Jiangsu Province Attractions
Underwater World
Underwater World features an array of aquariums and live performances by dolphins and sea lions. The highlight is a pedestrian walkway that tunnels through a large aquarium that includes sharks, rays, fish and one very big turtle. For a 200 yuan fee, visitors ca...
Underwater World features an array of aquariums and live performances by dolphins and sea lions. The highlight is a pedestrian walkway that tunnels through a large aquarium that includes sharks, rays, fish and one very big turtle. For a 200 yuan fee, visitors can actually dive into the aquarium.
In 2007 they started a new exhibit called "Polar World". This includes a polar bear, arctic foxes, penguins and at least one sickly looking reindeer.
Some signs are only in Chinese but others include English or "Chinglish". Chinese cafeteria food is available for 15 yuan per person.
Take bus 9, Y1 (游1), 20 or Y3 (游3).
Underwater World is on the south side of Purple Mountain within walking distance of Ming Maosoleum (Ming Xiaoling).
Ye Chun Teahouse 2
This Ye Chun offers similar fare to the other Ye Chun across the street. They share the same name, both have a long history in Yangzhou, and as far as we know, are both equally famous for their dim sum.&nb...
This Ye Chun offers similar fare to the other Ye Chun across the street. They share the same name, both have a long history in Yangzhou, and as far as we know, are both equally famous for their dim sum. Steamed buns (baozi, 包子), thin tofu noodles in broth (tanggansi, 烫干丝), and giant soup dumplings (汤包) are a few dishes that are known to be extra delicious at Ye Chun.
The dim sum is served in set platters that cost 30, 40 or 50 Yuan per person. There is no English menu.
Inside is a series of large tables that seat ten. Groups of less than ten share tables with each other. It could be a great chance to practice Chinese!
Pictured above are steamed buns (top right), large beef dumplings (bottom left) and cake (top left).
Cold appetizers including thin tofu noodles in broth.
The soup dumpling is so big that it is served with a straw.
How to get there: This Ye Chun is located at No. 1 Fengle Shang Jie (丰乐上街1号) on the east side of Beimen Wai Dajie (北门外大街). The other Ye Chun is almost right next door at No. 10 Fengle Shang Jie on the west side of Beimen Wai Dajie.
Hongshan Forest Zoo
As expected, the Hongshan Forest Zoo’s are so poor that most Western visitors will likely choose to avoid this place. While every last cage isn’t inhumanely small, some cages are so small that animals frantically pace back and forth. The zoo is located on a large pl...
As expected, the Hongshan Forest Zoo’s are so poor that most Western visitors will likely choose to avoid this place. While every last cage isn’t inhumanely small, some cages are so small that animals frantically pace back and forth. The zoo is located on a large plot of land, so in theory it should be possible for the zoo administration to expand the living spaces of the animals.
Besides the subar animal living conditions, the signs are rarely in English. Strangely, the only signs that are written in fluent English are written only in English and say “Do not feed or tease animals”. Perhaps these signs are an attempt to make English-speaking visitors think the zoo actually puts effort into restricting uneducated patrons from throwing fruit and bottles at or to the animals. The signs are actually the 2nd most entertaining part of this zoo. “Please cherish life” next to the tiger cage takes the cake.
Hongshan Zoo Pagoda
The most entertaining and harmless part of the zoo is the pagoda (大状观阁) at the top of Hongshan Hill. None can deny that the pagoda provides one of the best views of Nanjing city, or at least the northern portion of the city. From the top of the pagoda, Purple Mountain and Xuanwu Lake to the northwest are easily within view. Entrance to the pagoda is 2 yuan.
Hongshan Zoo Pagoda
Views from Hongshan Pagoda
How to get there:
East Entrance – Located on Hongshan Road (红山路). Buses No. 22, 24, 40, 66 and 74.
North Entrance – Located on Heyan Road (和燕路). Subway or Buses No. 8, 30, 35, 54, 64, 72, 77 & 308. The most popular way to get to the zoo is to take the Subway to the Hongshan Zoo Station. After exiting the Subway station walk about one block southwest down Heyan Road.
Nanjing Museum
Located at the southern foot of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan, 紫金山), Nanjing Museum is a highly-regarded, comprehensive collection of history and art. The museum was established in 1933 as the National Central Museu...
Located at the southern foot of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan, 紫金山), Nanjing Museum is a highly-regarded, comprehensive collection of history and art. The museum was established in 1933 as the National Central Museum, on the suggestion of Mr. Cai, Yuanpei. Mr. Cai, Yuanpei was a famous scholar at that time, and was once the president of Peking University
The museum covers an area of 13 hectares and consists of two main buildings, one of which is for history, and the other for art. The museum features exhibits displaying bronze ware, porcelain ware, jade, embroidery, pottery, lacquer ware, folklore, modern art, and calligraphy & painting.
The Nanjing Museum boasts a collection of more than 420,000 pieces, including 2,000 rare and valuable ones. The valuable calligraphy and painting works date back to the Song and Yuan dynasties. The bronze wares represent both the Western Zhou dynasty period (11th century-711 BC) and Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). All of these are treasures are well worth study and appreciation.
Estimated Duration of a Trip: 5 hours for a thorough visit
Take bus 5, 9, or 27.
Be sure not to confuse Nanjing Museum with Nanjing City Museum which is in Chaotian Palace.
Slow Life Café - Mexican
Slow Life Café is another place in Nanjing that serves Chinese-American-Mexican food. That is, they serve the Chinese interpretation of Tex-Mex cuisine. Nevertheless, it’s not bad as long as you keep an open mind. It is only 10 yuan for a large Qingdao and three dece...
Slow Life Café is another place in Nanjing that serves Chinese-American-Mexican food. That is, they serve the Chinese interpretation of Tex-Mex cuisine. Nevertheless, it’s not bad as long as you keep an open mind. It is only 10 yuan for a large Qingdao and three decent sized tacos cost 30 yuan.
Slow Life sits several meters above street level on a raised sidewalk. Several comfortable outdoor tables are suitable for a cheap evening meal or a drink with friends.
How to Get There:
Slow Life Café is within walking distance of Nanjing University and several other foreign-favourites nearby such as Blue Sky and Skyways. It is quite small and the sign is not the most outstanding, but look up to the elevated sidewalk on Shanghai Road and you should be able to spot it.
Slow Life Café is within walking distance of Nanjing University and several other foreign-favourites nearby such as Blue Sky and Skyways. It is quite small and the sign is not the most outstanding, but look up to the elevated sidewalk on Shanghai Road and you should be able to spot it.
Jiangsu Province Articles
Hanshan Temple
Built in the period 502 to 519, the temple enjoys high reputation both at home and abroad owing to the Tang poem" Night Anchorage at Maple Bridge" . The activity of "Listening to the Sounding of the Bell in Hanshan Temple on the New Year's Eve....
Built in the period 502 to 519, the temple enjoys high reputation both at home and abroad owing to the Tang poem" Night Anchorage at Maple Bridge" . The activity of "Listening to the Sounding of the Bell in Hanshan Temple on the New Year's Eve. which has proved to be a great auccess.
Xu Yuan Garden
The Xu Yuan Garden was the garden of the Han Prince's Residence in the early years of the Ming dynasty. It was called Xu Yuan because the name of the Han Prince had a word "xu".
The Empty Village “空巢”村庄
These days, in the Chinese country more and more young people liberated from farming. They go to cities to try their fortunes, leaving the children and olds home. They only back twice or three times one year for harvest of crops or important traditional festivals....
These days, in the Chinese country more and more young people liberated from farming. They go to cities to try their fortunes, leaving the children and olds home. They only back twice or three times one year for harvest of crops or important traditional festivals. So, in some way the villages become"empty".
Top Jiangsu Province Tours
$50 Per Day
Nanjing Hiking tour with local tour guide Sam
It`s springtime, it`s hiking time!
This tailor-made tour is for people who like nature, history, and hiking!
Ming Tomb (Admission: FreeCNY) - Nanjing became the capital of China when Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty in 1368. During his reign, Zhu Yuanzhang built the great city walls of Nanjing, the imperial palace, and his future tomb - the Ming Tomb in Nanjing. The Ming Tomb is a certified UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must-see for travellers to Nanjing.
...Read moreIt`s springtime, it`s hiking time!
This tailor-made tour is for people who like nature, history, and hiking!
Ming Tomb (Admission: FreeCNY) - Nanjing became the capital of China when Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Dynasty in 1368. During his reign, Zhu Yuanzhang built the great city walls of Nanjing, the imperial palace, and his future tomb - the Ming Tomb in Nanjing. The Ming Tomb is a certified UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must-see for travellers to Nanjing.
Xuanwu Lake (Admission: Free) - Close to the city center and featuring 368 hectares of water and 104 hectares of land, Xuanwu Lake Park is a favorite getaway for locals. Well before the sunrise and even after sunset, the park is bustling with visitors. Some come to walk, jog, or fly kites, others to practice Tai Chi, and many more just want to enjoy the scenery.
Nanjing Food Court - my favorite local Nanjing restaurant, Nanjing people like to go there with family. It`s a resultant with a lot of Nanjing local food and ancient style of decoration, at night they will have Kunqu playing, coolest restaurant ever.
City Wall (Admission: 45CNY) - Nanjing City Wall, constructed during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties between 1365 and 1386, originally stretched over 30km which made it the longest city wall in the world. Now, with about two thirds of the wall still intact it still remains the longest city wall in China. We could walk on the city wall and feel the history of Nanjing.
*Please contact me for daily tour fees, i charge by per tour, not per person.
$80 Per Day
Relaxing Hot Spring Tour at Tangshan Area
Nanjing Tangshan is famous for the hot spring, hot spring is good for your skin and health, and relaxing your body and get rid of the press.
Maybe you don't like all the tourist attractions in the downtown, here would be one of another option.
This tour will be only visit 2 attractions and the rest will be spend the whole time in the hot spring. Or, if you prefer, you can only go for the spring.
Tour plan would be:
Hotel pick up -----> Yangshan Stele -----> Tangshan Ancient Ape Man Caves -----> Hot Spring -----> Send back to hotel.
...Read moreNanjing Tangshan is famous for the hot spring, hot spring is good for your skin and health, and relaxing your body and get rid of the press.
Maybe you don't like all the tourist attractions in the downtown, here would be one of another option.
This tour will be only visit 2 attractions and the rest will be spend the whole time in the hot spring. Or, if you prefer, you can only go for the spring.
Tour plan would be:
Hotel pick up -----> Yangshan Stele -----> Tangshan Ancient Ape Man Caves -----> Hot Spring -----> Send back to hotel.
Since Tangshan is a little town outside of Nanjing city and it`s quite far away, i would suggest to use a private car to drive there directly.
$40 Per Day
Nanjing nightlife tours - Bar crawling
In recent years Nanjing’s nightlife scene has undoubtedly changed for the better. The 1912 bar district is a common place to start a tour of Nanjing’s nightlife as it features Nanjing’s largest concentration of bars and clubs. Besides 1912, bars, pubs, clubs, karaokes, restaurants and not-so-mentionable locales are dispersed across the city, especially near Xinjiekou and close to the student population.
...Read moreIn recent years Nanjing’s nightlife scene has undoubtedly changed for the better. The 1912 bar district is a common place to start a tour of Nanjing’s nightlife as it features Nanjing’s largest concentration of bars and clubs. Besides 1912, bars, pubs, clubs, karaokes, restaurants and not-so-mentionable locales are dispersed across the city, especially near Xinjiekou and close to the student population.
Nail Jazz Bar is a light bar with good Jazz muisc, live sometimes, they have over 50 kinds of imported beer from all over the World, the Draft beer Hoegaarden is with special roam and taste, for lady, here have over 100 cocktail to choose, lovely and enjoyable. The price here is quite as other bars, short cocktail for 28 Yuan, long drink cocktail for 38 Yuan. Hoegaarden draft beer, 38 for 0.3L and 68 for 0.5L.
Behind the Wall - A cozy atmosphere, decent food, live music and cheap margaritas make Behind the Wall a popular hang-out, especially with the foreign student population. Inside, Behind the Wall’s three rooms are linked by over-sized arched doorways, and provide seating for groups of two to ten. Mexican, Latin and Greek cuisine is served. The drink menu is varied and not too expensive by Nanjing standards - margaritas are served for only 15 Yuan from Sunday to Thursday.
Castle Bar - Castle Bar is lively on weekends and can become packed during special events. However, during weekdays staff members often outnumber customers. A good place if you like dancing.
Secco Restaurant and Bar - Great German restaurant and bar in Nanjing, they have a good rang and selection of cocktail made by a German, he is also the manager there, really strict to every cocktail he made, always bring you the best taste.
Finnegans Wake - A traditional Irish bar in Nanjing,offering Kilkenny, Guinness and strongbow cider on draught.
Please contact me for daily tour fees, i charge by per tour, not per person.