On October 9, a research report released by the China Tourism Academy showed that during the National Day holiday, among the top ten tourist attractions by visitor reception volume, the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai Scenic Belt claimed the number one spot, while Zhongshan Scenic Area ranked third.

The article, titled "A Strong Tourism Nation, Happy Holidays — Special Commentary on the 2026 National Day Holiday Tourism Market," was researched and written by Dai Bin, President of the China Tourism Academy. It stated that "hub cities, key cities, and distinctive tourism destinations remain the faraway places that tourists yearn for," and listed the higher-ranking popular cities, among which Nanjing was included.

The article noted that monitoring data indicated among the top ten scenic areas by visitor reception volume, the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai Scenic Belt ranked first and Zhongshan Scenic Area ranked third. In addition, zoos such as Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo were also among the holiday's top attractions.

A classic night experience in Nanjing with new highlights

As the most iconic signature of nighttime Nanjing during the National Day holiday, the Qinhuai night cruise has unveiled new highlights with a fully upgraded waterfront light and shadow performance project. The project builds an immersive water-based night tour experience centered on culture as the core narrative thread, structured around "one river, five veins" — cultural, poetic, emotional, urban, and human connections.

Visitors can follow "Li Bai," unrolling the scroll as they sail, traveling through a thousand years, savoring a river of lights and five acts of splendor within a "floating theater." Song and dance performances and traditional Chinese-style parades along the banks create a seamless interaction between water and shore, each enhancing the other's beauty. This radiant "night pearl" shines even more brilliantly, attracting visitors from all corners to "board the boat and step into the drama."

During the National Day holiday, the inner Qinhuai River cruise operated approximately 500 trips daily across its east and west routes, welcoming about ten thousand visitors per day. The ten-li Qinhuai transformed into a "floating theater," activating foot traffic on both banks.

A rich cultural and tourism feast

Additionally, the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai Scenic Belt presented a spectacular array of cultural and tourism offerings. The Confucius Culture Month held at the Dacheng Hall scenic area brought a wealth of cultural themed activities, while the poetic music stage drama "Ten Dynasties Capital Nanjing City" offered visitors an audiovisual feast. Inside the Nanjing China Imperial Examination Museum, activities such as the poetic music stage drama "Elegant Qinhuai, Cultural Hub of the World" and the calligraphy experience "Ink and Brush Affairs of the Examination Hall" allowed visitors to immersively experience the cultural heritage of the thousand-year imperial examination system. At the Qinhuai Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, intangible cultural heritage markets and charity performances were held, with Nanjing Baiju, Kunqu opera, and other performances running in succession.

The combination of multiple factors helped the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai Scenic Belt firmly maintain its position as a "top attraction."

Autumn colors and osmanthus fragrance at Zhongshan

During the National Day holiday, Zhongshan Scenic Area gradually took on autumn colors with the fragrance of osmanthus floating through the air and streams of visitors. The plane trees along Lingyuan Road had already begun to slowly "change color," the Linggu Scenic Area was filled with the rich scent of osmanthus, and the sunflower fields in Baima Park were in full bloom, attracting many visitors to enjoy the autumn scenery.

Inside the Plum Blossom Art Center at the Ming Xiaoling Scenic Area, the Chinese Literary Masters' Manuscripts and Letters Exhibition Hall launched activities such as "Co-creating a Memorable Postcard" and the Zhongshan Poetry Fun Challenge. At the Changsheng Deer Garden, deer strolled leisurely, adding lively vitality to the autumn mountain forest, as residents and visitors alike flocked to experience the relaxation and joy of the holiday.