You won't believe it! I'm so happy with my Nanjing day trip itinerary!!

Theme: History, Culture, Natural Scenery + City Night View Recommended transportation: Walking + short trips. Wear comfortable shoes! Morning Itinerary 1️⃣ Jiming Temple (7:30–9:00) Nanjing's oldest Buddhist temple, famous for praying for love and its thriving incense offerings. The cherry blossom avenue is stunning in spring. Climb the Bhaisajya-guru Pagoda for a panoramic view of Xuanwu Lake (ticket ¥10, includes three incense sticks). 2️⃣ Ming City Wall (Taicheng section) (9:00–10:00) Walk from Jiming Temple to "Jiefangmen" to ascend the city wall (ticket ¥30). Photo spot: A spot where you can capture both the ancient and modern (Zifeng Tower + Xuanwu Lake + Zijin Mountain). 3️⃣ Xuanwu Lake (10:00–11:30) Enter Xuanwu Lake directly from the city wall. Recommended route: Liangzhou (admire the ginkgo in autumn) → Lovers' Garden (European-style church + pigeon square) → Lakeside walk. Lunch Itinerary 4️⃣ Yihe Road Historic District (11:30–13:30) A group of Republic of China-era mansions under the shade of sycamore trees, with yellow walls and red tiles that are incredibly photogenic. Must-see: The Twelfth Block of Yihe Road (Republic of China architectural complex, ticket ¥20) or take a free stroll through the alleys. Lunch suggestions: Nearby time-honored brands "Nanjing Dapaidang" or "Shiziqiao Food Street." Afternoon Itinerary 5️⃣ Librairie Avant-Garde (Wutaishan Main Store) (14:00–15:30) The world's most beautiful bookstore, converted from an air-raid shelter, with a must-see cross corridor + postcard wall. You can read quietly and send postcards (there is a dedicated mailbox). 6️⃣ Grand Bao'en Temple Heritage Park (16:00–17:30) A modern art Buddhist temple with a strong sense of time travel. The glazed tile pagoda light show is stunning (ticket ¥85). Alternative option: If time is tight, you can change to "Laomendong" for eating and shopping (close to the Confucius Temple). Evening to Night 7️⃣ City Wall Sunset (17:30–18:30) Return to the "Shencemen-Taipingmen section" of the city wall for stunning light and shadows at sunset. Tips: In autumn, you can see the ginkgo/dawn redwood trees in Xuanwu Lake along the way. 8️⃣ Qinhuai River Night Tour (19:00–21:00) See the illuminated Qinhuai River in the Confucius Temple pedestrian street. It's commercialized, but the night view is classic. Must-try: Take a painted boat tour (night tour ¥100, buy tickets online in advance to avoid queuing). Dinner suggestions: Yongheyuan Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup + Qifangge Salted Duck.