Qixia Temple & Swallow Rock tour: Private guide included

Buddha's Relics Pagoda and a 36-meter rock shaped like a flying swallow in one morning

A half-day private tour of Nanjing visits Qixia Temple, a major Buddhist monastery on Qixia Mountain, and Swallow Rock, a distinctive stone formation in the Yangtze River. Your private guide meets you at your hotel or Nanjing Railway Station at 9:30am, drives you to both sites, and explains the history and religious significance of each. All entrance fees and transport are included. You can add lunch or dinner at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Qixia Temple and Swallow Rock

• Meet guide at hotel or railway station
• Drive to Qixia Temple on Qixia Mountain
• Explore Buddha's Relics Pagoda and Pavilion
• See Thousand Buddha Rock and mountain scenery
• Experience local religion inside Qixia Temple
• Visit Swallow Rock in Yangtze River
• Return to hotel or railway station

The experience

The tour starts at your hotel or the railway station and heads to Qixia Temple, one of Nanjing's most important Buddhist monasteries. Once there, you walk the grounds to see Buddha's Relics Pagoda, the Pavilion of Giant Buddha, and Thousand Buddha Rock: a collection of Chinese Buddhist visual art and sculpture built into the mountain itself. Your private guide shares the stories and religious context as you move through the site.

From Qixia Temple, you continue to Swallow Rock, a 36-meter stone formation in the Yangtze River shaped like a flying swallow. It's one of three famous rocks in Nanjing, and your guide walks you through its history and significance. The tour wraps up by mid-afternoon, with your guide returning you to your hotel or seeing you off at the railway station.

You travel in a private air-conditioned car throughout, so the pace is yours alone. The tour runs in all weather. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the season. If you book the option with a meal, let the operator know any dietary needs when you reserve.

What’s included

• All entrance fees to Qixia Temple and Swallow Rock.
• private guide in English or Chinese.
• private air-conditioned car with driver.
• hotel or Nanjing Railway Station pickup and drop-off.
• optional lunch or dinner (add at checkout).

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour lasting half a day onlyGuide in English or Chinese · 13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Half-day tour only, pickup is included

Half-day tour with a mealGuide in English or Chinese · 13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00Half-day tour with local lunch or dinner, depending on your tour departure time, 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 timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to12h before

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?Book the tour-only option if you want to move at your own pace and explore the grounds without a meal commitment. Add the meal option if you prefer to have lunch or dinner arranged and want one less decision to make during the afternoon.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What is Qixia Temple and what will I see there?

Qixia Temple is one of Nanjing's most important Buddhist monasteries, located on Qixia Mountain. You'll see Buddha's Relics Pagoda, the Pavilion of Giant Buddha, and Thousand Buddha Rock, which features a large collection of Chinese Buddhist visual art and sculpture carved into the mountainside.

How long is this tour and when does it start?

The tour runs four to five hours. Your private guide meets you at your hotel lobby or Nanjing Railway Station at 9:30am and returns you to the same location when finished.

What is Swallow Rock and why is it notable?

Swallow Rock stands 36 meters tall in the Yangtze River and is shaped like a flying swallow. It's one of three famous rocks in Nanjing, and your guide will explain its history and cultural significance during the visit.

Is lunch included, and can I add a meal to this tour?

Lunch or dinner is optional and not included in the base tour price. You can add a meal at checkout. If you do, let the operator know any dietary requirements when you book.

What's included in the price?

All entrance fees to Qixia Temple and Swallow Rock, private guide services in English or Chinese, private air-conditioned car transport, and hotel or railway station pickup and drop-off are all included.