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Entrance to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, photographed in 2010; the site has since been expanded, and the photo does not show all current entrances

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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 · Jiangdongmen, Jianye District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Photo: x li · CC BY-SA 2.0

At the Jiangdongmen site and in the exhibitions, trace the historical evidence of the Nanjing Massacre and solemnly commemorate the victims.

Know before you go

  • Do not fool around, pose for photos or photograph the remains of the victims
  • do not use clothing, flags or props with Japanese militarist symbols
  • do not mistake the Liji Lane former site for a gallery of the Jiangdongmen memorial complex.

This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.

Culture

Culture & customs

Background

According to the museum, the memorial hall was built on the site of the Jiangdongmen mass killing and mass burial ground of victims of the Nanjing Massacre, opened on August 15, 1985, and was later expanded into several exhibition areas. The memorial tells its story through historical materials, the site, the memory of the victims and the theme of peace; the remains and other physical evidence carry special commemorative significance. The Liji Alley Comfort Station Site Museum in Nanjing belongs to the related memorial system but is at a different address; reservations must be made for each hall separately, and it should not be described as the same building or the same entry route.

Local customs

  • Please dress modestly, keep quiet and solemn in the exhibition halls, and follow staff guidance on site. The memorial hall explicitly asks that you not photograph the remains of the compatriot victims, and that you care for the relics and the public memorial facilities
  • the purpose of your visit should be to understand history and mourn, not to snap check-in photos for entertainment.

Religion & beliefs

  • This is a war site and memorial facility, not a place of religious worship
  • if there is a national memorial ceremony or commemoration, keep silent as arranged on site.

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Rules that apply here

Essential restrictionsEntryNanjing

Make real-name reservations for each venue of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders

Do

  • Please check the booking method on the official WeChat account, and book separately for each specific venue you plan to visit
  • Bring the valid ID used for your reservation, and follow the entry time slot and security check

Don’t

  • Do not assume one reservation covers all of the memorial hall's exhibition halls
  • Do not rely on on-site slots promised by unofficial channels

The museum uses real-name reservations for each hall separately; without a valid reservation for the relevant hall you may not be admitted. Reservation windows and concession policies follow the museum's announcements on the day.

Not yet verifiedSource: Memorial Hall: visitor notes and reservations

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersNanjing

Keep silent at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders and don't photograph the remains

Do

  • Please dress modestly and appropriately, and keep quiet and solemn inside the hall
  • Read the historical exhibits and follow on-site guidance and each hall's reservation requirements
  • Show respect for the victims' remains, the artifacts and the public memorial facilities

Don’t

  • Do not fool around or make noise in the museum, or photograph the remains of the victims
  • Do not wear clothing or emblems out of keeping with the atmosphere of a national memorial facility
  • Do not take or share photos using uniforms, flags or props symbolizing Japanese militarism

Nanjing's Regulations on Safeguarding the National Memorial Day set out clear rules on silence, the protection of facilities and militarist symbols; anyone violating the memorial hall's requirements may be stopped, and illegal acts are dealt with under the law.

Not yet verifiedSource: Memorial Hall: FAQ on visiting, dress and photography

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · China

China: At Qingming tomb-sweeping, no burning paper or open flames in wooded areas

Do

  • Check whether the cemetery requires a reservation before you go
  • Stay quiet while laying flowers, bowing and observing silence
  • Consider flowers, tree planting or online memorials instead of burning paper
  • Dress soberly for tomb-sweeping
  • Take offering wrappers and rubbish with you when you leave

Don’t

  • Don't burn paper, incense or candles, or set off firecrackers, in woods or grassland
  • Don't talk loudly or joke around in the cemetery
  • Don't block cemetery paths for long to take photos

During fire-prevention periods, burning paper, incense and candles is strictly banned in forest and grassland fire zones, and anyone who starts a wildfire may be held legally liable. Whether and where a cemetery allows burning is set by its own rules on site.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Xinhua: Two departments deploy safety measures for the Qingming holiday

Essential restrictionsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Go through security before the metro, and park shared bikes in marked zones

Do

  • Cooperate with the security check at the entrance and put bags through the scanner
  • On the platform, wait beside the doors and let passengers off first
  • Register with your real name in the app before riding a shared bike
  • Park in a marked bay or an app-designated spot, and make sure the lock clicks shut
  • If the brakes or lock don't work, switch bikes and report it in the app

Don’t

  • Don't linger in the doorway or force your way through closing doors
  • Don't leave bikes in traffic lanes, fire lanes or on tactile paving
  • Don't let children under 12 ride shared bikes

If you refuse the security check you will not be let into the station. Badly parked bikes are removed, and riders may face action under local rules and the operator's terms.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: People's Daily Online: Beijing issues standards for shared bike technology, services, parking

Essential restrictionsPublic transportCountry-wide guidance · China

China: No smoking anywhere on high-speed trains, and no phone calls in quiet carriages

Do

  • Sit in the carriage and seat shown on your ticket
  • Put large luggage in the racks at the carriage ends or overhead
  • Use headphones for videos and music
  • In a quiet carriage, step outside to make or take calls
  • Before getting off, check around your seat and take your rubbish and belongings

Don’t

  • Don't smoke anywhere on the train, including toilets and vestibules
  • Don't take someone else's seat
  • Don't choose a quiet carriage when travelling with babies or toddlers (12306 advises against it)

Smoking on a bullet train can set off smoke alarms and slow or even stop the train. Smokers are fined by the police and, according to reports, may also be barred from buying bullet-train tickets; official rules prevail. If someone breaks the quiet-carriage rules, tell the train staff.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Travel China Guide: Smoking on Chinese trains

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Stay on open sections of the Great Wall and never carve the bricks

Do

  • Walk only on open sections and marked routes
  • On steep stretches, stop and steady yourself before taking photos, and watch your step
  • Wear non-slip shoes, carry enough water, and turn back if you are tired
  • Carry your rubbish down or put it in a bin
  • Check opening arrangements before you go; official announcements prevail

Don’t

  • Don't carve, write on or prise loose the bricks
  • Don't climb over fences or onto closed, crumbling walls and watchtowers
  • Don't run or push on steep sections

Carving the Great Wall counts as damaging a cultural relic: one visitor who carved his name at Badaling was given administrative detention and a fine by the police and was blacklisted by the scenic area. Closed sections are not maintained and can be dangerous.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China News Service: Man detained for five days and fined 200 yuan for carving on the Badaling Great Wall

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · China

China: book popular sights in advance, under your real name, through official channels

Do

  • Check the booking rules on the site's official website, mini program or account before you go
  • Enter every companion's ID details in advance and pick an entry time slot
  • Children, seniors and others with free or reduced tickets also book as required and show ID
  • Book early for holidays and summer; popular dates often fill quickly

Don’t

  • Don't trust third parties offering to grab tickets or sell 'insider' tickets
  • Don't assume a free ticket means no booking is needed
  • Don't count on buying tickets at the gate on peak days

Once a popular date is fully booked, you may be turned away. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires sites to keep in-person ticket windows and to accommodate seniors and others, but on-site quotas are limited; booking windows, release times and visitor caps are subject to official announcements.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: China Daily: Ministry of Culture and Tourism requires all scenic areas to keep ticket windows

Essential restrictionsEntryCountry-wide guidance · China

China: set up mobile payment before you go; hotels and tickets are booked under your passport

Do

  • Link a foreign bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before departure
  • Carry some cash in yuan for small stalls, remote areas or payment glitches
  • Expect real-name checks at hotels, for train tickets and popular sights; use your passport
  • Make sure the name and number on bookings match your passport exactly
  • If a station gate cannot read your passport, use the staffed lane

Don’t

  • Don't wait until you arrive to set up payment; verification can take time
  • Don't assume cash alone or a bank card alone will work everywhere
  • Don't book with details that differ from your passport

Without a working payment method, or with mismatched ID details, you may be unable to check in, buy tickets or enter sights. Payment limits, fees and platform rules are subject to official announcements.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Gov.cn: Payment services for foreign visitors to China

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · China

China: Queue, don't smoke where banned, and never carve on heritage sites

Do

  • Wait your turn in line, and follow staff directions when it's crowded
  • On buses and the metro, let passengers off first and offer seats to those in need
  • Book popular sights and museums in advance, under your real name, through official channels
  • Sort your rubbish into the right bins
  • Use serving chopsticks and spoons, and order only what you can eat

Don’t

  • Don't cut in line or walk side by side blocking the way
  • Don't smoke where it is banned; many cities ban smoking in indoor public places and on public transport
  • Don't carve or write on historic buildings or ancient trees, or climb on or touch relics
  • Don't use flash or tripods in exhibition halls
  • Don't talk loudly or play music out loud in public places

Staff will stop you from queue-jumping, smoking where banned or marking relics, and smoking in no-smoking areas or damaging relics can also lead to fines under the law. Fine amounts, booking methods and opening hours are as officially announced.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Palace Museum official site: Visit

Don’t DON'T

  • Do not fool around, pose for photos or photograph the remains of the victims
  • do not use clothing, flags or props with Japanese militarist symbols
  • do not mistake the Liji Lane former site for a gallery of the Jiangdongmen memorial complex.

Locals appreciate DO

  • Read the museum's historical background first, then look at the objects and testimonies
  • after your visit you can reflect on what you have seen in the peace-themed exhibition area
  • check reservations for each venue.

Plan your visit

Practical info

Travel tips

  • The museum gives its address as 418 Shuiximen Street, Nanjing
  • allow at least 2 to 3 hours for the Jiangdongmen site, or half a day to read the historical materials in depth and spend time in the memorial spaces. The museum uses real-name reservations through official channels, with separate reservations for related halls
  • how far ahead to book, entry time slots and concessions follow the latest announcements. You can take public transport to the Jiangdongmen area and then walk following the museum's entrance signs
  • visiting arrangements may change on the National Memorial Day and during major commemorations. If you are also visiting the Nanjing City Wall or the Presidential Palace that day, leave enough time for travel and for rest after such heavy content.
Sources & verification notes

Memorial Hall: introduction to the Jiangdongmen site and the Lijixiang site

Memorial Hall: 40 years since its founding and the evolution of its exhibitions

Memorial Hall: visiting and reservation notes

Memorial Hall: FAQ on dress and photography

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