Jiangsu

江苏 · Jiāngsū

Humble Administrator’s Garden · Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0

2Cities

41Sights

Cities in Jiangsu

Canal, stone bridge and whitewashed houses in old Suzhou

1–2 daysSuzhou苏州Classical gardens and canals, about 25 minutes from Shanghai by train.best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Confucius Temple and the Qinhuai River lit up at night, Nanjing

2 daysNanjing南京A former capital with Ming city walls and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum.best Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Top sights

Pond, autumn trees and pavilions in the Humble Administrator’s Garden

拙政园Humble Administrator’s GardenThe largest and most famous of Suzhou’s classical gardens: ponds, pavilions and winding corridors from the Ming dynasty.SuzhouBooking required

Reflecting pool and stone-slice rockery wall at the Suzhou Museum

苏州博物馆Suzhou MuseumI. M. Pei’s white-walled museum, a modern take on a Suzhou garden, with fine ceramics, jade and painting.SuzhouBooking required

Pond, pavilion and limestone rockeries in Lion Grove Garden

狮子林Lion Grove GardenA Yuan-dynasty garden built around a maze of contorted limestone rocks you can climb through.SuzhouBooking required

Main hall of the Nanjing Museum behind its lawn

南京博物院Nanjing MuseumOne of China’s great national museums: bronzes, porcelain, jade burial suits and a recreated Republic-era street, in six halls.NanjingBooking required

Exterior of the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall

侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese InvadersThe national memorial to the civilians and prisoners killed by Japanese troops after they took Nanjing in December 1937, built on a site where victims’ remains were found.NanjingBooking required

View down the stairway of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum over forest

中山陵Sun Yat-sen MausoleumThe tomb of the founder of modern China: 392 granite steps climbing Purple Mountain to a blue-roofed hall with wide views.NanjingBooking required