Xuanwumen — Attraction in Nanjing City

There are a lot of Chinese cities with amazing city walls or sections thereof, such as Xian, Beijing and Suzhou, just to name three that I have visited personally, but for me, no city wall compares with Nanjing. It is in my opinion, an absolute must see.

One reason is the wall, itself, not surprisingly. It is long, in good shape and features a number of turrets, ramparts, gates and it is fairly straightforward to walk (no major inclines to overcome).

Secondly, the view from the wall is outstanding. On the inside of the wall is a gorgeous lake dotted with islands that can be accessed a network of bridges. To the outside of the wall are the downtown Nanjing skyscrapers, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition of the ancient and the ultramodern. Be sure to look down from the outside of the wall to see the crumbling ancient neighbourhoods that huddle up against the base of the outer wall.

Finally, the wall entrance fee is very reasonable when compared with, say, Beijing and Xi'an, it is easily accessed at either entry point from nearby subway stations and the Xuanwumen is a great place for people watching and occasional street performances.

Definitely worth the visit.

Pro Tip: We visited in the winter so crowds were down, the trees were beautifully coloured and it was cold, but not unbearably so. Like many spots in China, visiting in winter, especially just prior to or just after (but not during) Chinese New Year means that you will be able to escape some of the typical overcrowding and long wait times. A word to...

One of places must go when being in Nanjing. But it really need the time (at least one full day) to visit main points of the area. Actually, right from the entrance, you can be impressed by the huge precinct of this area. The lake and the "forest" make the great view and space for people to have outdoor activities (walking, jogging, dancing, playing chess, staying...

I've never seen a wall that high before, and the walk there gives you very nice views of the city. Sadly it was raining when I was there, but having a better day and more time, I'm sure walking the whole wall must be a fantastic experience. Entrance was free for students, so dont forget your card. I remember 30 RMB otherwise, which still value...