Nanjing Day Trip from Suzhou by Bullet Train: Private Guide

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Mausoleum, Ming tombs, and 600-year-old city walls in one day

A private day trip from Suzhou to Nanjing by bullet train, with an English-speaking guide, lunch and hotel pickup in Suzhou. The itinerary is 100% customized: you typically start at the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, move to the Xiaoling Tomb of Ming Dynasty (a UNESCO World Heritage site), walk the Ming City Wall, then choose additional sites based on your interests. You return to Suzhou or stay in Nanjing depending on which drop-off option you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nanjing historic sites

• Pickup from Suzhou hotel
• Take bullet train to Nanjing
• Meet local guide at Nanjing station
• Visit Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen
• Enjoy lunch recommended by guide
• Tour Xiaoling Tomb of Ming Dynasty
• Walk along Ming City Wall and Zhonghua Gate
• Optional visit to Confucius Temple or other sites
• Drop off at Suzhou or Nanjing hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup at your Suzhou hotel, then your driver helps you board the modern fast train to Nanjing. A local guide meets you at Nanjing train station and takes over from there. Because this is a private tour, the whole itinerary bends to what you want to see. The recommended route is just a starting point. Most travelers begin at the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, walking through landscaped grounds to explore the museum and learn about the founder of the Republic of China, with a panoramic view of the city from the hilltop. Your guide then suggests a lunch break at a local restaurant they recommend.

The afternoon typically moves to the Xiaoling Tomb of Ming Dynasty, one of China's largest imperial tombs and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You walk a peaceful path lined with mythical stone animals, see the ancient architecture complex set into the mountainside, and hear the history of the first Ming emperor and his queen. Next comes the Ming City Wall, built over 600 years ago. You walk along it, see the Zhonghua Gate, and take in views of the city lake from the top. If you've covered these three sites and still have time or interest, you can swap in other attractions: the Confucius Temple and market, the Presidential Palace, Nanjing Museum, Xuanwu Lake (with an optional boat ride), Jiming Temple, or the Memorial of Nanjing Massacre. Your guide knows what fits the remaining hours and what you actually want to see.

At the end of the day, your choice of drop-off determines the route home. If you booked the Suzhou option, you take the bullet train back and your driver meets you at Suzhou station to drop you at your hotel. If you chose Nanjing drop-off, your guide takes you to your hotel or another location you request. The whole day runs 8 to 9 hours from pickup to final drop-off.

What’s included

• Comfortable car with experienced driver.
• round-trip or one-way 2nd-class train tickets depending on your drop-off choice.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full day in Nanjing.
• lunch at a local restaurant recommended by your guide.
• hotel pickup in Suzhou.

Options for this experience

2 options

Drop-off in Nanjing cityGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Includes an excellent guide and a driver with a car, second-class bullet train tickets, and lunch. Pickup takes place in Suzhou and drop-off in Nanjing. Pickup is included.

Drop-off in Suzhou cityGuide in English or Chinese · 08:00 and 08:30Includes an excellent guide and a driver with a car, round-trip second-class train tickets, and lunch. Pickup and drop-off take place in Suzhou. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

AgesAdult (8 to 88 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Sunny Private Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the Suzhou drop-off if you want to return to your base the same evening and keep your Nanjing visit as a single day excursion. Choose Nanjing drop-off if you are moving to the city and want to end your day at your new hotel, or if you want to stay longer and explore on your own after the tour ends.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How does the private customization actually work on this tour?

The itinerary is built around your interests, not a fixed schedule. Your guide presents the recommended sites, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Mausoleum, the Xiaoling Tomb, and the Ming City Wall, but you decide which ones to visit, how long to spend at each, and whether to swap in other attractions like the Confucius Temple, Presidential Palace, or Nanjing Museum based on what you want to learn about.

What is the Xiaoling Tomb of Ming Dynasty, and why is it worth the visit?

The Xiaoling Tomb is one of the largest imperial tombs in China, built for the first Ming emperor Zhu Yuan Zhang and Queen Ma. It is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and sits in a mountainside setting with ancient architecture, stone guardian animals lining the paths, and garden scenery. Your guide explains the history and significance as you walk the grounds.

Do I need to book the Suzhou drop-off or can I stay in Nanjing instead?

You choose at checkout. The Suzhou drop-off option includes round-trip train tickets and returns you to your Suzhou hotel by evening. The Nanjing drop-off option includes a one-way train ticket and your guide drops you at your Nanjing hotel or another location you request, so you can stay in the city if you prefer.

What is included in the price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes the train tickets (round-trip or one-way depending on your drop-off choice), a professional English-speaking guide, lunch at a local restaurant, and hotel pickup in Suzhou. Entrance fees to the sites you visit are not included and are paid separately. Gratuities are also separate.

How much time do I actually spend on the train?

The modern fast train from Suzhou to Nanjing is a short journey. Your driver handles check-in and you travel on your own, then your Nanjing guide meets you at the station. The return trip (if you book Suzhou drop-off) follows the same pattern. The train itself is fast, so most of your day is spent exploring the sites, not traveling.