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Pre-trip Nanjing

Nanjing pre-trip checklist

What's different about Nanjing: weather, must-book sights, local apps and getting in from the airport.

Checked 29 Jun 2026 1 min read Written by the YOLO HAPPY team
How we keep this accurateEvery fact here was checked against official sources on the date above. Rules change — if you spot something out of date, tell us and we'll fix it within a day.

Use together with the General Pre-Trip Checklist; this only lists Nanjing-specific items, and does not repeat general items.

  • Climate and Clothing — Nanjing is famously one of China's "furnace" cities, and summer is both hot and humid. Spring (March-May) is mild and rainy, so bring light rain gear. The plum rain season (roughly mid-June to early July) is persistently rainy and damp, so bring an umbrella or waterproof shoes, plus quick-dry clothing. Summer (July-August) is extremely hot and humid, often above 35°C, so prevent heatstroke, hydrate, use sunscreen, and wear light breathable clothes. Autumn (September-November) is cool, pleasant, and the best season, with plane trees and ginkgo leaves to enjoy. Winter (December-February) is damp, cold, and overcast, and feels colder than the temperature suggests, so bring a windproof warm coat.
  • Airport and Getting into the City — Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG, south of the city).
  • Attraction Reservations and Etiquette — The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders requires a reservation and is free to enter. It is a solemn memorial site: dress respectfully, keep quiet, do not make noise or joke around, and do not take check-in style photos. Popular places such as Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum (free but reservation required, with many steps, so bring water and comfortable shoes), the Presidential Palace, and Nanjing Museum (free but reservation required) should be booked in advance, and bring your passport.
  • Nanjing-Specific Tips — During hot summer hours (11:00-16:00), try to plan indoor stops such as Nanjing Museum and the indoor halls of the Presidential Palace. If you have a sensitive stomach, ease into street snacks gradually. As a high-speed rail hub, Nanjing can be linked with Suzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou into one East China route; book high-speed rail tickets in advance (12306/Trip.com).