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Museums and galleries in Nanjing

20 museums and galleries in Nanjing, from the big collections to small independent spaces.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Museums and galleries in Nanjing

  1. See

    Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts (AMNUA)

    南京艺术学院美术馆

    The Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts is a contemporary exhibition space that integrates artistic display with academic research. Featuring modern, open galleries, it showcases works by faculty, students, and artists from around the world. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions, lectures, and cultural events, making it a vibrant hub of creativity in Nanjing.

    09:00-17:30, closed on MondaysFree

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    Confucius Temple

    Fuzimiao (夫子庙)

    Once an imperial examination testing center for the entire Jiangsu region, this museum comprises a tiny fraction of the once-massive original buildings. The rest of the site is a massive, labyrinthine market; a top tourist draw in Nanjing and a place where you can get all your haggling out of your system. Get your picture taken with the Confucius sculpture and grab some tea on one of the gondolas on the canal. On the southern side of town next to Zhonghua Gate and the Taiping Museum.

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    Gan Family Compound

    Gan's Grand Courtyard, 甘家大院, 甘熙宅第, 甘熙故居 Gan Xi's former residence

    Built during the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor (1796-1820), this is the former residence of Gan Xi, a famous scholar and civil servant. It is said to be the largest traditional private residence in Nanjing and has over 300 rooms. The residence is administered by the Nanjing Folk Museum (南京市民俗博物馆) and has many exhibits on traditional Chinese culture.

    09:00-17:30, no entry after 17:00, closed on Mondays¥20

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    Great Bao'en Temple Ruins Park

    大报恩寺遗址公园, 大报恩寺遗址景区

    Once one of Nanjing's greatest Buddhist temples, the Great Bao'en Temple was destroyed by the Taiping rebels when they occupied the city in the mid-19th century. There is now a museum at the site. The Porcelain Tower, which is said to have been one of the seven wonders of the medieval world, has been reconstructed and affords great views over the city.

    Closed · opens 9 am¥120 (discounted to ¥80 if you buy the ticket on the website)

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    Jinghai Temple Museum

    静海寺纪念馆

    The first temple was built in 15th century to commemorate the voyages of Zheng He. In 1842, following China's defeat in the First Opium War, the Jinghai Temple was the venue for discussions between the British and the Qing government over the terms of the Treaty of Nanking. It was rebuilt twice due to being destroyed in the Taiping Rebellion and then in the Second World War. The current structures date from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. There are exhibitions about both Zheng He's voyages and the Treaty of Nanking.

    08:30-17:30, no entry after 16:30, closed on MondaysFree

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    John Rabe's former residence

    拉贝旧居，拉贝故居, 拉贝与国际安全区纪念馆 John Rabe and International Safety Zone Memorial Hall

    John Rabe (1882-1950) was a German businessman and Nazi party member who is widely celebrated in China for his efforts to protect civilians during the Japanese occupation. This house was his residence from 1932 to 1938. It is now a museum dedicated to telling the story of Rabe's life and the Nanjing International Safety Zone that he helped to establish and which is credited with saving thousands of lives.

    08:30-16:30 (Mon to Fri). Visitors can also visit on the weekend if they make a booking in advanceFree

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    Liji Alley Comfort Station Site

    利济巷慰安所旧址

    The term 'comfort station' was a euphemism used by the Japanese army in World War II to refer to a brothel where so-called 'comfort women' were held captive and forced to render sexual services to Japanese soldiers. This particular comfort station was one of the largest in Asia. It is now a museum run by the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. Entry is by appointment only. Visitors are required to make an appointment at least one day before visiting and cannot visit more than twice a month or more than 10 times a year. Due to the adult content of the exhibitions, children are not permitted inside the building.

    09:00-16:30, closed on Sundays and MondaysFree

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    Nanjing Geological Museum

    南京地质博物馆

    The Nanjing Museum of Geology is a comprehensive science museum dedicated to Earth history, minerals, fossils, and geological evolution. Featuring extensive collections of ancient fossils, mineral specimens, and interactive exhibits, the museum offers visitors an engaging way to explore the formation of the Earth and the development of life. It serves as an important educational and research center in Nanjing.

    09:30-16:30 (Wed to Fri), 09:00-16:30 (Sat and Sun), closed on Mondays and TuesdaysFree

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    Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall

    侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆

    A memorial for the hundreds of thousands of Chinese who died at the hands of Japanese troops in Nanjing during World War II. Two partially excavated mass-burial sites reveal victims remains in situ, accompanied by insightful information boards around the walkway. The elongated sites sympathetically restrained architecture and beautifully maintained gardens are interspersed with sculptures, murals and other artworks that inspire solemn meditations. Close to the entrance is the museum exhibiting multitudes of photos, videos and objects to tell the full story, somewhat even-handedly, that can easily occupy you for hours. Captions are in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Entrance lines can be long, so plan accordingly.

    Tue-Sun 08:30-16:30Free

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    Nanjing Museum

    南京博物院

    Eleven exhibition halls display a mixture of poetry, bronzes and silk artifacts interspersed with cultural displays. Worth pondering over are a jade burial suit and an arched door from the Ming era Porcelain Pagoda. A great place to spend humid or rainy days.

    Tue-Fri and most public holidays 09:00-17:00, Mon 09:00-12:00, no entry in last 60 minutes, closed on the first day of Chinese New Year and on Chinese New Year's EveFree

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    Nanjing Non-Government Museum of the War of Resistance Against Japan

    南京民间抗日战争博物馆

    A privately-run museum dedicated to the Second Sino-Japanese War.

    09:00-16:00, closed on MondaysFree

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    Taiping Kingdom History Museum

    太平天国历史博物馆

    A small museum focusing on the Taiping Rebellion (1843-1868), a piece of history not well known in the West. This was one of the bloodiest conflicts in recorded history — some estimates put the death toll higher than for World War I, and it was certainly much worse than the American Civil War at about the same time, even though the Chinese used more primitive weapons. It was a crucial moment in China's relationship with the West, modernity, and its relationship to its own imperial history. It was partly a religious movement (see Christianity); the leader claimed to be God's second son, Jesus' younger brother. The quasi-Christian, peasant-led rebellion overran an area greater than Texas with Nanjing as its capital. At different times it threatened both the foreign settlements in Shanghai and the Qing government in Beijing, though it did not take either. On exhibit are documents relating to Taiping history and the grinding reduction of their movement by enterprising Qing generals and their European auxiliaries, culminating in the siege of Nanjing. Most documents and artifacts are replicas. Item descriptions are in Chinese and English, but only the Chinese text gives historical context and transcription of some of the handwritten documents. Next door are the beautiful Zhanyuan Gardens.

    Daily 08:00-17:30, 17:30-20:30¥30 (day time), ¥70 (night time, with tour guide). Fees are waived for children and persons over 70. Visitors aged between 60 and 69 pay half price

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    Yangtze River Crossing Campaign Victory Memorial Hall

    渡江胜利纪念馆

    A museum about the capture of Nanjing by Communist forces in 1949.

    09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on MondaysFree

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    Jiangsu Art Museum (New Branch)

    江苏省美术馆新馆

    333 Changjiang Road, Xuanwu District (玄武区长江路333号)

    09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on MondaysFree

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    Jiangsu Art Museum (Old Branch)

    江苏省美术馆老馆

    266 Changjiang Road, Xuanwu District (玄武区长江路266号)

    09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on MondaysFree

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    Jinling Art Museum

    金陵美术馆

    50 Jianzi Lane, Qinhuai District (秦淮区剪子巷50号)

    09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on MondaysFree

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    Nanjing Municipal Museum

    南京市博物馆

    No. 4 Chaotian Palace, Wangfu Street, Qinhuai District (秦淮区王府大街朝天宫4号)

    09:00-18:00, no entry after 17:00, closed on MondaysThe entry fee for the museum is included with the ticket for Chaotian Palace, which costs ¥25

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    Nanjing Museum of Paleontology

    南京古生物博物馆

    39 Beijing Road East, Xuanwu District (玄武区北京东路39号)

    On weekdays, the museum is only open to groups who are required to make an appointment at least one day in advance. Solo visitors may visit the museum between 09:00 and 17:00 on weekends and public holidays¥20

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    Nanjing Science and Technology Museum

    南京科技馆

    9 Zixinghua Road, Yuhuatai District (雨花台区紫荆花路9号)

    09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays and TuesdaysFree

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    Sifang Contemporary Art Museum

    四方当代美术馆, Sifang Art Museum

    9 Zhen Qi Road, Pukou District (浦口区珍七路9号)

    10:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays¥80 (including museum and art lake), ¥30 (lake only)

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Nanjing (CC BY-SA 4.0).