Nanjing

The story: Sun Yat-sen is the father of modern China — the doctor turned revolutionary who ended 2,000 years of imperial rule in 1911. He chose Purple Mountain in Nanjing for his burial site in 1925. The mausoleum's 392 steps are said to echo the 391 million people of China at the time, plus Sun himself.

Why it's a must-see: The approach is the spectacle: a forested avenue of plane trees, a white-and-blue memorial rising on the hillside, and a climb that builds to one of the best views over Nanjing. It's a place of genuine reverence, not just sightseeing.

💡 Kat's tip: Book a free ticket on the official WeChat account in advance — entry is by time slot. Go early to avoid the tour groups, and pair it with Ming Xiaoling next door for a full Purple Mountain day.

The story: In 1398, the Hongwu Emperor — a beggar who rose to found the Ming dynasty — was buried here under Purple Mountain with 40 concubines and, legend says, 13 treasures. His tomb has never been opened. What visitors see is the Sacred Way: a 2-km avenue lined with giant stone elephants, camels, horses, and mythical beasts standing guard.

Why it's a must-see: The stone animals are ancient, weathered, and wonderful to walk among — China's own petrified parade. The architecture established the blueprint that later Ming tombs in Beijing (like the Thirteen Ming Tombs) copied.

💡 Kat's tip: Autumn is magical — the Sacred Way's maple and ginkgo trees turn gold and red in November. Budget two hours and wear walking shoes; the grounds are large.

The story: The Qinhuai River has been Nanjing's pleasure quarter for a thousand years — where scholars took exams at the Confucius Temple, courtesans performed on painted boats, and poets wrote about the lanterns reflecting on the water. The neighborhood was rebuilt in the 1980s but kept the old layout and spirit.

Why it's a must-see: It's the soul of old Nanjing nightlife. At dusk the riverfront buildings light up in gold and red, boats glide under stone bridges, and a massive food street sells everything from duck blood soup to candied hawthorns. Free to wander, endlessly entertaining.

💡 Kat's tip: Take the night boat tour along the river — 40 minutes, gorgeous lights, and very cheap. Eat at the side alleys rather than the main square; prices drop and quality rises.

The story: In the 1360s the Ming founder built a city wall around Nanjing that stretched 35 km — the longest ever built anywhere. It survives almost intact, and Zhonghua Gate is its most dramatic piece: a fortress with three layers of walls, 27 hidden chambers, and enough space to hold 3,000 soldiers defending the gate.

Why it's a must-see: You can climb the wall and walk for kilometers along the top, looking down at rooftops, canals, and temple bells on one side and modern Nanjing on the other. It's China's history you can literally stand on.

💡 Kat's tip: Rent a bicycle or just walk the section between Zhonghua Gate and the Confucius Temple — the views of the Qinhuai area are the best. Sunset is spectacular.

The story: Nanjing Museum is one of China's "Big Three" national museums, holding over 400,000 artifacts that trace Chinese civilization from the Stone Age to modern times. Its greatest treasure: the "Bronze Ox Lamp," a Western Han dynasty lamp where smoke rises through the ox's neck into the body's water chamber — ancient engineering disguised as art.

Why it's a must-see: It's free, air-conditioned, world-class, and (unlike Beijing's Forbidden City) rarely overwhelming in crowds. The Ming and Qing furniture halls, jade collection, and the art of the Republic period are particular highlights.

💡 Kat's tip: Reserve a free ticket on WeChat the day before. Give it half a day — it's huge. The museum café is decent for a lunch break between halls.