Timeline
09:00
Enter the complex and begin your walk along the mile-long Sacred Way. The towering stone statues and the giant bixi turtle at the Square Pavilion set a solemn tone. Arriving early ensures you have the space to appreciate the scale of the monuments without the midday rush.
10:00
Walk eight minutes to the nearby Zhongshan Botanical Garden. Take a quiet break among the greenery. It is a peaceful contrast to the stone grandeur of the mausoleum and a good place to rest your legs.
11:00
Head twelve minutes southeast to the Nanjing Underwater World. Spend the next hour exploring the aquarium. It is located on the south side of Purple Mountain and offers a completely different perspective of the area.
Local tip
The mausoleum complex is large. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, as there are no food or drink shops listed in the immediate vicinity for this route.
Check before you go
- Verify the opening hours for the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Nanjing Underwater World before you go, as they may vary by season.
- The Zhongshan Botanical Garden is open to the public, but check if specific sections require a separate ticket.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Nanjing (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).