Nanjing (Jiangsu, China)

Nanjing Day Trip!

…I just like view in this picture … and I didn’t even go all the way to the top of the temple …

I have been wanting to blog about day trips for awhile but in order to blog about day trips …. well … you gotta take a day trip ! I took the speed train to Nanjing and bought a first class ticket (uhhh never again … nothing special about first class on the train – okay so the seats were a little nicer …. but thats about it … ill survive in second class!)

I am super excited to tell you that all of my activities were under 100RMB which is about $14.46 USD – not bad right? Nope.

At any rate …. my departing ticket was 144.50RMB ($20.90 USD) and my return ticket was 40RMB ($5.78USD) – so it is really inexpensive to travel on the train. If you have the time and you are traveling locally the train is the way to go!

Train tickets – 184.50RMB/26.68USD

Activities –

Zhongshan Mountain National Park – Free

I planned on checking out – Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum (free) but I found out once I arrived that you have to make reservations for your free tickets because it packs out. I don’t remember reading that anywhere, but now I know. I walked around the national park for a little while. It was hot, but there was lots to see. Since this was a day trip I needed to do as much as I could while there.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum

Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum is the burial site of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great pioneer of China’s democratic revolution and “Father of the Republic of China”. The mausoleum was constructed in three years from 1926 to 1929. It was listed as a key historical and cultural site under state protection in 1961 and a national AAAAA scenic spot in 2007.

Next stop… Jiming Temple Cost: 10RMB/$1.45USD (not bad right???)

From what I read online this temple seemed super cool so I had to check it out. It was inexpensive and once I got inside I felt like it just kept going and going. Here are a few pics from while I was at the temple.

Jiming Temple was founded in 300 AD during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The temple is one of the famous ancient temples in Nanjing and the only one monastery in the southeast coastal area. It is said that Emperor Liang Wu Di used to live here like real monks for four times with a name of Emperor Bodhisattva.

https://www.chinatravel.com/nanjing-attraction/jiming-temple/

i got played yall … i asked him to write the word JOY in Chinese on my necklace … needless to say … it doesn’t say JOY …. shoot!

I was extremely exhausted after these two stops. It was hot and I did a lot of walking outside…. I was meeting a friend for dinner … but needed to wait for her to get off of work. I rented a bike and rode around the city for awhile…

We ate dinner at Chaley’s – an African restaurant and even got a mini history lesson. Bummed I forgot to get a picture with the owners. Guess I will just have to go back and eat there again ….

stayed with a friend for the night – was exhausted – day 2 ….

Even though I say “day” trip I stayed over night to see the Nanjing Massacre Museum in the morning before heading back to Shanghai. If you ever find yourself in Nanjing definitely check out this museum. So much history and you can really learn about tensions between Japan and China. I didn’t plan on going but multiple people told me I needed to check it out … and …

.it. was. free.

Nanjing Massacre Museum – Cost- free! There will be a lot of people … I suggest going early or being prepared to be in the midst of a crowd. Here are a few pics from this museum.

Train tickets – 184.50RMB/26.68USD

National Park- Free

Jiming Temple- 10RMB/$1.45USD

Chaley’s- 126 RMB/$18.22USD

Nanjing Massacre Museum- Free

Nanjing Metro Card- 107RMB/$15.47USD – I spent more here than planned. This was frustrating, but I was unsure how to use the machine and people were kind and tried to help me … we just kept buying the wrong type of card for the train system. Now I have a card for my next trip to Nanjing.

Total cost of trip: 427.50RMB/$61.67USD (Train/attractions/food/metro)

If I was in America taking a day trip … I probably would have spent close to $200.00 easy – maybe on my train tickets alone, lol). It is nice that the cost of living is low here and it is rather inexpensive to do most things. I didn’t even plan on spending this much and the next time I go I can totally spend less because I wont by a first class train ticket (LAME) and I have a metro card/know how to use the machine now. I still have a few things on my Nanjing list to do that are free/under 100RMB!!!

Day trips are awesome! There is so much to do locally – as much as I love being a jet-setter- and going to the airport to visit new cities and countries there is lots to see just hours away!

…month 9 update post coming soon … hope all is well with everyone!

I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’

#FearlessinShanghai #Thankful #joychangeslives #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJoy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #BlackInShanghai #BlackInChina #BlackAmericanInChina #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla #KarlaGirlJoy #BlackGirlInShanghai #eatsleeppartyrepeat #givingisgood #givingisfun #WakandaForever #ShuriAndNakiaAndOkoye #MelaninMagic #Blessed #FaithfulIsMyGod