# Nanchang travel guide (南昌) Jiangxi Province · East China, China · 6 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/jiangxi/nanchang ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Bada Shanren Memorial Hall → Shengjin Pagoda → Nanchang Uprising Memorial Hall → Tengwang Pavilion → Qiushui Square - **Day 2:** Poyang Lake ## 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. ## The feel of the place ### 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. ## 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** — - **Nanchang Railway Station** — (Zhanqian Road, Nanchang, 0791-87023222/87023262) - **Nanchang West Railway Station** — (Xizhan Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang, 0791-95105105) - **Nanchang Long-Distance Bus Station** — (345 Luoyang Road, Qingshanhu District, 0791-86102540) - **Nanchang Xufang Coach Station** — (848 Jinggangshan Avenue, Qingyunpu District, 0791-86226000) ## 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)** — Classic 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. (141 Ruzi Road, Xihu District, Nanchang, 0791-86300960/86256266) - **Dihuang Kaolu (Yangzi Street Branch)** — Old-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. (97 Yangzi Street, 13027239625) - **Jin Kuaizi (Golden Chopsticks)** — A 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. (Chain outlets throughout Nanchang; there is usually one at most intersections) ## 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. ## 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. (Building A6, Wanda Plaza, Fenghuang Zhongda Road, 18100785808) ## Things to see - **Tengwang Pavilion** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; Opening hours 8：00—18：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tengwang-pavilion - **Poyang Lake National Wetland Park** (★★★★): Admission ¥155 (includes sightseeing bus and boat); Opening hours All day; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/poyang-lake-national-wetland-park - **Meiling Mountain** (★★★★): Admission Lion Peak ¥40; Shenlong Pool ¥30; Hongya Single Well ¥30; Bamboo Sea Pearl ¥30; Ziqing Mountain ¥15; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/meiling-mountain - **Anyi Ancient Village** (★★★): Admission ¥80; Opening hours 8:30–17:00 (winter schedule) 8:00–17:30 (summer schedule); Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/anyi-ancient-village - **Nanchang Sunac Land** (★★★★): Admission ¥199; Opening hours 9：30—18：00; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/nanchang-sunac-land - **Haihunhou Museum** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; free; ¥20; Ferris wheel ¥50; Opening hours 9:00–17:00; 9:00–17:00 (closed Mondays); 8:30–17:00; 9:00–17:00; 9:00–22:00 (Tuesday to Sunday) 12:00–22:00 (Monday); Time needed 3–5 hours; 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/haihunhou-museum --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1432–1442. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.