing Travel #Places to Visit in Nanjing

The Nanjing city wall is much more enjoyable when you explore both the defensive structures and the urban layout rather than just focusing on a single gate. At Zhonghua Men, you can observe the design that protected against enemies with multiple layers of defense, while at Taicheng and Jiefangmen, you can compare the views of Xuanwu Lake and the city center from the top of the walls. Visiting the museum exhibitions first helps clarify the inscriptions on the bricks and the methods of construction.

This list categorizes the remaining city gates, wall sections, and water gate ruins by type. Each section has its own ticketing and entrance, and there's little shade on the walls, so it's wise to check the entrances on the map and prepare some water. Instead of trying to cover everything in one go, bundling your itinerary into separate days for the Zhonghua Men area and the Xuanwu area can lessen travel stress while allowing you to truly feel the scale of the Ming capital.

Zhonghuamen

Zhonghua Men

To fully appreciate Zhonghua Men, first examine the overlapping structure of the defensive walls from below before climbing up to the gate, and check the inscriptions on the bricks in the interior exhibits. Knowing that this large defensive fortification was designed to protect the southern side of the Ming capital, it becomes clearer what to focus on among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets during your visit. The actual visit involves many stone stairs and little shade on the wall, making it more comfortable to walk in the morning or late afternoon rather than midday. Keeping a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at Zhonghua Men will be helpful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市秦淮区中华路中华门瓮城 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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Nanjing City Wall Museum

You can keep a simple viewing order. After seeing the real bricks and a model of the city, walking through Zhonghua Men will make it much easier to read the locations of the defensive structures. Knowing that this is a specialized museum on the walls located east of Zhonghua Men that explains the construction techniques and the brick production systems helps clarify what to spend your time on among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets. During your actual visit, do not assume that the entrance for viewing Zhonghua Men is the same as the museum; check reservation and entry paths separately. Making a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at the Nanjing City Wall Museum will be useful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市秦淮区边营1号 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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Taicheng City Wall

Taicheng Wall

Before taking photos, alternate your views between the walls facing the lake and the temple roofs towards the city to reveal the northern defense terrain of Nanjing. Knowing that this northeast observation section allows you to overlook both Xuanwu Lake and Jiming Temple helps clarify what to spend your time on among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets. During your visit, the entrance to the wall and Jiming Temple are separate, so make sure to calculate ticketing times for each location when visiting them together. Keeping a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at Taicheng Wall will be useful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市玄武区解放门8号 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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Jiefangmen

At the site, use Jiefangmen more as a starting point for your wall walk rather than focusing on the gate itself, observing the changing views towards the lake and Jiming Temple. Knowing that this is a major entry point of Nanjing’s modern walls connecting Taicheng and Xuanwu helps clarify how to allocate your time among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets. During actual visits, crowds heading to Jiming Temple can concentrate during the cherry blossom season on weekends, so it’s better to visit early. Keeping a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at Jiefangmen will be useful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市玄武区环湖路解放门 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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Xuanwumen

To capture the essence of Xuanwumen, it’s worth photographing the scene where the atmosphere transitions from the city street to the lakeside park as you pass through the gate. Knowing that this is a symbolic entrance leading to Xuanwu Park from the northwestern part of the Ming city wall helps clarify what to focus on among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets. During your visit, although the subway station and the park entrance are close, you need to find the separate entrance for paid access to the walls. Making a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at Xuanwumen will be useful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市玄武区中央路玄武门 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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Yizhangmen

You can keep a simple viewing order here. Viewing the exhibits from above the gate along with the surrounding railway scenery helps you understand how modern transport has passed through the old city walls. Knowing that this is the remaining gate in the northwestern area of the Nanjing city wall, which includes exhibition spaces covering the history of the train and the walls, makes it clearer what to spend your time on among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets. During your actual visit, the timing for exhibit openings and wall access may vary, so check the operational status beforehand. Keeping a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at Yizhangmen will be useful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市鼓楼区建宁路202号 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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Xinchoumen

Before taking photos, instead of just looking for the gate's name, consider walking through Shidusheng Park and Guimian City to distinguish between natural rock formations and the construction site. Knowing that this western ruins area connects to the city wall makes it a good spot to read the defensive terrain towards the Yangtze River helps clarify what to spend your time on among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets. During actual visits, it's not an area crowded with tourist facilities, so visit when it's bright and save the park entrance route on your map. Keeping a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at Xinchoumen will be useful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市鼓楼区广州路西端石头城 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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Dongshuiguan Ruins Park

At the site, first observe the angle where the waterway and the wall meet from the bridge, then go down to the lower path to take a closer look at the water gate structure. Knowing that this park contains traces of the water gate and the city wall that brought the Qinhai River into Nanjing helps clarify what to spend your time on among the buildings, exhibits, food, and surrounding streets. During your visit, if it has rained heavily, the riverside path may be wet or closed, so use the inner walking path. Keeping a short note of the most impressive elements and the time spent at Dongshuiguan Ruins Park will be useful for comparison with the next location or for re-planning your schedule.

주소 南京市秦淮区龙蟠中路东水关 방문 확인 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

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The key to a wall tour is not to consume similar-looking gates and walls as if they are the same place. At Zhonghua Men, take note of the structure and soldiers' quarters; at Taicheng, enjoy the lakeside view; and at Dongshuiguan, observe how the city wall meets the waterway. By comparing their different functions, it becomes clear that Nanjing was designed with considerations for both land defense and water transport.

As this is a long walking itinerary, comfortable shoes and sun protection are needed, and the stone stairs may be slippery after rain. The opening hours and construction restrictions for the wall sections vary by season, so be sure to check the official notices on the day of your visit. Rather than quickly snapping photos, also read the construction dates and restoration scopes on the guides to distinguish which parts are original and which are restored.

한눈에 보기 8개

Zhonghuamen

南京市秦淮区中华路中华门瓮城 · 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

Nanjing City Wall Museum

南京市秦淮区边营1号 · 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

Taicheng City Wall

南京市玄武区解放门8号 · 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

Jiefangmen

南京市玄武区环湖路解放门 · 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

Xuanwumen

南京市玄武区中央路玄武门 · 방문 당일 운영·예약·출입 조건을 최신 지도와 공식 안내에서 확인한다

Yizhangmen