Be sure to visit Laomendong for a comprehensive guide when you come to Nanjing
Laomendong is a landmark attraction in the south of the old city of Nanjing, with its blue bricks and black tiles, horse-head walls, and quaint little streets and alleys.
Travel tips:
1. The area is open all day and free to visit, with a recommended visit time of 1-3 hours
2. 10 minutes walk from Exit 2 of Wudingmen Station on Subway Line 3
3. Lantern festivals are held around the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lantern Festival
4. Nearby attractions such as Xiaoxihu, Confucius Temple, Zhonghuamen, and Dabao'en Temple can be reached on foot
Laomendong Tour Map (Recommended Check-in Spots)
【Jinling Art Gallery】
9:00-17:00 (Free, closed on Mondays)
The gallery exhibits the human stories of the ancient Nanjing market streets and regularly hosts artist exhibitions
【Pioneer Bookstore Junhui Book House】
10:00-21:00
Compared to the well-known Wutaishan Pioneer Bookstore, this one is more serene and low-key. Hidden in the alleys, its all-wooden Hui-style architecture is quite distinctive
【Jieziyuan】
9:30-16:30 Admission 15
The former residence of Li Yu, a famous figure from the early Qing Dynasty, the garden is not large but is exquisitely detailed and very suitable for taking Hanfu photos
【Nanjing Yue Opera Museum】
9:00-17:00 Free
The two-courtyard layout displays costumes and collections, and there is also a room for listening to operas
【De Yun Society】
Saturday-Sunday 14:00-16:30 / Tuesday-Sunday 19:30-22:00
The evening shows are usually more crowded
Laomendong Gourmet
Zhang's Shengjian
A shop specializing in traditional Nanjing snacks, recommended to friends visiting Laomendong: handmade loin meat (crispy and tender large meat skewers), shengjian buns (crispy bottoms with rich soup), and small fish guotie (three flavors of Jianghuai specialties)
Lu Style Plum Blossom Cake
A very classic snack in Nanjing. In fact, there is also an old brand of plum blossom cake on Mati Street in Nanjing, Master Zuo's Plum Blossom Cake, which is said to have opened in 1986! Truly a childhood memory for Nanjing people!
Tofu Dynasty
A shop specializing in tofu products, the Blizzard stinky tofu is really delicious, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a crumbling sensation when you bite into it. Matcha soy milk is relatively refreshing and cuts through the richness, with a not too strong matcha flavor.
Miaodong Ribs
Miaodong Ribs has traveled all over the south of the Yangtze River, and of course, you have to try the local ribs when you come to Nanjing. The ribs are very flavorful, with a variety of seasonings to choose from, such as cumin, spicy, and sour plum. Be sure to eat them while they're hot, the more you chew, the more fragrant they become.
Jiang You Ji (Halal)
A Nanjing old brand, beef potstickers are a must-order when you enter the shop. The first time you try these crispy potstickers, bite into them, and the juice slowly oozes out, the meat is tender, and the sweet and salty taste is just right, very delicious.
Ji Ming Soup Buns
Super delicious, a basket of six chicken broth soup buns is simply not enough. They are fresh and savory with plenty of juice and a faint taste of chicken broth.
Lan Laoda Sugar Porridge Lotus Root Shop
They have red bean yuanxiao, sugar lotus root porridge, sugar taro sprouts, the red bean yuanxiao are average, with some burnt taste, but the sugar lotus root porridge is very tasty, with the sugar lotus root being sweet and glutinous.
Xiao Zheng Crispy Baked Buns
Always a long queue at this shop, the crispy baked buns come in sweet and savory varieties, with a sesame-covered crust that is very crispy, and a generous filling. Popular flavors include fresh meat, sugar osmanthus, and black sesame.
Good Jasmine Flower
There are four flavors of desserts: original a cappella, waltz jasmine, jasmine martini, symphony cheese, and also jasmine tea!