Timeline
15:32
Grab a seat at Les 5 Sens for an early dinner. The French chef prepares homemade dishes in a cosy setting, giving you a calm start before the evening rush.
16:32
Walk ten minutes to John Rabe's former residence. Spend the hour inside the museum, reading the accounts of the Nanjing International Safety Zone and the lives saved in 1937. The building is quiet and reflective, perfect for processing the day's history.
17:12
Step outside the residence just as the sky begins to shift. The sun sets toward the west, casting long shadows across the eastern side of the Nanjing University Campus where the house sits.
17:32
Stand in the garden or courtyard as the sun disappears. The light fades quickly after 17:32, leaving a soft, blue twilight over the historic grounds.
18:17
Head to Old Place for a late dinner. The restaurant offers reasonably priced Chinese food with English translations. It is lively and fun, especially if you try the pineapple pork with friends.
Local tip
John Rabe's former residence closes at 16:30 on weekdays. Since sunset is at 17:32 on this date, you must arrive early enough to enter before closing, or book a weekend visit in advance. Les 5 Sens is open until 22:00, so timing your dinner before the museum visit works best.
Check before you go
- John Rabe's former residence is open 08:30-16:30 (Mon to Fri). Weekend visits require advance booking.
- Les 5 Sens is open daily 11:30-22:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Nanjing (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).