How do I get to Nanjing?

Nanjing Lukou International (NKG), the city's single commercial airport, sits south of the Xinjiekou district. Metro Line S1 runs from the airport basement to Nanjing South Station in 39 minutes for ¥7. NKG handles direct flights from about 20 international cities, all within Asia and the Middle East. You'll find nonstop service from Seoul Incheon on Air China and Korean Air (2 hours), Tokyo Narita on China Eastern (3 hours), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (4.5 hours), and Singapore Changi (5.5 hours). From North America or Western Europe, no airline runs nonstop to NKG. You're connecting through Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK), or Seoul (ICN).

The practical routing from the US or Europe is to fly into Shanghai Pudong (PVG), then connect to Nanjing by high-speed rail. Round-trip economy from LAX or SFO to PVG runs $750-1,200 on United, Delta, or China Eastern, with nonstop flights of 12-13 hours. From JFK, expect $850-1,300 on those same carriers. London Heathrow to PVG costs £500-850 nonstop on British Airways or China Eastern, about 11 hours eastbound. From PVG, you'll need to transfer to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. Budget about 90 minutes for the cross-city trip on Metro Line 2, or 70 minutes via the Maglev plus a Metro transfer. From Hongqiao, G-trains to Nanjing South depart every 10-15 minutes and cover 300 km in 65 minutes for ¥135 second class, roughly $20. Beijing is also viable, with flights into Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX). The HSR from Beijing South to Nanjing South covers 1,000 km in 3.5 hours for ¥445, about $66.

Flights to Shanghai are cheapest in March and November, between the Chinese New Year spike and the October Golden Week crush. Avoid booking during October 1-7 (National Day) and late January through mid-February (Spring Festival), when fares rise 40-60% and train tickets sell out 3-5 days ahead. Mind you, NKG's international terminal feels surprisingly quiet compared to the wall of noise and bodies at PVG. Immigration queues at NKG rarely exceed 15 minutes. Down on the S1 platform, the air is cool and carries a faint tang of floor cleaner. The train runs every 12 minutes. When you step out at Nanjing South Station, the thick Yangtze Valley humidity hits you from May through September, with highs above 38°C on most summer days. Today's 22°C and light drizzle is a September reprieve.

Something that catches first-timers off guard is China's firewall. Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Gmail are all blocked. Download Baidu Maps or Amap (Gaode Ditu) before departure, and pick up a China-compatible eSIM with VPN access for your arrival. The currency is the Chinese yuan (CNY). It runs about ¥6.71 to the US dollar at current rates. ATMs in NKG's arrivals hall accept Visa and Mastercard, though withdrawal fees tend to run ¥15-20 per transaction. WeChat Pay and Alipay now let foreign visitors link a credit card, which helps in a city where cash is increasingly refused at smaller vendors. Nanjing's taxis are metered and cheap, with a ¥9 flag drop, but drivers at NKG rarely speak English. Keep your hotel address in Chinese characters on your phone. It saves a 10-minute pantomime in the taxi queue.