AI estimate Updated Mar 22, 2026 About guide entries
Other Services and Amenities
- Table Tennis Spots
- Wutaishan Sports Center.
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Shunfeng) - very reliable, approx. 12-20 CNY for domestic.
- Tech Repair Services
- Buyun Building at Xinjiekou for third-party electronics repair.
- Language Classes
- Nanjing University (CFL Program) or private tutors via 'Italki' or local agencies.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Nanjing Library (next to Presidential Palace) - very modern and quiet.
- Community Centers
- Xianlin International Community Center.
- Gaming Lounges
- Wangyu Cyber Cafe chains at Xinjiekou (approx. 10 CNY/hour).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in mainland China; nearest is Macau (2-hour flight).
Essentials
- City
- Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Population
- Approximately 9.5 million
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps; Fiber is standard in apartments, but a VPN (Astrill or LetsVPN) is mandatory for international sites.
- Currency & Banking
- CNY (Chinese Yuan), 1 USD ≈ 7.20 CNY. Highly digitized economy via AliPay and WeChat Pay.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use a filter or buy 5L bottled water for approx. 10 CNY.
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and I (flat two-pin and three-pin) sockets.
- SIM Card
- China Unicom or China Mobile. Approx. 100 CNY for 50GB data. Bring passport to official stores like the one on Xinjiekou North Road.
- Banking for Expats
- Bank of China or ICBC. Use 'TourCard' on AliPay for short-term stays to link foreign cards.
- Accommodation
- Ziroom (longer term) or Ctrip/Trip.com (short term). High-rise apartments are the norm.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely. Cash is rarely used; AliPay and WeChat Pay are essential.
- Short Term Rentals
- Trip.com and Meituan. Prices range from 250-500 CNY per night in central areas.
- Budget Accommodation
- Nanjing Blue Sky Hostel (approx. 80 CNY/night) or local 'Inn' styles near Fuzimiao.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Fuzimiao (Confucius Temple) or Xuanwu District for proximity to lakes and history.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Gulou District (near Nanjing University) for a student/intellectual vibe, or Hexi Central Business District for modern infrastructure.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (Jinling Fortune Center, Xinjiekou). Dedicated desks approx. 1,800 CNY/month.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Uniuni Coffee (Zhongshan Road) or Skyways Bakery (Shanghai Road). Excellent Wi-Fi and power outlets.
- Networking Events
- Nanjing Expat Group meetups and European Union Chamber of Commerce events (Nanjing Chapter).
- Social Events for Expats
- Events at 'Talking' Bar or 'Brewsell’s' on Shanghai Road; check 'NanjingExpat' official WeChat account.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- DiDi (integrated into AliPay/WeChat). Very affordable, 15-30 CNY for most city trips.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- HelloBike or Meituan Bike. Scannable via apps, approx. 1.5 CNY per 30 minutes.
- Best Beach Nearby
- No local beaches; closest coastal access is Qidong or Shanghai (approx. 2-3 hours by high-speed train).
- Top Regional Airline
- China Eastern Airlines / Juneyao Air.
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa (direct to Frankfurt) or Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong).
- Highway Access
- G42 (Shanghai-Nanjing) and G25 (Changchun-Shenzhen) expressways.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Nanjing South Railway Station (Asia's largest) for High-Speed Rail.
- Public Transport Passes
- Nanjing City Smart Card (Jinling Tong) or mobile QR codes in AliPay 'Transport' section. Metro fares 2-7 CNY.
- Regional Travel
- High-Speed Rail (G-Trains) to Shanghai (1.5 hours) or Hangzhou (1.5 hours) for approx. 140 CNY.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (Gulou Hospital) - has a dedicated International Medical Center.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Fine Yoga (Xinjiekou branch). Monthly passes approx. 800-1,200 CNY.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Will's Gym or Physical Fitness. Standard memberships are 3,000-5,000 CNY per year.
- Laundry Services
- Fornet (widely available in malls) or app-based pickup services via Meituan.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai or Ele.me. Delivery fee usually under 5 CNY.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Nanjing Salted Duck (Yanshui Ya) and Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Jiming Temple Vegetarian Restaurant or Pure Lotus (near Jiming Temple).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Honeymoon Dessert (Deji Plaza) for mango sago snacks.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Suguo Supermarket chains or local wet markets in the Qinhuai District.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taobao, Tmall, and JD.com (next day delivery common).
- Grocery Delivery
- Freshippo (Hema) - high quality, 30-minute delivery via app.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- 1912 Block (near Presidential Palace) or the bars along Shanghai Road.
- Local Brewery
- Master Gao Craft Beer (The pioneer of Chinese craft beer, located near Fuqiao).
- Wine Bars
- Wine Thief (Gulou District) - curated selection and cheese platters.
- Street Food Stalls
- Mingwalou (near Xinjiekou) for authentic local snacks.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Skyways Bakery (German/Western) or Finnegans Wake (Irish Pub).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Nanjing City Wall, and the Porcelain Tower.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Nanjing Museum (one of China's largest) and Sifang Art Museum (architecture focus).
- Historical Sites
- Presidential Palace and the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre.
- Religious Sites
- Jiming Temple (Oldest temple in Nanjing) and Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao).
- Annual Events
- Qinhuai Lantern Festival (during Lunar New Year) and the International Plum Blossom Festival (March).
- Cultural Districts
- Laomendong (restored traditional architecture and artisan shops).
- Theater Venues
- Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts.
- Local Markets
- Pukou Night Market for a gritty, local college-vibe food scene.
- Music Scene
- Ola Art Space (Sunshine Plaza) for indie and rock gigs.
- Street Art
- Small creative pockets in the 704 Cultural and Creative Park.
- Cooking Classes
- The Kitchen (private studio near Xianlin) occasionally offers dumpling making.
- Art Galleries
- Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts.
- Historic Buildings
- The Yangtze River Bridge (an icon of 1960s socialist architecture).
- Local Heritage
- Yunnan Brocade (Yunjin) weaving, a UNESCO intangible heritage.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan) for hiking and historical tombs.
- National Parks Nearby
- Niushoushan Cultural Park (stunning Buddhist architecture and parkland).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The loop around Xuanwu Lake (approx. 9km) is perfect for running/cycling.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Zifeng Tower observation deck or the top of Purple Mountain.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lushuiwan Wetland Park.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Largely prohibited; try designated camping sites in Baima Park with permission.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 45,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1.8M CNY).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 25,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1M CNY).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 42,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 2.5M CNY).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 22,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1.3M CNY).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 40,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 3.2M CNY).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 20,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1.6M CNY).
- Corporate Tax
- Standard rate 25%; High-tech enterprises 15%.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Typically 10% for non-residents.
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents staying >183 days.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45%.
- VAT
- Standard 13%, with reduced rates of 9%, 6% for services.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, China has robust anti-tax avoidance and CFC rules.
- Property Tax
- Currently under pilot schemes in some cities; usually minimal for primary residential.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed tax 1-3%, Value Added Tax approx. 5.3% if owned <2 years.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; most work on M or Z visas. No 0% tax benefit.
About these guide entries
- Method
- AI estimate
- Last updated
- Mar 22, 2026
- Generated by
- Model not recorded
- Last changed
- None yet
Generated by an AI model without cited sources and not yet checked by research. A research pass replaces these values with sourced ones, compared with similar cities.