Nanjing Guide
Some Attractions:
Zhongshan Mountain (seems to require reservation)
When I was in elementary school, I visited Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum during the National Day holiday, and the only impression I have is that we were crushed by the crowd. Later I also went to Meiling Palace, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, and Linggu Temple. Linggu Temple apparently has vegetarian noodles, which are said to be quite tasty, but the noodle shop was under renovation and closed the last time I went. In addition, the phoenix trees on Zhongshan Mountain are very beautiful.
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Linggu Temple, and Ming Xiaoling are all in the Zhongshan Mountain scenic area. It’s recommended to schedule them on the same day (however, transportation between the sites is not well organized; the last time I only managed to visit two attractions in one day. Walking from Ming Xiaoling to Linggu Temple was exhausting, private cars can’t get in, but there are people offering electric tricycle rides—consider it if the price is reasonable). I feel that completing three sites in one day is truly a special‑forces feat.
Xuanwu Lake
You can simply stroll along the lake and enjoy the scenery, or walk to the island in the middle of the lake to see the site where the “Yellow Register” (a Ming‑dynasty household registration book) was stored (there’s also a small exhibition hall there, which is decent). If conditions allow, you might rent an electric boat and spend an hour on the water.
Nanjing Museum (reservation required)
It’s really huge and the exhibits are abundant; I feel you can’t finish it in one day and need two days. (Though I tend to move through museums rather slowly.) Remember to book in advance! Recently there was a special exhibition called “Guan Tianxia” that looked pretty good; I went to review it—quality was nice, but it has already been taken down.
Presidential Palace (seems to require reservation)
I visited in the summer; it was crowded. The exhibits were decent. I recall spending half a day there. It’s best to arrive early, otherwise the line can be long. If you’ve already been, I wouldn’t recommend going again, but for a first visit to Nanjing it’s worth seeing.
Nanjing City Wall Museum
From what I remember, no reservation is needed. The permanent exhibition is good, with many artifacts and nice displays. When I visited in the summer there was also a special exhibition of Syrian artifacts, but it seems to have been removed.
Ming City Wall
I’ve walked the Ming City Wall at the sections from Jiefangmen to Taipingmen, covering about a kilometer on the wall. You can actually see bricks stamped with the craftsmen’s names (the Ming accountability system). The scenery along the way is also pleasant (I recall the first part offering a view of Xuanwu Lake, and later you can see Jiming Temple).
Chinese Imperial Examination Museum
When I visited in the summer, I spent about half a day there; the exhibits are quite rich. However, after I left, I somehow ended up in a commercial street, wandered around, and finally got out. I’m not sure if I took a wrong turn or if the signage was intentionally misleading—just a heads‑up for visitors.
Zhan Garden
I haven’t been there yet. It’s not exactly obscure; it’s just that most first‑time visitors to Nanjing don’t usually go there (I always forget or have other places I want to see first).
Hongshan Zoo
It’s said to be good, but I haven’t had time to go yet (I love visiting zoos).
Leather Rabbit Special:
Nanjing Dapai (big‑plate restaurant) is very tasty. However, on weekdays you might have to wait in line, and I’m not sure if the quality varies between branches. I went to the Xinjiekou location during summer and waited two hours each time.
A classmate from Fudan recommended a place called Yu Chun; I found it delicious and very affordable (since it’s in a residential area). I’d give it 5/5. The downside is the limited variety of dishes, but they do have salted duck, etc.
Next to the Presidential Palace, in the 1912 district, there’s a Xianheng Hotel that I think is quite good; I still can’t get enough of their fermented rice milk tea.
Supplement: Vegetarian noodles and osmanthus cake at Linggu Temple are delicious.
If you have time, you can explore the residential areas for food; you might discover some excellent restaurants.
Another addition: this shop is also great; I’d rate it 4.5‑5/5.
I really want to eat salted duck 
That’s all for now; I’ll add more if I remember anything else.