Nanjing Private Day Tour: Republic Era History with Lunch

Four pivotal sites of modern China's founding, explored with a guide who knows the stories behind each one.

This private 8-hour tour covers Nanjing's Republic era (1912–1949) with a professional local guide, visiting Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Presidential Palace and the Nanjing Massacre Memorial. Pickup from your Nanjing hotel or Railway Station is included, as are entrance fees, lunch and private air-conditioned transport. You can substitute the Nanjing Museum for any of the four main sites if you've visited them before.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum1h
2. Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre1h · entry included

Explore Republic Era Nanjing

• Meet guide at hotel or station
• Visit Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
• Tour Meiling Palace
• See Presidential Palace of Nanjing
• Visit Memorial of the Nanjing Massacre
• Return to hotel or railway station

The experience

You meet your guide at your hotel lobby or Nanjing Railway Station in the morning and start at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the resting place of the founder of the Chinese Republic. The site sits on Purple Mountain. You hike to the top to see the mausoleum's elegant architecture, learn about 20th-century Chinese history, and take in a panoramic view of the city below.

From there the tour moves to Meiling Palace, the former residence of Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling, where your guide shares the personal history behind the building and its surroundings. Next is the Presidential Palace of Nanjing, the seat of the first Chinese republic, where you see the historic structure and understand the period when Sun Yat-sen founded the republic. The final stop is the Memorial of the Nanjing Massacre, a sobering account of the Second Sino-Japanese War. If you've already visited any of these attractions, you can ask to visit Nanjing Museum instead.

The tour runs 8 hours and includes entrance to all sites, a meal, and return transport to your hotel or the railway station. Your guide speaks English or Chinese. Wear comfortable shoes (you'll be walking and climbing at the mausoleum), and bring layers, as the tour operates in all weather.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to all four sites.
• lunch.
• private air-conditioned car throughout the day.
• professional guide in English or Chinese.
• pickup and drop-off from your Nanjing hotel or Railway Station.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup from hotels in Nanjing cityGuide in English or Chinese · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00Your guide will collect you from your centrally located hotel in Nanjing city; pickup is included

Pickup from Nanjing Railway StationGuide in English or Chinese · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00Your guide will meet you at Nanjing Railway Station in the morning. Please share your arrival train details when booking. Includes pickup

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 timesTuesday to Sunday7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Amazing Shanghai Trip

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're arriving in Nanjing for the first time or have a free afternoon and want to understand the city's role in founding modern China. The private format means your guide can adjust the pace and answer questions in depth, and the fixed itinerary fits the four most significant Republic-era sites into a single day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What is the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and why is it the first stop?

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is the burial site of Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Chinese Republic. It's the opening stop because it anchors the tour's focus on the Republic era (1912–1949). The mausoleum sits on Purple Mountain and offers both historical context and a panoramic view of Nanjing.

Can I pick where the tour starts, my hotel or the railway station?

Yes. You choose either your Nanjing hotel or Nanjing Railway Station as your meeting point when you book. Your guide will return you to the same location at the end of the day.

What if I've already seen one of the four main attractions?

You can substitute Nanjing Museum for any of the four sites (the Mausoleum, Meiling Palace, Presidential Palace or Massacre Memorial) if you've visited them before. Let your guide know at the start of the tour.

Is lunch included, and can I request a specific diet?

Lunch is included in the tour price. If you have dietary requirements, tell the operator when you book so they can arrange something suitable.

How much walking and climbing is involved?

The tour includes a hike to the top of Purple Mountain at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, so you'll be on your feet for much of the day. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as the tour runs in all conditions.