Nanjing Night Tour: Ming Wall, Temple Market & River Lights

Zhonghua Gate's stone archways, temple market lanterns, Qinhuai River at night

A private night tour of Nanjing with a local English or Mandarin-speaking guide, hotel pickup and flexible timing. You'll visit Zhonghua Gate (a castle-style city gate with 27 caves) explore the Confucius Temple market lit with colorful lights, walk the Qinhuai River bank (China's oldest river), and choose between a local dinner or a night cruise. The itinerary is adjustable. Other stops like Laomendong's old alleys can replace the suggested ones. Four to five hours, door-to-door transport included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nanjing's night highlights

• Meet local guide at your place
• Visit Zhonghua Gate city wall
• Walk through Confucius Temple market
• Enjoy light show at Qinhuai River
• Dine locally or take night cruise
• Return to hotel or downtown area

The experience

Zhonghua Gate opens the tour: a fortress gate built in castle style with 27 different caves and large round archways designed for ancient military defense. Your guide walks you through the stonework and explains the engineering, then moves to the Confucius Temple market, where traditional buildings glow under colored lights at night. This is where the city's old quarter comes alive: you can browse local stores for trinkets and arts, or stop at food stalls for soup dumplings, rice noodles and pancakes without the daytime crowds.

The route then follows the Qinhuai River bank, inscribed as a UNESCO site and known as the mother river of Nanjing's ancient civilization. At night the water reflects the light show along the banks. Before the tour ends, you choose what comes next: a local dinner tailored to any dietary needs, or a night cruise on the river itself. The guide can also swap in other stops like Laomendong's old alleys or Xinjie Kou Pedestrian Street if you prefer a different route.

Transport depends on group size: groups of six or more travel in a private air-conditioned MPV van. Smaller groups use an air-conditioned car via Uber or taxi. Either way, your guide picks you up at your Nanjing hotel or train station and drops you back there when the tour ends. Departure time is flexible. You set the start based on when you're ready.

What’s included

• Private local guide in English or Mandarin.
• hotel or train station pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned transport (MPV van for groups of 6+, car for smaller groups).
• walk through Zhonghua Gate, Confucius Temple market, and Qinhuai River bank.
• choice of local dinner or night river cruise.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 17:00, 17:30, 18:00 and 18:30

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 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sunny Private Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're arriving by train or staying downtown and want door-to-door pickup rather than navigating to a meeting point on your own.

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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.

What is Zhonghua Gate and why does the tour start there?

Zhonghua Gate is one of the largest city gates in Nanjing, built in castle style with 27 different caves and large round archways designed for ancient military defense. The tour opens there so you can see the impressive stonework and learn about the gate's role in the city's fortifications before moving to the night markets and river.

Can I change the itinerary if I don't want to visit all the suggested stops?

Yes. The itinerary is flexible and adjustable with your guide. If you'd rather visit Laomendong's old alleys, Xinjie Kou Pedestrian Street, or other sites instead of the recommended stops, you can discuss changes with your guide when they pick you up.

What's included for dinner, do I pay extra for food?

Dinner is part of the tour experience, and you choose a local restaurant based on your dietary preferences. The cost of the meal itself is separate from the tour price. Your guide will help you select a place and order, but food and drinks are not included in the tour fee.

How long does the tour take and what time does it start?

The tour runs four to five hours. You choose the departure time to fit your schedule. Just let the operator know when you want to be picked up at your hotel or train station.

What is the Qinhuai River and why is it part of the tour?

The Qinhuai River is China's oldest river and a UNESCO site, regarded as the mother river and cradle of Nanjing's ancient civilization. The tour includes a walk along its bank at night to see the light show, and you can choose to take a night cruise on the water instead of a riverside dinner if you prefer.