Getting Around Nanjing
Nanjing is a large Chinese city with a well-developed public transport system, and visitors can reasonably expect to cover most of it without a car. The city's Metro network is the backbone of the system, supported by buses, taxis, and ride-hailing services. The notes below focus on how these modes fit together and how to use them practically.
Rail, Metro and Trams
The Nanjing Metro is the core of the city's rail transit and the mode most visitors will rely on. It is part of a broader, ambitious rail expansion across China, and in Nanjing it functions as a genuine citywide network rather than a single line.
- Metro stations are distributed across the city and serve a wide range of destinations, so for many trips the Metro will be the fastest and simplest option.
- Stations are integrated with other modes: research on Nanjing's Metro has found that feeder bus lines and bicycle park-and-ride spaces at stations are associated with higher station ridership, which reflects how the Metro, buses, and cycling are connected in practice.
- Because the network is extensive, it is worth checking a map or app before you travel to identify the nearest station to your destination and any required transfers.
For a visitor, the practical takeaway is that the Metro should be your default for longer cross-city journeys, with buses and bicycles filling the gaps at either end.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses complement the Metro and are particularly useful for shorter trips, for reaching places without a nearby station, and for connecting to and from Metro stations.
- Feeder bus lines are part of the city's transit integration, linking neighbourhoods to Metro stations.
- Bicycle park-and-ride facilities at Metro stations mean cycling plus rail is a viable combination for some journeys.
- As with any large Chinese city, bus routes can be numerous and may be less obvious to a first-time visitor than the Metro, so plan routes in advance or ask at your accommodation.
Public transport in Nanjing is best thought of as a single system: buses and bicycles feed the Metro, and the Metro carries you across the city.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are a convenient option when you want a direct door-to-door trip, when you are travelling with luggage, or when public transport does not line up well with your route. They are especially handy for the first and last legs of a journey, such as getting between a Metro station and your final destination. As in other Chinese cities, having your destination written in Chinese characters can help drivers, and ride-hailing apps generally handle the language barrier for you.
Walkability
Walking is a practical way to cover the last stretch of a journey, particularly around Metro stations. The research on Nanjing's Metro looks at station ridership within stations' pedestrian catchment areas, which reflects the fact that people reach stations on foot from the surrounding streets. In practice this means that once you exit a station, many nearby destinations will be within a comfortable walk, and walking is often the simplest way to connect a station to a specific address.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Nanjing's main airport is the principal gateway for most visitors arriving by air. To reach the city centre, the usual options are:
- Metro: where the airport is served by the Metro network, this is often the most straightforward and economical way into the city, connecting you to the wider rail system and its transfer points.
- Taxi or ride-hailing: a direct door-to-door option that is convenient with luggage or when arriving at an awkward hour.
- Airport buses: shuttle services that run between the airport and city destinations, useful if they happen to serve the area where you are staying.
Before you land, it is worth checking which of these connects best to your accommodation, and confirming current operating hours, since late-night arrivals may limit your choices.
Practical Tips
- Plan your route around the Metro first, then use buses, walking, taxis, or ride-hailing to reach the exact destination.
- Look for bicycle park-and-ride facilities and feeder buses at Metro stations if your destination is not right by a station.
- Keep your destination written in Chinese characters when using taxis.
- Allow extra time for transfers, especially when combining bus and rail.