2Q5M+Q84, Saozhou Ln, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210006
Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is a highly acclaimed tourist attraction located in Nanjing, China. With a rating of 4.5 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated tourist attractions in the area.
Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is a highly acclaimed tourist attraction located in Nanjing, China. With a rating of 4.5 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated tourist attractions in the area.
You can find Porcelain Tower of Nanjing at 2Q5M+Q84, Saozhou Ln, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210006.
Located in Nanjing, China, Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is a tourist attraction that visitors to the area may find worth exploring.
The tourist attraction is located at 2Q5M+Q84, Saozhou Ln, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210006. GPS coordinates: 32.009386, 118.783343. Check locally for current opening hours and any admission fees before visiting.
Last modified April 6, 2026
Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is a highly acclaimed tourist attraction located in Nanjing, China. With a rating of 4.5 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated tourist attractions in the area.
You can find Porcelain Tower of Nanjing at 2Q5M+Q84, Saozhou Ln, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210006.
Located in Nanjing, China, Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is a tourist attraction that visitors to the area may find worth exploring.
The tourist attraction is located at 2Q5M+Q84, Saozhou Ln, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210006. GPS coordinates: 32.009386, 118.783343. Check locally for current opening hours and any admission fees before visiting.
No reviews found! Be the first to review!
The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing was once hailed as one of the medieval world’s greatest wonders. Visiting its modern reconstruction, you start to understand why European explorers raved about it.
The original nine-story pagoda, finished in 1431, was built entirely from white porcelain bricks that shimmered in the sunlight. It stood nearly 80 meters tall until Taiping rebels leveled it in 1856.
The current replica, which opened in 2015, sits right where the Great Bao’en Temple once stood, along the south bank of the Qinhuai River. It’s not just a nod to the past—it’s a bold blend of history and modernity.
This isn’t your standard temple rebuild. The complex fuses ancient Buddhist architecture with contemporary museum spaces, so every turn feels like a collision of eras.
You’ll spot original porcelain fragments in nearby museums. Meanwhile, the new tower stands as both a tribute to Ming Dynasty artistry and a showcase of present-day restoration efforts.
Wang Jianlin, one of China’s wealthiest businesspeople, donated over $156 million to resurrect this landmark. That’s a staggering sum, and honestly, you can feel the ambition in every detail.
The Porcelain Tower once soared 79 meters above Nanjing as part of the Great Bao’en Temple complex. Before its destruction in the 1850s, it was a true world wonder.
Today’s reconstruction lets you wander through a piece of architectural history, with the original ruins still preserved on-site. It’s a rare blend of old bones and new spirit.
Work on the original tower kicked off under Emperor Yongle in the early 1400s. The famous explorer Zheng He even supervised repairs in 1428.
Locals called it the “Temple of Repaying Kindness.” The project wrapped up in 1431.
Johan Nieuhof, a Dutch traveler, documented the tower in the 1660s, helping to spread its fame across Europe. For over four centuries, it dominated southern China’s skyline.
The Taiping Rebellion spelled disaster for the tower. Rebels smashed Buddhist statues and destroyed the internal staircase in the 1850s, hoping to keep Qing forces from using it as a lookout.
Lightning struck in 1801, toppling the top four stories, but repairs followed. By 1856, rebels razed the entire thing, whether for military strategy or out of superstition about its geomantic power.
In 2010, Wang Jianlin donated $156 million for reconstruction. The modern replica opened in December 2015, marking one of China’s largest personal charitable donations.
The original tower had an octagonal shape, a base diameter of about 30 meters, and nine floors connected by 184 winding steps. Its white porcelain bricks caught the daylight, while 140 lamps made it glow at night.
Craftsmen embedded glazes and stoneware into the porcelain, painting scenes of animals, flowers, and landscapes in green, yellow, brown, and white. A golden pineapple crowned the roof.
The reconstructed tower is surrounded by a Buddhist-themed museum displaying fragments from the original building. You’ll see actual ruins in the foreground, a rare direct link to the 15th century.
Only a handful of Chinese pagodas ever reached higher, like Hebei’s 84-meter Liaodi Pagoda.
The new Porcelain Tower rises inside the Great Bao’en Temple Relic Park. Here, you’ll wander between ancient foundations and modern recreations that bring the story of this place to life.
Your visit is a mix of museum discoveries, architectural exploration, and, if you’re up for it, a climb up the tower for sweeping views of Nanjing.
The current tower stands around 78 meters tall, built with steel and glass—no shimmering porcelain bricks this time, but it’s still striking.
You can climb all nine stories. Trust me, your legs will remember it.
At the top, you get panoramic views over Nanjing and the Qinhuai River area. The city stretches out in every direction.
Beneath the tower, there’s an underground museum that’s honestly more fascinating than I expected. Here, you’ll find porcelain pieces from the original structure, each with markings and codes left by Ming craftsmen.
The museum also displays 144 oil lamps like those that once lit the tower at night. Imagine the glow—no wonder it was visible for miles.
The relic park covers the old temple grounds. You can wander among foundation stones and archaeological sites protected by glass pavilions.
Guided tours are available in Chinese, and occasionally in English. If you’re a history buff, it’s worth joining one—the guides often share quirky details about Emperor Yongle’s massive workforce and the construction process.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the sweet spots for weather. Nanjing’s summers are brutal—hot, humid, and not ideal for climbing nine stories.
The park opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 5:30 PM, with last entry at 5:00 PM. Early mornings are quieter and better for photos, if you’re hoping to dodge the crowds.
Weekends and Chinese holidays? Expect a flood of local tourists.
Between April and October, evening visits are a treat. The tower lights up, recreating the legendary nighttime glow. Check locally for exact lighting hours—they shift with the seasons.
The reconstructed tower at the Great Bao’en Temple Relic Park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Last admission is at 5:00 PM, and tickets go for 120 RMB per person.
You’ll find the Porcelain Tower at No. 1 Yuhua Road, Qinhuai District, just outside the historic Zhonghua Gate.
The easiest route is Metro Line 1 to Zhonghua Gate station. From there, walk north along Zhongshan South Road, then turn at the first cross street—you’ll spot the alley leading to the park entrance.
If buses are more your style, routes 2, 16, 38, 202, 701, 706, and D58 all stop at Great Bao’en Temple Relic Park. The D58 is handy if you’re coming from the city center.
The site sits on the south bank of the external Qinhuai River, which makes it easy to pair with a trip to the nearby Confucian Temple or Zhonghua Gate.
Most taxi drivers know it as “Da Bao’en Si.” Honestly, that works better than saying “Porcelain Tower” in English.
Plan for about an hour if you want to see the museum exhibits and the reconstructed section of the Porcelain Tower. If you hate crowds, try to show up on a weekday morning—weekends and Chinese holidays get wildly busy.
Inside, the museum dives into the original tower’s construction and its dramatic destruction during the Taiping Rebellion in 1856. Don’t skip the underground chambers; that’s where you’ll spot porcelain pieces actually dug up right here, each one tagged with quirky little Ming Dynasty codes.
Even in summer, toss a light jacket in your bag—the museum keeps it chilly to protect the artifacts. Out on the grounds, shade is almost nonexistent, so sunscreen is a must if you’re around between May and September.
English signage is spotty at best. If you’re curious about the deeper history, you’ll want a translation app—otherwise, you might miss some of the juicier details.
Explore verified points of interest within walking or short transit distance.
Stay22 provides this accommodation search. We may earn a commission if you book through it; verify current prices and terms with the provider.
GetYourGuide provides this tour inventory. We may earn a commission if you book through it; verify current availability, prices, and terms with the provider.
We may earn a commission if you book through links on this page at no extra cost to you. All tours feature verified customer reviews and flexible cancellation options.
No traveler reviews yet. Share your experience below!
No traveler questions yet. Be the first to ask a local!
