Nanchang travel guide
南昌
Wherever you walk in Nanchang, you see the words “Bayi” everywhere: August First Square, Nanchang Uprising Memorial Hall, Bayi Avenue, Bayi Bridge and Bayi Park. This ancient city,…
6 places · In the guidebook: pages 1432–1442
Nanchang, Jiangxi Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Nanchang in 2 days
- Day 1
- Bada Shanren Memorial Hall→
- Shengjin Pagoda→
- Nanchang Uprising Memorial Hall→
- Tengwang Pavilion→
- Qiushui Square
- Day 2
The feel of the place
- Red Capital
- Wherever you walk in Nanchang, you see the words “Bayi” everywhere: August First Square, Nanchang Uprising Memorial Hall, Bayi Avenue, Bayi Bridge and Bayi Park. This ancient city, which has produced many talented people across the dynasties, seems to carry an extra measure of heroic spirit thanks to the history of the August First Uprising.
- Old City
- Compared with other cities, Nanchang's urban development always seems a little slower. As a result, the city's overall appearance feels somewhat old-fashioned, and its predominantly grey-black buildings make Nanchang look like an old city, with its people carrying a relaxed air. Willows line the riverbanks and the grass is green, making you want to stroll there.
- Harsh
- China is vast, and apart from its varied geography, even dialects differ greatly. Strictly speaking, within East China, Jiangxi dialect is fairly easy to understand, but the forceful tone of Nanchang speech is one of its great characteristics. If two Nanchang people are chatting on the street and an outsider who doesn't know the situation walks past, his first reaction will certainly be that they are arguing.
- Spicy
- Gan cuisine cannot do without chilli. As the saying goes, “Jiangxi people aren't afraid of chilli, but the real heat is in Pingxiang.” Jiangxi's spiciness is mainly fragrant heat, bringing a warm, satisfying glow that goes right to the bone.
Nanchang Specialty Streets
Travel Street – Fuzhou Road
Tea Culture Street – Minde Road
Food Street – Ruzi Road
Fashion Street – Guangchang North Road
Bada Shanren Former Residence
The “Bada Shanren Former Residence” in Qingyunpu, like Tengwang Pavilion, has inconspicuous signposts and is hard to find (except by taxi). Perhaps, as the taxi driver said, it is a place for literati to visit, so it is not easily found.
Preparation and Information
Language
For people in Nanchang, Mandarin is also a commonly used language, and their accent is not too hard to understand.
Climate and Travel Seasons
Nanchang is one of China's four famous “furnace cities,” and its summer high once reached 40.9°C. With an average annual temperature of 28.2°C in summer, Nanchang is drier in autumn and winter, so spring and autumn are the best times to visit, although these seasons are relatively short.
Things to see
Poyang Lake National Wetland Park
Poyang Lake is China's largest freshwater lake, and its beauty and abundance speak for themselves. It was also the base where Zhou Yu trained his navy during the Battle of Red Cliffs, and it was the lucky ground where Zhu Yuanzhang defeated Chen Youliang with a smaller force. Su Dongpo's line “Mountains green, waters vast, the Great and Small Gu stand mid-river” describes the scenery of Poyang Lake.
0.5–1 day · ¥155 (includes sightseeing bus and boat)
Meiling Mountain
Meiling is mentioned in the TV drama *Nirvana in Fire*. Since ancient times, its Hongya Alchemy Well, Xishan Autumn Green and Tongyuan Three Groups (waterfall groups, terraced field groups and water-mill groups) have been celebrated scenes that literati vied to write poems about. Meiling is known for its lush peaks, winding streams, deep valleys and jagged rocks, and its character is verdant, secluded, graceful and unusual. It is often called “Little Mount Lu.”
3–4 hours · Lion Peak ¥40; Shenlong Pool ¥30; Hongya Single Well ¥30; Bamboo Sea Pearl ¥30; Ziqing Mountain ¥15
Nanchang Sunac Land
It brings together the traditional culture of the Gan-Po region of Jiangxi with elements of world-class theme parks. Sunac Land is well worth a visit, and Sunac Mall is also a place where you could easily spend the whole day.
0.5–1 day · ¥199
Haihunhou Museum
Haihunhou is the only Han dynasty imperial clansman to have held the titles of king, emperor and marquis. The Haihunhou Tomb is the best-preserved, most structurally complete and most clearly laid out Western Han marquis tomb complex in China, and it has the most complete sacrificial system of any such site found so far. It is also the largest, most richly endowed and relatively well-preserved Han dynasty marquis-rank local tomb known in southern China. Inside the tomb, the solemn atmosphere and dazzling array of cultural relics invite visitors to reflect in awe on that weighty history.
3–5 hours; 1–2 hours · ¥60; free; ¥20; Ferris wheel ¥50
Anyi Ancient Village
The most mysterious, most pastoral, most graceful in its old county character and most rustic of ancient villages, it sits at the foot of Meiling. It is made up of three villages, Luotian, Shuinan and Jingtai, arranged in a triangle. The three are linked by a sea of flowers known as the “Flower Field of Joy,” which can be enjoyed from spring through autumn.
3–4 hours · ¥80
Getting there & around
Arrival and Departure
Nanchang has long been an important transport hub in East China and the main gateway into and out of Jiangxi. Its three-dimensional transport network, combining rail, road, air and waterways, is extensive, convenient and fast.
Air
Changbei Airport is 23 km from the city centre (via the Changjiu Expressway), with nearly 100 flights a week arriving from various destinations.
Rail
The Beijing-Kowloon Railway and the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway cross in Jiangxi, and Nanchang Railway Station has more than a hundred direct or connecting passenger trains a day to major cities across the country.
Road
The Changjiu and Changzhang Expressways form the link across the Gan River. Long-distance bus routes from Nanchang include interprovincial coaches to nearly a hundred large and medium-sized cities outside the province, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Hefei and Yiwu. Provincial bus services reach all large, medium and small cities and towns in Jiangxi. Express coaches also run to Jiujiang, Lushan, Fuzhou and Shangrao.
Long-Distance Bus Stations
Getting Around the City
Public buses, minibuses and taxis in the urban area are very convenient. Taxis start at ¥8 for the first 2 km. Nanchang has opened four metro lines: Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4.
In general, a taxi ride within the urban area costs only around ¥15. City bus routes cover the main roads and scenic areas, and there are also special lines, fixed-schedule shuttles and tourist shuttle buses.
Nanchang Changbei International Airport
Air- Phone:
- 0791-87652369
- Getting there:
- 1. Airport buses 1, 2, 3 and 5 2. Airport shuttle buses run directly to the airport up to 2 hours before flight departure. Fare ¥15. Ticket office: Civil Aviation Hotel Ticket Office, 587 Hongcheng Road.
Nanchang Railway Station
Railway- Address:
- Zhanqian Road, Nanchang
- Phone:
- 0791-87023222/87023262
Nanchang West Railway Station
Railway- Address:
- Xizhan Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang
- Phone:
- 0791-95105105
Nanchang Long-Distance Bus Station
Long-Distance Bus Stations- Address:
- 345 Luoyang Road, Qingshanhu District
- Phone:
- 0791-86102540
- Getting there:
- Buses 792, 232 and 216, among others, serve the station
Nanchang Xufang Coach Station
Long-Distance Bus Stations- Address:
- 848 Jinggangshan Avenue, Qingyunpu District
- Phone:
- 0791-86226000
- Getting there:
- Buses 1, 89, 127, 158, 176, 203 and 212, among others, serve the station
Eat & drink
Gan cuisine is characterised by dishes that are tender and crisp, fresh and fragrant, with a moderate balance of salt and spice. Nanchang's flavours are naturally led by Gan cuisine. Nanchang's signature dishes include bamboo-tube steamed sausage (竹筒粉蒸肠), stuffed winter melon rings (酿冬瓜圈), lion's head meatballs (狮子头), stir-fried mugwort with cured pork (藜蒿炒腊肉), three-cup soft-shelled turtle (三杯脚鱼), Four Stars Gazing at the Moon (四星望月), three-cup chicken, Kuanglu stone chicken legs (匡庐石鸡腿), Yuzhang crispy chicken (豫章酥鸡), stewed sparrow with cordyceps (虫草炖麻雀) and five-element dragon-and-phoenix soup. Do not miss Huangshanghuang roast marinated meats (煌上煌烤卤) either. Pair them with Nanchang's local liquors such as Nanchang Daqu, Dingfang and Lidu sorghum liquor, and you will truly be sated in every sense.
Snacking is also one of the pleasures of visiting Nanchang. The easiest things to find are Shitou Street twisted dough sticks (石头街麻花) and flavourful barbecue. However, on the famous “Hama Street” (蛤蟆街) snack strip, you should go on an empty stomach, because sampling a bite at one stall and a mouthful at the next is sure to leave you bloated.
Local Snacks
Homestyle guoba (crispy rice crust), small boiled and deep-fried bites, and stir-fried, tossed or boiled noodles, rice and nian gao (rice cakes). Walk the length of Ruzi Road and you are guaranteed to leave full.
Nanchang rice noodles (南昌米粉) are especially recommended. Made from high-quality rice, they can be enjoyed cold-tossed, stir-fried or boiled. Common additions include ginger, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, spring onion and pickled vegetables, and chilli and white pepper are essential.
Nanchang's flavours can be a bit spicy, even for those who never touch chilli.
Jiachang Fan (Ruzi Road Branch)
Recommended EateriesClassic Gan cuisine with refined presentation and moderate flavours and prices. Very popular, so expect queues during holidays. Recommended dishes: boiled fish and glutinous fragrant spare ribs.
- Address:
- 141 Ruzi Road, Xihu District, Nanchang
- Phone:
- 0791-86300960/86256266
Dihuang Kaolu (Yangzi Street Branch)
Recommended EateriesOld-school Nanchang marinated meats that locals have eaten since childhood. Sometimes the spice is enough to scare even the locals. The duck feet are the house signature, with a springy, slippery texture and a rich braised fragrance.
- Address:
- 97 Yangzi Street
- Phone:
- 13027239625
Jin Kuaizi (Golden Chopsticks)
Recommended EateriesA favourite of Nanchang's post-80s generation, and “spicy” is its middle name. After a meal here, the chilli of Sichuan and Hunan will no longer be a match for you. The mung bean soup, prawns, sour-and-spicy glass noodles, mala glass noodles, three-delicacy glass noodles and lamb skewers are all irresistibly good.
- Address:
- Chain outlets throughout Nanchang; there is usually one at most intersections
- ¥
- ¥23 per person
Where to stay
Nanchang has a full range of star-rated hotels, and prices are average compared with other cities in East China, so there is no need to worry about accommodation even for a short stay.
Qimu · Nanchang Sky Hotel
The decor has a slightly luxe-lite feel, and all rooms feature smart home systems. Open the window and you can enjoy the night view of the Honggutan city centre.
- Address:
- Building A6, Wanda Plaza, Fenghuang Zhongda Road
- Phone:
- 18100785808
Shopping
Nanchang's local specialties are not extensive, but two items are worth considering: Jiangxi's renowned fans and porcelain panel paintings (瓷板画像). After all, Nanchang is a historic city rich in talent, and these two crafts are a vivid expression of that history.
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1432–1442. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version