1. Affordable Accommodation

  • Hostels/Guesthouses: ¥80–150/night near Confucius Temple or Xinjiekou.
  • Budget Hotels: Chains like GreenTree Inn offer clean rooms for ¥200–300.

2. Cheap Eats

  • Street Food: Duck blood soup (¥15), plum blossom cakes (¥5) at Qinhuai snack street.
  • Local Cafeterias: Try Nanjing Da Pai Dong for meals under ¥30.

3. Free Attractions

  • Xuanwu Lake: Free lakeside walks with city wall views.
  • Yihe Mansions: Historic architecture exploration at no cost.

4. Transportation Savings

  • Metro: ¥2–5 per ride; day passes for ¥15.
  • Bike Sharing: HelloBike (¥1.530 mins).

5. Discount Tickets

  • City Pass: ¥120 for 3+ attractions (e.g., Ming Tomb, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum).

Cost Comparison Chart

Category Budget Option Price (¥) Premium Alternative Price (¥)
Accommodation GreenTree Inn 200 The Ritz-Carlton 2,000+
Food Street food 10–30 Fine dining 100+
Transport Metro/Bike 1.5–15 Taxi 30–50
Attractions Free walks 0 Paid tours 50–100

Pro Tips:

  • Visit off-peak (Sept–Nov) for lower hotel rates.
  • Use WeChat Mini-Programs for discounted attraction tickets.