Stay in Nanjing in October
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October in Nanjing turns on one fact. China's National Day Golden Week runs October 1-7 and sends hundreds of millions of domestic travelers onto the roads and rails. Nanjing is one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals, and it sits near the top of holiday itineraries. During that week, expect shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at the Zhongshan Scenic Area on Purple Mountain, along the Qinhuai River at the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao), and inside the Presidential Palace. Hotels around Xinjiekou and Fuzimiao sell out weeks ahead.
Once the holiday ends, Nanjing may be at its most comfortable. Daytime highs settle around 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit), and the summer humidity finally breaks. The plane trees along Zhongshan Road and Zhongshan East Road start turning amber. Rainfall comes to roughly 74 mm, about a third of what July brings. Osmanthus blossoms in Qingliang Park and the Nanjing Botanical Garden give off a sweet, honeyed smell. On a side street in Gulou, you might stop mid-walk to work out where that scent is coming from.
Mid-to-late October is a strong window for most cities in eastern China, but Nanjing gains more than most because so many of its landmarks are outdoors: the Sacred Way at Ming Xiaoling, the causeways of Xuanwu Lake, and the Ming City Wall at Zhonghua Gate. The maples on Qixia Mountain, 22 km northeast of the center, start to redden in the last week of the month. Hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake and Gaochun's Gucheng Lake reach Nanjing restaurant tables every morning.
Why visit in October
- After October 7, the weather ranks among Nanjing's best all year, with highs near 22 degrees Celsius and about 74 mm of rain: far less than the June-to-September wet stretch. The 12-kilometer trail network on Purple Mountain becomes comfortable to walk.
- Hairy crab season peaks in October across the Yangtze Delta. Nanjing sits within 2 hours of Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou, and Gucheng Lake in Nanjing's own Gaochun District supplies the city's restaurants directly.
- Sweet osmanthus blooms across Nanjing in early-to-mid October. Qingliang Park and the Nanjing Botanical Garden on Purple Mountain have the densest plantings.
- The low autumn light and the first maple color make October a strong month for photographing the Sacred Way at Ming Xiaoling, the Xuanwu Lake causeways, and Qixia Mountain.
Worth knowing
- Golden Week, October 1-7, brings the year's heaviest domestic tourism. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, and Fuzimiao cap entries, and hotels in Xinjiekou book out weeks ahead.
- Hotel and intercity rail prices peak over the holiday and stay elevated until around October 15, well above winter rates or what you'd pay in March.
- Days get shorter through the month, and by late October the sun sets around 5:20 PM. Several Purple Mountain sites close at 5:00 PM, so visit Ming Xiaoling and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in the morning or around midday.
Best for
Think twice if
In October, Nanjing moves from late-summer warmth into proper autumn. Mornings along Xuanwu Lake often start around 15 degrees Celsius: light-jacket territory. On a clear afternoon at Zhonghua Gate, it can still feel warm enough for short sleeves. Expect roughly 9 days with rain, usually brief afternoon showers rather than the long downpours of the June and July plum-rain season. Humidity averages 76%, a noticeable relief after summer readings above 80%. Cold fronts from the north periodically drop temperatures by 8-10 degrees Celsius (14-18 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, and the exposed summit of Purple Mountain feels it first.
Seasonal caution
- Air quality across the Yangtze Delta deteriorates in October. Crop-residue burning in the region, combined with cooler and more stable air, can push PM2.5 into unhealthy territory for several days running. Check a real-time air-quality index before committing to a long day outdoors on Purple Mountain or Qixia Mountain.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | 0 | 41 |
| Feb | 10 | 2 | 53 |
| Mar | 17 | 7 | 91 |
| Apr | 23 | 13 | 79 |
| May | 26 | 17 | 115 |
| Jun | 30 | 22 | 184 |
| Jul | 33 | 26 | 255 |
| Aug | 33 | 26 | 123 |
| Sep | 29 | 22 | 145 |
| Oct | 23 | 15 | 74 |
| Nov | 17 | 9 | 33 |
| Dec | 10 | 1 | 17 |
Holidays and festivals in October
Public holidays
- National Day(国庆节)1 October 2026
Headline events
National Day Golden Week (国庆黄金周)
October 1-7
China's National Day marks the founding of the People's Republic on October 1, 1949, and the holiday triggers the country's largest domestic travel wave of the year. Nanjing was a national capital; it ranks among the top destinations. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, and the Nanjing Museum run timed entry with crowd caps. Flags go up across the city, and the Qinhuai River frontage at Fuzimiao is lit every evening.
Best things to do in October
Walk the Sacred Way at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
sightseeingThis avenue leads to the tomb of the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming dynasty, and runs about 1,800 meters under old trees. Lined with 12 pairs of stone animals and 4 pairs of stone officials, the approach is as impressive as the mausoleum itself. In the afternoon, the canopy scatters gold light across the flagstones.
October's mild temperatures make the full walk comfortable. Summer heat and winter's near-freezing mornings both discourage the route on foot.Booking tipSkip Golden Week entirely. Weekday mornings after October 7 are the quietest time.
Hike Qixia Mountain (栖霞山) for early maple foliage
natureQixia Mountain sits about 22 kilometers northeast of central Nanjing and has one of eastern China's most celebrated maple forests. It is also home to Qixia Temple, a Buddhist complex founded in 489 AD, and the Thousand Buddha Cliff, which has more than 500 surviving stone carvings from the Southern Dynasties.
The maples start changing color in late October and keep deepening through November. Go in the last week of October and crowds are manageable; by mid-November peak weekends, daily visitor numbers exceed 100,000.Booking tipTake the Metro, then a local bus, or a taxi of about 40 minutes from Xinjiekou. Go on a weekday, because weekend parking fills before 9 AM in foliage season.
Tour the Presidential Palace of Nanjing (南京总统府)
cultureThis large complex on Changjiang Road served as the seat of government across several eras, from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the 1850s to the Republic of China under Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek. The grounds pair a classical Chinese garden, the Xu Garden, with Western-style office buildings. The exhibitions inside trace nearly two centuries of Nanjing's turbulent politics.
The gardens and courtyards take 2–3 hours to walk, which is comfortable in October's temperatures. After October 7, queues are shorter than in any other month with similar weather.Booking tipReserve a timed-entry slot online at least 3 days ahead for any October date.
Evening walk along the Qinhuai River
sightseeingWhere the Qinhuai River runs through the Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) district, its banks are lined with illuminated Ming and Qing-style buildings, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Boat rides run every evening until about 9:30 PM. The Jiangnan Imperial Examination Museum, once one of China's largest examination halls, stands on the same stretch. At night, the lanterns reflect in the water below Wende Bridge.
October evenings typically sit around 16–18 degrees Celsius: warm enough to stroll the riverside, without the heat that makes the narrow Fuzimiao lanes miserable in July and August.Booking tipEvening boat tickets sell at the Fuzimiao pier. During Golden Week, buy them before 6 PM.
Visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre
cultureThe memorial opened in 1985 on the site of a mass grave in Jiangdongmen. It documents the events that began in December 1937 through artifacts, survivor testimony, and archaeological evidence. The architecture is deliberately stark: angular concrete walls, a pebbled memorial courtyard. Allow 2–3 hours. The visit is emotionally heavy and historically essential.
Mid-to-late October brings some of the memorial's quietest days, after the Golden Week surge and before school trips increase in November. Smaller crowds make a real difference here.Booking tipEntry is free. Closed on Mondays. Reserve a timed ticket online and arrive early to beat school groups.
Explore the Nanjing Museum
cultureFounded in 1950 near Zhongshan Gate, the Nanjing Museum is one of China's three largest. Its Republic of China wing recreates a 1930s Nanjing street, complete with a working post office, a tea house, and period shopfronts. The Art wing holds jade and porcelain spanning 5,000 years. The Digital wing layers augmented reality onto selected artifacts.
October averages 9 rainy days, and the museum's 6 halls can easily fill 3–4 hours. A rainy October day is the right moment to come here.Booking tipEntry is free but requires an advance reservation through the official WeChat mini-program. Same-day walk-in slots sometimes open after 2 PM.
Walk the Ming City Wall (明城墙)
sightseeingNanjing's city wall was built between 1366 and 1386 under the Hongwu Emperor. It originally ran about 35 kilometers; roughly 25 kilometers survive, making it one of the longest surviving city walls in the world. Zhonghua Gate (中华门) has the most impressive fortifications: its four gates are set one behind another, built as a military trap. From the top of the ramparts, you can see across Nanjing's southern districts.
October temperatures make the exposed wall-top sections comfortable to walk; the same stretches are brutal in summer and bitterly cold in January. At Zhonghua Gate, which faces south toward Yuhuatai, the afternoon autumn light is worth timing your visit around.Booking tipBuy tickets at the Zhonghua Gate or Jiefang Gate entrances. The Jiefang Gate section beside Xuanwu Lake is the easiest to reach by Metro.
Hairy crab tasting with huangjiu pairing
foodNeighborhood restaurants in Gulou and around Nanjing University on Guangzhou Road set up seasonal crab stations where you can watch the steaming. A full crab meal comes with dedicated cracking tools and small cups of warm Shaoxing huangjiu (yellow rice wine). Locals treat it as the correct pairing to cut through the rich roe.
The first haul from Yangcheng Lake and Gucheng Lake arrives in late September. By October, restaurants across Nanjing are running full crab tasting menus, before supply tightens in November.Booking tipWeekend tables at the better-known crab restaurants fill days ahead. Weeknights leave more room.
What to eat in October
In season: fruit
Persimmons (柿子)
October is peak persimmon season in Jiangsu province. Wet markets and fruit stalls carry both the firm, apple-like fuyu and the soft, jelly-textured hachiya. Ripe fruit from the hills around Nanjing is sweet and nearly custard-like.
On menus now
Hairy crab (大闸蟹)
October opens peak season for Chinese mitten crabs. Nanjing sits close to Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou and to Gucheng Lake in its own Gaochun District, so the freshest crabs arrive the same morning they leave the water. Female crabs take precedence in October for their rich golden roe. Steam them, then eat with Zhenjiang black vinegar and shredded ginger.
Salted duck (盐水鸭)
This is Nanjing's signature dish. Autumn ducks are the fattest and most flavorful, and October opens what locals call guihua ya (桂花鸭, osmanthus duck) season. The name refers to the season, not to any osmanthus in the recipe. The meat is pale, tender, and lightly salted, with a clean flavor quite different from smoked or roasted duck.
Street food peaks
Duck blood and vermicelli soup (鸭血粉丝汤)
Nanjing's defining street food, sold from small shops across Fuzimiao and Laomendong. Glass noodles sit in a milky duck-bone broth topped with cubes of duck blood, duck liver, and gizzard. The slippery noodles against the firm, mineral-tasting blood cubes are pure Nanjing. On October's cooler mornings, it makes a very good breakfast.
Roasted chestnuts (糖炒栗子)
In October, vendors start roasting chestnuts in big iron woks full of black sand and sugar. The smell of caramelizing shells drifts along the pavements near Nanjing University and around the Xinjiekou Metro exits. Early-October batches, mostly from Anhui province, are the sweetest of the season.
In markets
Osmanthus treats (桂花糕, 桂花酒)
Bakeries around Fuzimiao and Laomendong make osmanthus cakes from fresh blossoms. Restaurants stir osmanthus syrup into glutinous rice balls and warm fermented rice wine (酒酿). The flavor is delicate and floral, and it only lasts the 2-3 weeks the trees are in bloom.
Regular events in October
Qixia Mountain Red Maple Festival (栖霞山红枫节)
An autumn foliage festival held in Qixia Mountain's maple forests, 22 km northeast of central Nanjing. Hiking events, photo competitions, and cultural performances at Qixia Temple run through the season. The maples color up through October and typically peak in mid-November.
Mid-October through late NovemberDouble Ninth Festival (重阳节, Chongyang)Free
A traditional festival marking respect for elders, observed with hilltop walks, chrysanthemum viewing, and chrysanthemum wine. In Nanjing, the standard move is a climb up Purple Mountain or Qixia Mountain. The date follows the lunar calendar and falls on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month.
Usually October, date varies with the lunar calendarNanjing Autumn Chrysanthemum ExhibitionFree
An annual chrysanthemum show spread across several Nanjing parks, with the main displays at Xuanwu Lake Park and Mochou Lake Park. Hundreds of varieties are laid out in themed arrangements. Alongside the plum blossom, the chrysanthemum is one of Nanjing's two official city flowers, and this is among the city's biggest horticultural events of the year.
Late October through NovemberBest places this October
Qixia Mountain (栖霞山)
natureThe south-facing slopes are the first to show autumn color, usually in the last week of October. The summit trail runs about 90 minutes at a steady pace. Allow a full morning and arrive early to get ahead of the midday crowds.
Qixia DistrictXuanwu Lake Park (玄武湖公园)
parkNanjing's central lake comprises 5 islands connected by causeways. It sits directly north of the Ming City Wall, and in October the old wall and autumn trees make the northern causeway a reliable sunset spot. Entry is free.
XuanwuLaomendong (老门东)
neighborhoodA restored Qing-era residential quarter south of Fuzimiao, with narrow stone lanes, courtyard houses converted into tea rooms and galleries, and a handful of traditional craft workshops. Even during Golden Week it draws lighter crowds than Fuzimiao, and two hours is enough to cover it properly.
QinhuaiPurple Mountain (紫金山)
natureThis forested massif east of the center holds Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling, the Nanjing Botanical Garden, and the Purple Mountain Observatory. October conditions make the full trail network linking these sites genuinely pleasant to walk: a circuit of about 12 kilometers.
XuanwuZhonghua Gate (中华门)
historic siteThe largest surviving gate in the Ming City Wall. The rooftop terrace faces south toward the Yuhuatai memorial park. In October, the moat mirrors the willows on its banks and the stone ramparts take the warm afternoon light well.
QinhuaiJiming Temple (鸡鸣寺)
templeOne of Nanjing's oldest Buddhist temples, set on a hill above Xuanwu Lake. The pagoda at the top offers one of the better views over the city. In the last two weeks of October, the ginkgo trees along the approach road turn bright yellow.
XuanwuNanjing Botanical Garden (中山植物园)
gardenThis garden on the eastern slopes of Purple Mountain holds a large collection of native Chinese plants. Its autumn orchid and chrysanthemum houses peak in October. It draws fewer visitors than the nearby mausoleums, making it the quieter weekend option.
Xuanwu
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Insider tips
The Nanjing Museum requires advance reservations, but same-day walk-in slots regularly open around 2 PM once morning ticket-holders have cleared out. If you forgot to book, try the afternoon before writing it off.
Qingliang Park (清凉公园) has some of the densest osmanthus plantings in Nanjing outside the botanical garden. Locals come specifically for the scent, which Chinese describes as guihua piaoxiang (桂花飘香). It is far quieter than Purple Mountain.
If you arrive by high-speed rail during Golden Week, buy your return ticket immediately. At Nanjing South and Nanjing stations, key routes to Shanghai, Beijing, and Hangzhou sell out days ahead over the holiday.
The Gulou district around Nanjing University has the city's densest cluster of cheap restaurants aimed at locals. Fuzimiao runs on tourist traffic, while the lanes off Guangzhou Road serve students and faculty. The food there tends to be better and the portions bigger.
Metro Line 3 runs straight from Nanjing South Railway Station to Fuzimiao and on to Gulou, the fastest route from the main high-speed rail hub to either hotel cluster. The ride takes about 25 minutes end to end.
Avoid these mistakes
- Don't try to fit Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling, and the Memorial Hall into one day during Golden Week. Each site caps entries, which can mean waits of 30–60 minutes. Put them on separate days, or pair the two Purple Mountain sites in a single morning after October 7.
- Don't pack only summer clothes because the monthly averages look mild. Cold fronts can arrive suddenly, and in shorts at 12 degrees Celsius with drizzle, you'll be miserable on the exposed Ming City Wall at Zhonghua Gate.
- Don't assume cash works everywhere. Nanjing runs mostly on WeChat Pay and Alipay, and many small restaurants in Laomendong, Metro ticket machines, and some ticket windows no longer take cash reliably. Set up one of the two apps before you arrive.
- Don't underestimate distances on Purple Mountain. The scenic area covers more than 30 square kilometers, and the walk from Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to Ming Xiaoling alone takes about 40 minutes. Take the scenic-area shuttle bus for at least one leg.
Practical tips for October
For October 1-10, book Nanjing hotels and intercity rail at least 3-4 weeks ahead. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, the Nanjing Museum, and the Memorial Hall all require timed-entry reservations. Register your passport through each site's official WeChat mini-program or through the Trip.com app, which works in English. The Nanjing Metro runs more than 10 lines and reaches Xinjiekou, Fuzimiao, Xuanwu Lake, and the edge of Purple Mountain. A Jinling Tong transport card, sold at stations, covers the Metro, buses, and the Zhongshan Scenic Area shuttle. Dress in layers: mornings by Xuanwu Lake are cool, and sunny afternoons at Zhonghua Gate can be warm. Nanjing scores 6.8 out of 10 for solo safety (see the TTDI Solo-Safety Index). The standard big-city precautions apply at Nanjing South Railway Station and around Fuzimiao. Smaller restaurants outside Xinjiekou and Fuzimiao often close in the afternoon, so plan lunch before 1:30 PM.
FAQ
Is October a good time to visit Nanjing?
Yes, provided you avoid October 1-7. Golden Week packs Fuzimiao, the Presidential Palace, and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to capacity. After the holiday, you get highs near 22 degrees Celsius, the first maple color on Qixia Mountain, osmanthus in Qingliang Park, and hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake: without the worst of the crowds. If you must come during Golden Week, book everything at least a month ahead.
What is the weather like in Nanjing in October?
Mild autumn. Highs average 22.5 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit), lows sit around 14.7 degrees Celsius, and humidity runs about 76%. Rain falls on roughly 9 days and totals around 74 mm, usually as brief afternoon showers. The main wildcard is a northern cold front, which can drop temperatures by 8-10 degrees Celsius overnight and leaves the Ming City Wall and the summit of Purple Mountain feeling raw.
Is Nanjing crowded in October?
During Golden Week, October 1-7, the city is at its most congested. Queues at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Qinhuai River frontage at Fuzimiao hit their yearly peak. After October 7, crowds drop sharply, though weekends at Purple Mountain and Xuanwu Lake stay busier than in winter. For the best balance, aim for the major sites on weekday mornings between October 10 and 31. Laomendong stays calmer than Fuzimiao even during the holiday.
What food is in season in Nanjing in October?
Hairy crab comes first. The fresh catch from Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou and Gucheng Lake in Gaochun peaks in October, and restaurants around Guangzhou Road in Gulou build tasting menus around it. Osmanthus flavors cakes and fermented rice wine at Fuzimiao and Laomendong. Chestnuts roast in sugar-and-sand woks near Xinjiekou Metro exits, and persimmons fill the wet markets. Nanjing salted duck is at its best in autumn.
Do I need to book attractions in advance for October?
Yes. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, the Nanjing Museum, and the Memorial Hall at Jiangdongmen all use timed-entry reservations through their official WeChat mini-programs or through Trip.com. During Golden Week and the weekends after it, popular slots sell out. Book Purple Mountain sites and the Presidential Palace 3-5 days ahead. Free Nanjing Museum tickets can be gone a week out.
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