NANJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 19: (CHINA OUT) Visitors view the "Gold Guan Yin Bodhisattva Statue", made during the Warring States period (475 to 221 BC) at the Valuable Treasures Special Exhibition In Nanjing Museum on November 19, 2007 in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province, China. Eighteen priceless treasures were selected from the museum's 420,000 collections, dating back 5,000 years ago. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

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Nanjing Museum

Top choice in Nanjing

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This fabulous museum has three dramatically modern exhibition blocks alongside a traditional, temple-style hall. Exhibits range from 20th-century brush-and-ink paintings to ancient calligraphy (including sutra scrolls from Dunhuang) and a magnificent Han-dynasty jade burial suit.

Don't miss the Gallery of the Republican Period, a kitschy underground recreation of Nanjing in its 1930s heyday, complete with working cafes, post office and (stationary) steam engine. The adjoining Digital Gallery has a handful of interactive exhibits suitable for kids.

Bring your passport.

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  • NANJING, CHINA - 2014/11/12: Tourists take photos in front of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum. Sun's Mausoleum situated at the foot of Mount Zijin in Nanjing, Sun is considered to be the "Father of Modern China" both in mainland China and Taiwan, as well as the founder of Republic of China. As the Holy land of Chinese people both home and abroad, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum attracts a lot of visitors every year. (Photo by Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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    1.44 MILES

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  • Qixia Temple

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  • Zhan Garden

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  • Zhōngyāng Gate

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Nearby Nanjing attractions

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0.18 MILES

One of the original 13 Ming city gates in town, located in the east of town. There's not much to see of the gate itself but you can take the weathered…

2. Ming Palace Ruins

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3. Wuchaomen Park

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4. Meiling Palace

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5. Ming Xiaoling Tomb

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6. Presidential Palace

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7. Jiuhuashan Park

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8. Zǐxiá Lake

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