Nanjing 3 Days 2 Nights Highlights Tour Guide
✨ Trip Highlights
· In-depth exploration of World Cultural Heritage: Experience iconic tulou buildings such as the "Four Dishes and One Soup" Tianluokeng and Yunshuiyao Ancient Town all at once
· High cost-performance itinerary design: Carefully selected free and low-cost special activities, strictly controlling the budget within 2000 RMB
· Perfect combination of nature and culture: Featuring the architectural wonders of tulou and the pastoral scenery of small bridges and flowing water
📝 Basic Information
Best travel seasons: Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November) with pleasant climate and best scenery
Recommended transportation: Most convenient to depart from Xiamen, about 1.5 hours by high-speed train to Nanjing Station
Total budget control: About 1800-2000 RMB (including accommodation, transportation, tickets, meals)
🗓️ Itinerary Overview
Here is the overall arrangement for the three-day itinerary for your intuitive understanding:
```mermaid
gantt
title Nanjing 3 Days 2 Nights Itinerary
dateFormat HH:mm
axisFormat %H:%M
section Day 1: Tianluokeng Line
Depart from Xiamen :d1_1, 07:00, 3h
Arrive at Nanjing & Lunch :d1_2, after d1_1, 1h
Tianluokeng Viewing Platform :d1_3, after d1_2, 1h
Visit Yuchang Building :d1_4, after d1_3, 1.5h
Tour Taxia Village :d1_5, after d1_4, 2h
Check-in at Taxia Village :d1_6, after d1_5, 30m
Taste Hakka Dinner :d1_7, after d1_6, 1.5h
section Day 2: Yunshuiyao Line
Depart after breakfast :d2_1, 08:00, 1h
Visit Hegui Building :d2_2, after d2_1, 1h
Yunshuiyao Ancient Path :d2_3, after d2_2, 2h
Lunch and Rest :d2_4, after d2_3, 1h
Visit Huaiyuan Building :d2_5, after d2_4, 1.5h
Return to Homestay for Rest :d2_6, after d2_5, 30m
Dinner & Night Tour :d2_7, after d2_6, 2h
section Day 3: Leisure Return
Pack after breakfast :d3_1, 08:00, 1h
Hekeng Tulou Cluster :d3_2, after d3_1, 2h
Lunch :d3_3, after d3_2, 1h
Buy Local Specialties :d3_4, after d3_3, 1h
Return to Xiamen :d3_5, after d3_4, 3h
```
🗺️ Detailed Itinerary
🏮 Day 1: Tianluokeng Line
· Morning: Depart from Xiamen by high-speed train to Nanjing Station (ticket about 55 RMB, travel time about 3.5 hours). Upon arrival, it is recommended to have a simple meal near the station, about 30 RMB per person. Then head to the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster (ticket included in the combined ticket), overlook the famous "Four Dishes and One Soup" view from the upper viewing platform, an excellent spot for photos.
· Afternoon: Visit the 700-year-old Yuchang Building, famous for its internal wooden pillars leaning in different directions yet remaining stable, a living example of ancient residential architecture. Then proceed to Taxia Village, known as the "Zhouzhuang of Southern Fujian," stroll along both sides of the creek, admire 11 stone arch bridges of various styles and 42 tulou buildings.
· Evening: Check in at a homestay in Taxia Village (recommended Nanjing Tulou Fangyuan Inn, affordable king rooms, located next to the Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster for easy tulou visits anytime). Dinner can be enjoyed at the homestay with homemade Hakka cuisine, about 50 RMB per person.
Daily expenses: Transportation 85 RMB + Tickets (combined) 100 RMB + Accommodation 150 RMB + Meals 130 RMB = 465 RMB
🌳 Day 2: Yunshuiyao Line
· Morning: After breakfast, head to Yunshuiyao Scenic Area (ticket included in combined ticket). First visit Hegui Building, the tallest tulou built on marshland in Fujian; stomping inside can make the entire ground vibrate. The courtyard also features a clear division "Yin-Yang Well."
· Afternoon: Walk along the Yunshuiyao Ancient Path, admire a banyan tree group composed of 13 century-old and millennium-old banyans, visit the waterwheel built for the movie "Yunshuiyao." Rest at a teahouse by the ancient path and taste local tea (about 30 RMB). Lunch at a restaurant by the path with Hakka specialties, about 50 RMB per person. In the afternoon, visit Huaiyuan Building, the best-preserved double-ring circular tulou with exquisite craftsmanship.
· Evening: Stay at a homestay inside Yunshuiyao Ancient Town (recommended Yunshuiyao Huazhu Lanxi Boutique Homestay and other tulou-style inns). Dinner can be had in the ancient town, about 60 RMB per person, and enjoy the night scenery.
Daily expenses: Transportation 30 RMB + Accommodation 200 RMB + Meals 140 RMB + Others 30 RMB = 400 RMB
🚶 Day 3: Leisure Return
· Morning: After breakfast, visit the relatively less crowded Hekeng Tulou Cluster (ticket 50 RMB per person), where you can quietly appreciate 13 large tulou and experience the authentic tulou living atmosphere.
· Afternoon: Have lunch near the scenic area, about 40 RMB per person. Then buy some local specialties such as tangerines, bananas, orchids, and Dendrobium officinale (rare in the scenic area, recommended to buy in the county or on the way back). Then take the high-speed train back to Xiamen.
Daily expenses: Transportation 85 RMB + Tickets 50 RMB + Meals 90 RMB = 225 RMB
💰 Budget Breakdown
Expense Category Details Total
Transportation Round trip high-speed train Xiamen-Nanjing 110 RMB, local transport (bus/carpool) about 100 RMB About 210 RMB
Accommodation Night 1 Taxia Village homestay about 150 RMB, Night 2 Yunshuiyao homestay about 200 RMB 350 RMB
Tickets Tianluokeng Scenic Area 90 RMB, Hekeng Tulou Cluster 50 RMB 140 RMB
Meals Three meals daily about 120-150 RMB, calculated for 3 days About 400 RMB
Total About 1100 RMB
From the budget table, even with some backup funds and shopping expenses, the total cost can easily be controlled within 2000 RMB.
💡 Practical Tips
1. Ticket discounts: Tickets for Tianluokeng and Yunshuiyao scenic areas are both 90 RMB per person, but buying a combined ticket is more cost-effective. Students, seniors, etc., enjoy half-price discounts.
2. Transportation advice: Sightseeing buses inside the scenic areas have low cost-performance; self-driving or chartering is more convenient. From Nanjing high-speed train station, take bus No. 6 to Shuyang Town Nanjing Tulou Tourist Center.
3. Accommodation choice: Recommended to stay in homestays in Taxia Village or Yunshuiyao scenic area to experience local customs and conveniently tour early and late, avoiding daytime tourist peaks.
4. Must-have items: Non-slip shoes (Yunshuiyao cobblestone roads are slippery), mosquito repellent (mosquitoes are many in summer), rain gear, and power bank.
5. Pitfalls to avoid:
· Commercial atmosphere inside tulou is strong; be cautious of "free guided tours" to avoid being pushed products
· Extra fees may be required for going upstairs; try to bargain
· Avoid peak holiday periods to prevent overcrowding.
Wishing everyone a pleasant journey!