Hotels in Nanjing
Nanjing pairs a walkable old town around the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River with the high-rise business district at Xinjiekou, and its hotel pools run from heated indoor lap tanks to rooftop tubs above the Yangtze skyline. Most travelers base themselves near Xuanwu Lake or the high-speed rail hub at Nanjing South for easy runs to both the Ming city wall and Purple Mountain.
Where to stay in Nanjing usually comes down to picking a side of the city: the lakeside calm around Xuanwu Lake, the canal-side old town near the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River, or the high-rise convenience of Xinjiekou and Nanjing South Railway Station. Hotels with a pool cluster in the newer business towers, where an indoor pool and a hot tub are standard extras rather than a rare perk, useful given Nanjing's long, humid summers when the Ming city wall and Purple Mountain trails are best walked at dawn. Families connecting onward by rail tend to prefer the South Railway Station side, while couples lean toward the quieter streets around Xuanwu Lake.
Nanjing in numbers
Indoor poolFairmont Nanjing
A luxury tower with an indoor pool and multiple bars
Indoor poolMarriott Nanjing South
Indoor pool and hot tub near the Qinhuai Scenic Area
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Indoor poolJinling Hotel Nanjing
Six restaurants and a spa above an indoor pool
Indoor poolHan Yue Lou Hotel Nanjing, a Solís Managed Hotel
A quieter five-star stay with an indoor pool
Indoor poolHilton Nanjing Niushoushan
An indoor pool near Niushoushan's cultural park
Indoor poolCrowne Plaza Nanjing Jiangning
An indoor pool and spa in Jiangning
Outdoor poolInterContinental Nanjing
Indoor and outdoor pools in one modern tower
Indoor poolPullman Hotel
A heated indoor pool near the airport
索菲特锦绣西餐厅
Gourmet dining above an indoor pool and spa
Indoor poolShangri-La hotel
Spa, indoor pool and hot tub near the Qinhuai River
Indoor poolHilton Nanjing Riverside
River-view balconies over an indoor pool and hot tub
Indoor pool南京万达希尔顿酒店
Downtown indoor pool with large-scale meeting space
Indoor poolHanfu Hotel
A relaxed stay with a simple indoor pool
Indoor poolThe Westin Hotel Nanjing
A plush stay with a spa, indoor pool and hot tub
What to expect
- Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River old town for canal walks and night boats
- Xuanwu Lake, one of the largest city-centre lakes in southern China, ringed by parkland
- Nanjing South Railway Station, a high-speed hub reaching Shanghai and Beijing in about an hour
- Purple Mountain's Ming Xiaoling Tomb and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum trails east of downtown
- Xinjiekou's shopping towers and business hotels at the geographic centre of the city
- Long, humid summers that make an indoor or heated pool worth checking for before booking
Local tips
- Base yourself near Nanjing South Railway Station if you are day-tripping to Shanghai or Suzhou, the high-speed line runs every few minutes at peak hours.
- Walk the Ming city wall near Zhonghuamen Gate in the early morning, before the summer heat and the tour groups arrive.
- Pick a hotel with an indoor pool for July and August, Nanjing's humidity makes an open-air deck less appealing at midday.
- The Confucius Temple area gets loud with night markets on weekends, ask for a room away from the river-facing side if you want quiet.
- Xuanwu Lake's paths are flat and shaded, a good car-free option for an evening walk straight from a lakeside hotel.
- Metro Line 1 links Xinjiekou, Nanjing South Railway Station and the airport bus terminal, so a rental car is rarely worth the hassle.
Where to stay
FAQ
Which neighborhood should I choose to stay in Nanjing?
Xinjiekou suits travelers who want shopping and business towers within walking distance, while the Confucius Temple area suits those chasing canal views and night markets. Families connecting onward by rail tend to prefer hotels near Nanjing South Railway Station for the direct high-speed line.
What kind of hotel pools are available in Nanjing?
Most Nanjing hotels with a pool offer an indoor pool paired with a hot tub, since the city's humid summers and cold winters make an all-season indoor option more practical than an open-air deck. Outdoor and heated pools exist but are less common than indoor setups.
How far is Nanjing South Railway Station from the city centre?
Nanjing South Railway Station sits south of Xinjiekou and is reached in roughly 20 to 30 minutes by metro or taxi depending on traffic. It is the main hub for high-speed trains toward Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing.
When is the best time to visit Nanjing?
Spring and autumn bring mild, drier weather that suits walking the Ming city wall and Purple Mountain trails without needing a hotel pool to cool off. Summers run hot and humid, which is when an indoor or heated pool becomes genuinely useful.
Is Nanjing walkable without a car?
Central Nanjing is well served by a metro network connecting Xinjiekou, Xuanwu Lake, the Confucius Temple area and Nanjing South Railway Station, so most travelers get by without renting a car. Taxis and ride-hailing cover the rest.
What is Nanjing known for besides its hotels?
Nanjing was an imperial capital and is known for the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River old town, the well-preserved Ming city wall, Purple Mountain's imperial tombs, and Xuanwu Lake, one of the largest city-centre lakes in the country.