The Asian Economist

Nanjing - (南京）- How to get around.

南京（Nanjing), is one of China’s 4 Ancient Capitals and one of the largest economic and cultural cities in China. Since Dengist reforms in the 1980’s, Nanjing has boomed from a former imperial capital to a centre of trade and cultural growth in the Jiangsu region. Economically, Nanjing falls behind Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Suzhou in production, however, its main industries of petrochemicals, cars, electronics, iron and steel as well as increasing levels of FDI have increased its production levels immensely, revitalizing the surrounding jurisdictions. It is now home to well over six million people, with numbers growing everyday. Nanjing has several high schools and its higher education facilities such as Southeast University and Nanjing University are some of the top places in China to graduate from. Crossing 2 rivers, with a mountain to its north and one of the most famous lakes in China, Xuan Wu lake to the Northwest, Nanjing is one of the largest cities in China and a surprisingly easy place to get around.

First will be transport.

Airports:

Nanjing has one airport at Lukou ( Nanjing Lukou International Airport - 南京禄口国际机场) that flies to domestic locations in Asia, as well as local destinations in China. It is fairly modern and was ranked 10th in a survey of the busiest airports in China.  It is located 45 minutes outside of Nanjing. You can get to it via bus or car/taxi. Buses from Nanjing airport usually cost 50 RMB per ticket and will drop you off in the near to or at the centre of Nanjing, at which point you can take a taxi or walk to your destination. These buses are air-conditioned, comfortable and the trip will give you a good sightseeing of the areas surrounding Nanjing.

International Destinations to and from Nanjing:

HKIA, Hongkong SAR

Macau, Macau SAR

Seoul, Incheon- Korea.

Tokyo, Narita - Japan

Osaka, Kansai  - Japan.

Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi

Singapore City, Singapore.

Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.

Trains:

Nanjing has one main train station that connects the city to other destinations in China. It has well over 12 tracks, and is linked to the fast CRH line that goes from Shanghai to Nanjing in under 3 hours. The Nanjing train station can be accessed by bus, taxi, car (if you happen to live in China and own one), and subway.

Nanjing has one subway line running through the centre of the city on a North-South Axis, from the Nanjing Railway Station all the way to the Olympic Stadium in the Southern portion of the city. The subway line currently runs through Gulou, and Xin Jie Kou stations. Gulou is where Nanjing University is located and Xin Jie Kou is the CBD of Nanjing as well as one of the local nightlife areas. The subway stations are also connected underground through markets and restaurants- these then connect via escalator to the major shopping districts of Nanjing. In the centre of Nanjing, this is prolific, especially in the Xin Jie Kou area. You can go from one mall to the next underground. Its a good way to get out of the rain.

On each platform, there are electronic displays showing the estimated amount of time before the trains arrive. These should be no more than two to five minutes.

Regarding subway line facilities;

The signs for each station are written in each car in both English and Chinese. Near to arriving at your destination, a computerized voice will announce in Chinese, then English, “We are now arriving at ‘x’ station.“  There are also electronic displays on all 4 corners (North, South, East, West) of the subway car that display the destination and the estimated amount of time left before arrival in English and Chinese.

Each subway car is also outfitted with several LCD screens that show the current Chinese news, advertisements. The Nanjing Government also made the good decision to enable these subway cars to play present events such as the recent Olympic Torch Relay in Nanjing.

At present, Nanjing subway line 1 is being extended, with work expected to be finished in 2010.

Currently there is a second subway line being constructed on the East-West axis of Nanjing that should be finished in late 2008 and be fully operational and opened to the public after all tests are done in November 2009. It will cross through the Xin Jie Kou CBD for  those interested.

Subway tickets:

You can pay at these kiosks to get small plastic discs that you put into machines that then allow you to get to the track, or you can get subway cards that you can keep placing money into and you just scan those in front of the machines and that will pay for you to get through. If you buy the cards, you get a 5% discount on each trip.

Below is a map of the Nanjing Subway Line:

These are the subway stations on the N-S-S-N axis:

Maigaoqiao (迈皋桥站)
Hongshan Zoo (红山动物园站)
Nanjing Railway Station (南京火车站)
Xinmofan Road (新模范马路站)
Xuanwumen (玄武门站)
Gulou (鼓楼站)
Zhujiang Road (珠江路站)
Xinjiekou (新街口站)
Zhangfuyuan (张府园站)
Sanshan Street (三山街站)
Zhonghuamen (中华门站)
Andemen (安德门站)
Xiaohang (小行站)
Zhongsheng (中盛站)
Yuantong (元通站)
Olympic Stadium (奥体中心站)

Buses:

Nanjing has many bus lines running through the city. Each goes to a specific destination in Nanjing but will pass through areas that you may or may not have seen before. You need to know the characters and pinyin of the place you are going to otherwise it will be a waste of 2 RMB. As cheap as that is, that is still money, and in this period where US dollars are being sold more than they are being bought due to the Subprime Mortgage crisis, every penny matters. You would do better to get a map of the Nanjing busline map online or at the local post office/University centre/Hotel beforehand and plan your trip from there.

Taxi’s:

Taxi’s are plentiful throughout Nanjing. They will take you anywhere and the taxicab drivers are polite, friendly, and oftentimes, if they note that your destination is a good place, they will chat to you in Chinese, or if you cant, they will try to speak in English to you. Several times have I taken a taxi on my own and the taxi driver and I struck up a decent conversation. It is your choice to tip. Unlike New York City, you do not have to tip in Nanjing or anywhere else in China.

A View of a Nanjing Street From Above

Districts:

Nanjing is divided into several districts. These are:

Xuanwu District (玄武区) - Northern district, Xuan Wu Lake and Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Region located here.
Baixia District (白下区) - Location of Fu Zi Miao (Confucius Temple).
Qinhuai District (秦淮区)
Jianye District (建邺区) - Jianye was the name before Nanjing was given its current name. The Nanjing Olympic Stadium is located here.
Gulou District (鼓楼区) -Location of Nanjing University, Gulou Drum Tower.
Xiaguan District (下关区)
Pukou District (浦口区) - Location of Nanjing University Pukou Campus
Luhe District (六合区) (Formerly Luhe County)
Qixia District (栖霞区)
Yuhuatai District (雨花台区) - Execution chambers for 1937 war criminals located here.

If you are a foreigner, you will probably be based in the Gulou or Baixia districts due to their locations being in the centre of Nanjing and close proximity to business centres, schools, bars and clubs as well as public transportation going out of Nanjing through the subway.

Thank you to Nanjing Metro for the availability of the subway map and locations.