Don't just visit Confucius Temple for a nighttime stroll in Nanjing | A blogger's personally tested and tested route to avoid common pitfalls (with nighttime photography spots included)

After three trips to Nanjing, I finally dared to put together this nighttime tour route—the first time, I was so crowded at Confucius Temple that I couldn't move even with full signal; the second time, I rented shared bikes and rode blindly along Xuanwu Lake; the third time, I dragged a local friend from Nanhu Night Market all the way to Laomendong. Finally, I pieced together a nighttime economy route from 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM that doesn't involve backtracking. This post only covers places I've personally experienced and that have a local feel, and contains no blatant advertising.

The entire route is suitable for walking and cycling from evening to late at night, and is suitable for photographers, couples, and solo diners. The blue hour in summer is the best time for photos, while autumn and winter offer a more misty feel.

18:00-19:30 Xuanwu Lake Ten-Mile Causeway: Enjoy the city skyline lights

Do not enter through the main gate of Xuanwu Gate. Turn onto Huanhu Road from the side of Gangzicun subway station, and walk for about 8 minutes to reach the ten-mile-long embankment. Here you will see the Zifeng Tower and the Ming City Wall, with a wide expanse of water, offering a much cleaner view than from the pleasure boats on the lake.

Blue hour starts around 7:00 PM, but in summer it can be as late as 7:20 PM. I suggest arriving before 6:30 PM to secure a good spot. Shared bicycles are prohibited on the lakeside road; you must walk or park outside the entrance.

This section is free; once the lights are on, the city skyline merges into Xuanwu Lake, attracting many locals for night runs but fewer tourists.

19:30-20:00 Cycling to Nanhu: The local late-night food scene with long queues.

From Xuanwu Lake, walk about 10 minutes to Gangzicun subway station and scan a shared bike. Alternatively, search for Nanhu East Street on your navigation app, take Longpan Road, turn onto Zhongshan East Road, and then onto Shengzhou Road. The entire route is about 5.5 kilometers and takes 25 to 30 minutes to cycle.

This cycling route passes through the Ming Palace and Chaotian Palace area. Traffic is light at night, but some sections of Zhongshan South Road lack dedicated bike lanes, so it's recommended to cycle slowly. If you're worried about getting tired, you can take Metro Line 4 and transfer to Line 2 to Yunjin Road Station and walk, but you'll miss the scent of plane trees in the evening breeze.

20:00-21:30 Nanhu Night Market Street Food Tour: Eat in order to avoid making a mistake

Nanhu Night Market isn't the kind of neatly arranged street of stalls for tourists; instead, it's a gathering place for old Nanjing late-night snacks, where shops at the bottom of residential buildings and pushcarts are mixed together. The older the duck blood and vermicelli stall, the more stable it is—that's my old-fashioned method.

My usual order is: first, have a bowl of sweet taro soup near the entrance to warm up my stomach, then grab a handful of freshly fried skewers from Nanhu; the vegetarian chicken and rice cakes absorb the sauce better than the meat skewers. If I can still walk, I'll order a basket of soup dumplings or half a portion of live eggs. You can eat until you're stuffed for just a few dozen yuan per person, but if you don't know how to peel live eggs, just take a picture and don't try.

The night market starts packing up around 11 PM, and it's busiest before 9 PM. Park your bike outside the entrance on Nanhu East Street; don't ride inside, as the sidewalks are narrow and the fumes are heavy, making it difficult to push your bike.

21:30-22:00 Moving on to Laomendong: Delving into the alleys where locals listen to local opera performances.

From Nanhu Night Market, scan a shared bike again and navigate to Xiaoxihu or Gutong Lane on the east or west side of Laomen. It's about 5 kilometers and takes about 25 minutes. Don't walk on the main street of Confucius Temple; the crowds there don't disperse until 10 pm.

After turning into the side alley, you'll see several old teahouses without signs, with signs outside reading "Nanjing Baiju" or "Kunqu Opera A cappella". Nanjing Baiju is a local folk art, and its singing style is full of the down-to-earth atmosphere of old Nanjing, which is much more interesting than the antique-style performances in tourist attractions.

22:00-23:30 Baiju Teahouse concludes the night: the relaxed atmosphere that the night economy should have.

Choose a teahouse with scheduled performances, order a pot of Yuhua tea (tea and seating cost a few dozen yuan per person), and listen to a piece of "Qinhuai Scenery" or a Baiju folk song. The audience is mostly local opera enthusiasts, who occasionally hum along.

If you're not interested in traditional folk arts, you can try the small bars near Laomendong, but you should check in advance if there are any jazz or folk performances that night. I personally recommend teahouses, because from Xuanwu Lake to Nanhu Lake and then to the alley stage, the night in Nanjing transitions perfectly from the water and fireworks to the sounds of the city.

Don't rush to leave after the event. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from Laomendong to the Wengcheng (outer city wall) of Zhonghuamen. The lights on the city gate are still on after 11:00 PM, and the atmosphere at night is more oppressive than during the day.

Night photography: 5 camera positions + 4 safety tips

Camera position 1: During the blue hour at the ten-mile-long causeway of Xuanwu Lake, capture the reflection of Zifeng Peak. Camera position 2: At the foot of the Taicheng section of the city wall, use a telephoto lens to compress the Ming Dynasty city wall and the illuminated skyline. Camera position 3: At the entrance of Nanhu Night Market, use a slow shutter speed to capture the carts and the queue of people. Camera position 4: In Gutong Lane, Laomendong, the bluestone pavement and red lanterns are captured in the shot. Camera position 5: Changgan Bridge outside the Wengcheng of Zhonghua Gate; the city gate tower is cleanly lit at midnight, with almost no tourists.

Safety Tips: 1. When riding a shared bicycle at night, be sure to turn on the lights and wear light-colored clothing, as some sections of the road are shaded by trees. 2. The lighting along the Xuanwu Lake ring road is dim after 10 PM; women or solo riders should try to travel in groups. 3. When exploring the night market, do not put your phone and wallet in your outer pocket; wear your bag in front of you when taking photos. 4. When returning home late at night, use a ride-hailing service and locate the main alley entrance of Laomendong. Do not enter unlit alleys; only exit the alley after the driver accepts the order.

I walked this route three times before I finally figured it out. It's suitable for experiencing Nanjing at night as a mobile local culture experience, rather than just checking off a few lit spots.