How to Visit Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall (Tips, Photos & Map)

Plan your Nanjing Tour? Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall is the big draw on your Nanjing trip. The museum’s official name is called the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders (侵华日军南京大屠杀遇难同胞纪念馆).

Nanjing Massacre Museum tells the overwhelming atrocities of raping, killing, burning and looting committed by the Japanese forces of aggression during the six weeks from December 13, 1937 to January, 1938. In the massacre, a total of 300,000 people were killed including 28 mass slaughters and 858 occasional slaughters.

Nanjing Massacre Museum was open to the public on August 15, 1985. It was renovated and revamped in 1995. The museum is constructed on the site of one of the mass graves known as Jiangdongmen Mass Grave where over 10000 corpses of victims were buried.

Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall has a total area of 30,000 square meters with 9 gates. It is mainly composed of four sections: Site Square, Exhibition Area. Mass Grave of 10000 Corpse and Peace Park with a total area of 30,000 square meters.

We are thankful for Iris Chang

Iris Chang, author of "The Rape of Nanking", ended her life with a pistol on November 9, 2004. She was 36. She had suffered from years of depression and constant sleep deprivation since her bestseller – "The Rape of Nanking".

In his eulogy, reporter Richard Rongstad said, "Iris Chang lit a flame and passed it to others and we should not allow that flame to be extinguished." ( Quoted from Who killed 'Rape of Nanking' author Iris Chang? by cgtn.com).

How to Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall

Take subway line 2 and get off at the station of Yunjin Lu (云锦路) and exit at Exit 2. When you exit from the subway station, you will see a huge architecture built of grey marble.

This is the Massacre Museum. You should enter Gate 1, first visit the Exhibition Area, then the Site Square, the Mass Grave of 10000 Corpses and finally the Peace Park. You are advised to exit from the Gate 2 and get back to the subway Station of Yunjin Rd (云锦路). But the museum's official address is No.418, Shuiximen Street.

China Nanjing Yunjin Museum

"Yunjin" literally means "cloud-pattern brocade" in Chinese. It now refers to the famous Nanjing Yunjin tapestry which dates back almost 1,600 years. The traditional Jacquard silk patterns are as various and as beautiful as the clouds in the sky, hence the name "Yunjin".

If you have extra time, you may put the two museums on a half day combo trip. It is open 8 am-5:30 pm. Its address: 240 Chating East Street, Nanjing.

Virtual Tour of Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall

Follow me to visit the Massacre Museum.

Take subway line 2 and get off at the station of Yunjin Rd (云锦路) and exit at Exit 2.

The museum is a grey marble building with overwhelming statues and sculptures.

People are waiting in line to visit the museum which is free of charge. Try to avoid weekends and holidays and get to there earlier to beat the crowds. Each day there are a huge number of visitors coming to the museum.

When you enter the museum, you are on the site square, open and not so overpowering with people. The most prominent site you will see the stone wall engraved with the time of the massacre and 300,000 victims.

Turn right and walk to the Exhibition Area. In the exhibition hall, exhibits, photos and the memorabilia in the cabinets in English Japanese and Chinese tell their own stories without words.  People are looking at the exhibits.

John Rabe is well known in China for his efforts to stop war crimes during the Japanese takeover of Nanjing and he did a lot to protect and help Chinese civilians during the massacre.

Tip:  Hassle-free Jiangsu Guided Tours

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for organized tours to Jiangsu Province: