Nanjing

This page is about **Nanjing**. Look above at **"Discussion"** to post or answer questions.Use the **table of contents** on the right to help you navigate through this page. If you want to **add stuff**, use the edit button on the right (also see tips on the Guidelines page).

=Nanjing Hotels=

Holiday Inn Aqua City
toc media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Holiday+Inn+Aqua+City+Nanjing+Hotel,+Jian+Kang+Lu,+Nank%C3%ADn,+Jiangsu,+China&aq=0&oq=Holiday+Inn+Aqua+City+Nanjing&sll=32.023024,118.786951&sspn=0.009315,0.016351&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=Holiday+Inn+Aqua+City+Nanjing+Hotel,&hnear=Jian+Kang+Lu,+Nanjing,+Jiangsu,+China&t=m&ll=32.025287,118.784738&spn=0.010915,0.012875&z=15&output=embed" height="300" width="300"
 * Location**: Aqua City (水游城/Shuǐ yóu chéng) shopping center. Close to Fuzimiao temple (夫子庙) and shopping.
 * Phone**: +86-
 * Description**: Standard hotel
 * Price** (approx): 600rmb
 * Kid Friendly Features:** Baby cots available upon request. Elevators. VERY convenient to Aqua City shopping center. Swimming pool. Convenient (about 1 large city block) to subway station on line 1 (Sanshanjie/三山街), but unfortunately that subway station is not stroller friendly (no escalator between street and subway level, and lots of stairs). Nice rooms.
 * Other Details:**

Hotel 2

 * Address**:
 * Phone**: +86-
 * Description**:
 * Price** (approx):
 * Kid Friendly Features:**
 * Other Details:**

=Nanjing Restaurants= There are also many eating places mentioned below in the "Play Center" section, as they were listed/grouped by shopping center

Blue Marlin
Nanjing Expat Listing
 * Address**: Several locations. 1912 downtown, and also in Xianlin (Yadong) at Yadong City.
 * Phone**: +86-85792838 (Xianlin location)
 * Description**: Western restaurant/pub.
 * Price** (approx): 40-100 rmb per dish
 * Kid Friendly Features:** high chairs available. No kids menu, but small snacks are available (egg rolls, chicken strips, french fries). Asian dishes come with soup, salad, and fruit, which is easy to share with kids. Pizza is decent. No diaper change tables.
 * Other Details:** Managers very aware of western customer and children's needs, and do their best. The chicken fingers (or chicken strips, or whatever they're called) are slightly spicy (for kids), as are the egg rolls. Call the number above to organize take away (Xianlin location). No baby change tables, but tables by the window have large sofa-like benches which might work if no one is sitting there.

Hilton Nanjing (Wan Da Plaza) Sunday Brunch at The Square Restaurant

 * Address**:100, Middle Jiang Dong Lu, Jianye District (Metro Line 2 - Yunjin Lu station Exit 3 - has lift/elevator, then walk ten minutes. You can also go to Jixingmen, which is slightly closer, but we didn't find an elevator at Exit 5.)
 * Phone**: +86-25 88886209
 * Description**: 11:30-14:30 Sunday brunch - lots of food stations, free bar, good selection of drinks including freshly squeezed juices
 * Price**: adults 388RMB +15% service charge, children 88RMB, under 1.2m free
 * Kid Friendly Features:** high chairs, IKEA plastic plates, bowls, and small cutlery, performances and entertainment, supervised children's play area (although it had been cancelled on the day we went so call ahead just before you leave).
 * Other Details:** No baby changing facilities in the bathrooms**.**

Banana Leaf
Corner Rehe Lu and North Zhenghe Lu, Xiaguan District 南京市下关区建宁路（近南京西站）麦德龙入口 There is another location on the 5th floor of Aqua City. Easy access from Holiday Inn (5th floor entrance to the Aqua city mall, and it's right outside the door).
 * Location**: Universal Mall (near West Railway Station & Lion Mountain Park), Level 3 (near smaller Metro)
 * Phone**: +86-
 * Description**: Entertaining Thai restaurant. Not the kind of place you go for a quiet, romantic meal.
 * Price** (approx):
 * Kid Friendly Features:** big tables and family friendly. Has a children's menu.
 * Other Details:**

Bellagio
Can't find their website, but here is a page that has the restaurant's photos on it. Here is a description for one of their Shanghai locations.
 * Address**: Taiping Road 52, Xuanwu District. At 1912 entertainment complex, just next to Starbucks and Costa Coffee, across the road from the Nanjing Library (and next to the Presidential Palace).
 * Phone**: +86-
 * Description**: Tasty Taiwanese chain restaurant (locations in different cities around China), nice, but not overly fancy.
 * Price** (approx): Dishes range from about 20rmb+ (family style)
 * Kid Friendly Features:** IKEA style high chairs available, and kids are given IKEA plastic froggie bowls and cups. Booth style cushion/sofa seats available on the second floor (not sure about other floors). No space in bathrooms for changing diapers, but there is a third floor that seems to be unused, which you might be able to ask about. No children's menu, but lots of food available that is NOT spicy, so children can eat. When in doubt, you can always order some known favorites like noodles, fried rice, or spring rolls.
 * Other Details:** Menu has pictures and English, so very easy. In terms of stroller accessibility, there are about six steps up to the front door. There is dining space on the first and second floors (second floor accessible via a spiral staircase), and possibly on the third floor. Save room for dessert, as they have a tasty selection of fruit-slushie type desserts that are worth it.

Sculpting In Time Cafe (雕刻时光咖啡馆)
Link to page on HelloNanjing.net media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=sculpting+in+time+nanjing&fb=1&gl=us&hq=sculpting+in+time&hnear=0x35b58c9b668dcd83:0x8ffbb60b79df1b06,Nanjing,+Jiangsu,+China&cid=0,0,552943840433595142&t=m&ll=32.053444,118.778858&spn=0.010912,0.012875&z=15&iwloc=A&output=embed" height="300" width="300"
 * Address**: 2F, 47 Hankou Lu, Gulou District, Nanjing 南京鼓楼区汉口路47号2楼
 * Phone**: +86-25 8359 7180
 * Description**: Cafe restaurant on Hangkou Road, near Nanjing University gates. Very nice cafe atmosphere, overlooking the road with many open windows. Menu generally consists of sandwiches, pizza, pasta, and rice dishes, some smoothies, coffee, desserts, etc.
 * Price** (approx): roughly 25-60rmb/plate. Smoothies (more like flavored milk) are 30rmb!
 * Kid Friendly Features:** Cozy atmosphere, plenty of tables, some with big cushioned chairs or bench-style seating. A total of 1 high chair available on the premises. No diaper change tables, and not much space in the bathrooms to do this, although there is a large floor space in the handicapped bathroom stall (which is actually available for use, and is not a storage closet for mops).
 * Other Details:** English on the menu. Some staff speak English.

Restaurant 4

 * Address**:
 * Phone**: +86-
 * Description**:
 * Price** (approx):
 * Kid Friendly Features:**
 * Other Details:**

=Indoor Play Centers= There are many play areas for you to take your kids to. Most are in shopping centers.

**Cheer Kids** (Universal Store)
If you want to enter from Hunan lu, walk past the main entrance, past the Pizza Hut and then enter.
 * Location**: Universal Store Hunan Lu (directly opposite Lion Bridge, the eating street), Level 7, Hunan Lu, Gulou District
 * Description**: Opens at 10am, Age group: 0-5 years
 * Cost**: Approximately RMB35 (25 child 10 accompanying adult)
 * Details**: Although the department store has been there for a while the Play Centre just opened in October 2011 so pretty new. Medium sized. You can sit back and see your child in most areas. Really appropriate for 1-3 year olds. Right next to the Play Centre they have a Toy Section. A good range of toys for both genders and age groups. A Watson's on Level 1 of the Department Store, some quick snacks if you need them. And close to Lion Bridge so endless options for food.
 * Lifts**: If you go in the front entrance then stay on the right all the way towards the back of the store. Just before the back of the store you should see them on the right.

Cheer Kids (New City Mall)
(Please note this is NOT the one in the NIC cards. That is a different New City Mall) Zhongshan Bei lu (between Chahaer Lu and Xinmofanma Lu) Gulou District 虹桥 新城
 * Location**: New City Mall (Hongqiao), Level 3
 * Description**: Opens at 11am Monday to Friday (As do all New City Malls), 10am Weekends and Public holidays. Age group: 0-8
 * Cost**: Approximately RMB 35 (25 child 10 accompanying adult)
 * Details**: This has two sections that are separate, one for 0-3 years and one for 2-8 years. This is the only one I know of where the staff make an attempt to be interactive with the children. There is a wide range of equipment and activities in both sections. On the same floor as the play centre, Level 3, there is also a toy shop and a few baby shops with all your basic needs. In the basement of the Mall is a big Suguo. To eat, there is a cafe called Fanos a KFC and a Papa Johns on Level 1, and on Level 4 there are Chinese restaurants.
 * Lifts:** As you are facing the building from the street the lifts on the right hand side of the building are the easiest. Only two steps up into Mall. The lifts in the middle of the Mall have too many steps to access, unless you are coming from the underground carpark.

Cheer Kids - Wanda Plaza (not Xinjiekou)
Shui Xi Men Da Jie, Jianye District Near the Nanjing Massacre Memorial, not the Wanda Plaza in Xinjiekou 万达广场 水西门大街 Nearest Metro: Yunjinlu
 * Location**: Wanda Plaza, Level 2
 * Description**: Opens at 10am, Age group 0-8 years
 * Cost**: approximately RMB 35 (25 child 10 accompanying adult)
 * Details**: Two sections, one for 0-3years and the other 2-8years. Has a real range of activities.
 * Lifts:** Not in, but just on the outside of the department store. I think is it called Vans Department Store
 * General comment about the Plaza:** Has a cinema and Walmart. Has your regular fast food places Western and Chinese either on Level 1 or Level 3. The Hilton is next to the complex if you want to treat yourself to the Coffee shop, restaurant or Sunday Brunch.

Nanjing International Centre NIC (Next to Westin)
Nearest Metro: Xuanwumen
 * Location**: Level 5 (??), Zhong yang Lu, Gulou District
 * Description**: Opens at 10am, Age Group: 0-5years
 * Cost**: Approximately RMB50 (you have to go and get tokens from the Arcade/Games Hall next to it)
 * Details**: The Play Centre was only put in at the beginning of this year 2012, but it isn't brand new. They have used parts from other Play Centres and used it to create this one. A great one if you want to sit and just be able to watch as it is quite a small one. Also great since it is in NIC and they have a Starbucks on the ground floor. And it is right next to the Westin Hotel so if you are staying there or are going to their restaurant very handy to have it next door. And surprisingly the NIC has the only change tables I know of in Nanjing. I have only been to Level 2 & 3, so it may not be the case for all floors. Despite being new the bathrooms are okay, but not great. Downside about this Play Centre is that you have to go through one of those noisy Arcade/Games Halls to get to it. And then listen to it while you are at the Play Centre.
 * Lifts:** Easy to find in middle, towards the back of the main entrance.

E-Kids Island
8 HanZhong lu Nearest Metro: Xinjiekou, exit 20, go right, then left. You can enter the shopping center at basement level (food court) and navigate your way to the shopping center, or you can exit the underground via the escalators (up, not down) to street level, and use the external escalator mentioned below. Convenient if the weather is decent.
 * Location**: Golden Wheel, Level 3
 * Description**: Opens at 10am, Age group: 0-5 years
 * Cost**: Approximately RMB 50
 * Details**: One of those pastel coloured ones and for the space has more activities than you would think. There are lockers (small) to store your things if you wish. The floors are constantly being cleaned, and employees will actually do a little crowd control. Behind it there is a Tom's World (Arcade/Games Hall, suitable for toddlers and up, uses tokens only). Behind there you will also find the nearest toilet. No change tables available, but there are benches in front of the play center where you might be able to do it. The H&M next to the Play Centre has a very good range of babies/toddlers and children's clothing. Golden Eagle is on the other side of the road. They have baby supplies - bottles, dummies, etc, a toy department and a small Western supermarket that has a good range of products and also stocks baby food and snacks. Difficult to get to with a stroller from Golden Wheel because you have to walk back down HanZhong lu to a pedestrian crossing and then back to Golden Eagle. If you are stroller free then you can easily use the underpass.
 * Lifts:** You can access the play center from the central shopping center escalators, but from the second floor you have to take the escalator up to Tom's World arcade, go around to the right to exit, and the play center will be in the hall on the left. BEST is to use the really long escalator at the exterior front (near Sephora and H&M) and it will take you to Level 3 and place you right in front of the play center. To exit the building go through H&M and use their escalators. A bit of a hassle but actually the easiest option.

The Playground by Yukids Earth - Universal Mall
Corner Rehe Lu and North Zhenghe Lu Xiaguan District 南京市下关区建宁路（近南京西站）麦德龙入口 One of those Pastel coloured ones. Universal Mall was built in 2010. Metro supermarket (smaller than the one in Jianning) is in the basement, but makes going there a bonus. The Play Centre is at the Metro end of the Mall. A toy shop, some baby shops and a book shop are on Level 2 near the Play Center. Toilets are nearby next to the lifts. There is no change table, but there is a small padded bench at the front of the toilets. Possible to do a nappy change on. Places to eat include Banana Leaf Level 3 (Thai restaurant) with big tables and family friendly, Level 1 has a number of dumpling and Chinese fast food venues and of course, KFC with quite a nice new play area. The restaurant called Golden Jaguar, located next to the Play Centre on Level 2, has a buffet style lunch and dinner. A little pricey but the selection is actually very extensive. And if you like a Sunday roast they have a terrific carvery. And there is even a Haagen Daaz section with a wide range of flavours. You will find them at both ends of the building
 * Location**: Universal Mall (near West Railway Station & Lion Mountain Park), Level 2
 * Description**: Opens at 10am, Age group: 0-5 years
 * Cost**: Approximately RMB 50
 * Details**:
 * Lifts:**

The Playground by Yukids Earth - Zifeng Plaza
6 Zhongshanbei lu, Gulou District Nearest Metro: Gulou
 * Location**: Zifeng Plaza (Next to Intercontinental at Gulou roundabout), Spring Valley Baby Shop Level 5
 * Description**:, Opens at 10am, Age group: 0-5 years
 * Cost**: Approximately RMB 50
 * Details**: One of those Pastel ones. A good one to be able to sit back and see your little one from one spot. Located inside a Baby Shop so all your basic supplies are there if you need anything. Inside the Plaza is the Coffee Shop Company (Level 3?) and a nice Home shop with lovely things for the home. In the basement is a food court including Subway for sandwiches and then your regular fast food outlets, Western and Chinese. The Intercontinental is next door and you can access the hotel through the Plaza. It has a nice coffee shop on the ground floor.
 * Lifts:**

The Playground by Yukids Earth - Wanda Plaza (not Xinjiekou)
Shui Xi Men Da Jie, Jianye District Near the Nanjing Massacre Memorial, not the Wanda Plaza in Xinjiekou 万达广场 水西门大街 Nearest Metro: Yunjinlu
 * Location**: Wanda Plaza, Level 1
 * Description**: Opens at 10am, Age group 0-5
 * Cost**: approximately RMB50
 * Details**: An easy one to sit in one spot and see most of what is going on. Located inside Kidsuwant Baby Store. An amazing Baby shop that has a wide range of toys, baby food, and all the baby/toddler necessities. If you live at Fraser Suites or Vanke Apartments this Plaza is a good one to know.
 * Lifts:**
 * General comment about the Plaza:** Has a cinema and Walmart. Has your regular fast food places Western and Chinese either on Level 1 or Level 3. The Hilton is next to the complex if you want to treat yourself to the Coffee shop, restaurant or Sunday Brunch.

Play area 3

 * Location**:
 * Description**:
 * Cost**:
 * Details**:
 * Lifts:**

=Parks, Gardens and Outdoor Play=

Mochou Hu Park

 * Location**: Han Zhong Men Da Jie 35 hao. It has its own Metro station on Line 2 (Mochouhu). Exit 1 has a lift/elevator but Exit 2 is not so accessible for strollers. From exit 1, you will literally be right next to the mini amusement park, separated by a brick wall. You will have to walk around through the bus parking area (just next to the subway).
 * Description**: A small park circling a pretty lake (to walk all the way around is about 2.6km). There are plenty of children's activities; ride-on cars, boats, inflatable floating balls, a small funfair, petting zoo and, at weekends only, a bouncy castle and art activities. On Sundays children can make a clay pot on a potter's wheel.
 * Contact**:
 * Details**: Entrance price is currently 27RMB for adults. You can use a general parks card or buy an annual park card for MoChou Hu for around 50RMB.

Pearl Spring Tourist and Holiday Resort

 * Location**: Pu Kou, on the other side of the Yangtse. Use the NIC taxi card for Harvard Golf Club to get there; pu kou qu zhen jie 176 hao.
 * Description**: Large landscaped park area with various tourist attractions including a miniature Great Wall with a cable car and an animal enclosure. It feels quite open and like being in the countryside rather than a formal Chinese garden-style park.
 * Contact**:
 * Details**: If you use the taxi card you will end up at the East Gate.The West Gate is nearer the main activities section of the park. If you have a pushchair and arrive at the East Gate, turn right after the entrance area for paved walkways. Otherwise, turn left for more wooded, open areas. Good for picnics and walks. Entrance price says 40RMB for adults but we paid 20RMB each.

Hongshan Zoo
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 * Location**: No.168 Heyan Road, Xuanwu District (north gate), or 100 Longpan Road, Xuanwu District (East Gate). You can also access via line 1 subway, exit at hongshan dongwu yuan zhan (Hongshan Zoo station), just north of Nanjing Railway Station.
 * Description**: A zoo. Plenty of exhibits such as giraffes, monkeys, hippos, kangaroos, even a cassowary...
 * Contact**:
 * Cost**: Entrance price is currently (2012) 40RMB for adults, small children free.
 * Details**: A zoo, but also has a mini amusement park with rides (extra charge), and a children's playground. Once you get over the fact that you are in a Chinese zoo and accept that things are different here than in western zoos, it is a decent place to take the kids. If you don't enjoy it, your kids will. No change tables or any of those luxuries. However, there's lots of park/grassy spaces, so you could spread out for a diaper change or picnic lunch. Bring a blanket. Mostly a stroller friendly place, though there are some sections with stairs, if you can make do.

=Museums and other indoor attractions=

Nanjing Museum of Palaeontology

 * Location**: 39, Beijing Dong Lu (next to Jiming Temple near Xuanwu Lake)
 * Description**: Fairly average museum with no English displays. However, it has a couple of dinosaur skeletons and lots of dinosaur eggs and fossils which kept our three year old happily entertained for an hour.
 * Cost**: adults 20RMB.
 * Details**: Only open Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm. Two storeys but I didn't find a lift/elevator. Toilets are okay but no baby changing facilities. Bring your own toilet paper and soap. No restaurant but you can take a picnic and walk to Xuanwu Lake and make a day of it.