Chaotian Palace, a treasure of the Nanjing Museum, is a must-see for travelers!

Chaotian Palace, the location of the Nanjing Museum, is a Taoist temple with a long history. Its history can be traced back to the Sui Dynasty, when it was originally built to worship the gods of heaven and earth. It was rebuilt and restored during the Song Dynasty, becoming an important place for the emperor to worship heaven. During the Ming Dynasty, Chaotian Palace became even more prosperous, and the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang issued an edict to bestow the name "Chaotian Palace," meaning "worshiping heaven." Chaotian Palace was not only a royal Taoist temple, but also a place where civil and military officials practiced the etiquette of worshiping the emperor before festivals. 2. Itinerary Morning: 09:00 Arrive at the Nanjing Museum (Chaotian Palace) and start your tour. The reference price for tickets is CNY 25, and the opening hours are 09:00–18:00 (closed on Mondays). 09:30 Visit the "Dragon and Tiger: Nanjing City History Exhibition" to learn about the history of Nanjing's urban development. 10:30 Go to the "Jade Hall: Exhibition of Museum Treasures" to admire the museum's collection of exquisite cultural relics. 12:00 Have lunch at Wangfu Street·Chaotian Palace Station nearby, and try Nanjing's local snacks. Afternoon: 13:30 Continue to visit the "Cloud Dress and Hairpin: Exhibition of Song and Ming Costumes" to experience the clothing culture of the Song and Ming Dynasties. 14:30 Visit the "Sacred Pagoda and Buddha Light: Special Exhibition of the Ashoka Pagoda" to learn about Buddhist culture. 16:00 Stroll in Chaotian Palace and enjoy the ancient buildings and garden landscapes. Evening: 17:30 End your visit and have dinner near Mochou Road·Chaotian Palace Station. We recommend trying Nanjing salted duck and other local specialties. 3. Recommended Food Lunch: Nanjing local snacks near Wangfu Street·Chaotian Palace Station. Dinner: Nanjing salted duck near Mochou Road·Chaotian Palace Station. 4. Opening Hours, Prices, and Reservations Opening hours: 09:00–18:00, closed on Mondays. Ticket price: CNY 25. Reservations: The 10th of each month is Chaotian Palace's free admission day. At other times, you can make a reservation through official channels. 5. Transportation Bus: Take bus 302, 306, or 43 to Wangfu Street·Chaotian Palace Station; take bus 48, 4, or 83 to Mochou Road·Chaotian Palace Station. Subway: Take subway line 1 to Zhangfuyuan Station, exit 3, and walk about 1.1 km; take subway line 2 to Shanghai Road Station, exit 1, and walk about 1.3 km. 6. Travel Tips and Photo Spots Dacheng Hall: As the main building of Chaotian Palace, it is a great place to take photos, where you can capture the contrast between the yellow glazed tiles and red walls. Ginkgo Season: From late November to early December, the century-old ginkgo trees in Chaotian Palace are dressed in golden yellow, making it an excellent place for photography enthusiasts.