Nantong

Nantong (南通 Nántōng) is a city in Jiangsu Province, on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, near its mouth, a vital river port and a major industrial and commercial center in the Yangtze Delta region. It is also known for its kite-making and textile industries.

Understand

Nantong is a major port on the Yangtze River near Shanghai that was historically known for its distinctive textiles. The city has a population of around two million (2010) in the core area, more than seven million overall. It is a bit inland of Shanghai.

Get in

By plane
  • 🌍 Nantong airport (NTG  IATA) (about 18 km from the city center). It has only a small number of domestic flights, such as a direct flight once a day from Beijing. 

Nantong is near Shanghai, so the major method to get in is from Hongqiao Airport (SHA IATA) or Pudong Airport, and it takes about two hours to drive from Hongqiao to the center of Nantong via expressway.

By train

There are two major railway stations in Nantong:

  • 🌍 Nantong Railway Station (南通站), Intersection of Yongxing Avenue and Beida Street, Chongchuan District (崇川区永兴大道与北大街交汇处) (bus nos. 14, 25, 32, 41, 42, 44, 45, 108, 126, 655 and G1). (updated May 2023)
  • 🌍 Nantong West Railway Station (南通西站), Yaosheng Road, Tongzhou District 通州区尧盛路 (accessible via the metro station of the same name). (updated May 2023)

Both stations have frequent train services from Shanghai. The journey time from Shanghai is about one and a half hours. There are also regular trains from Nanjing. Most trains from Nanjing take about two and a half hour to reach Nantong.

By car

Several national expressways run through this city. Cars can get in from the North via G15, from the West (such as Nanjing) via G40. Sutong Bridge connects Nantong and Suzhou. From Shanghai, a highway goes to Nantong via the Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge, crossing Chongming Island.

By bus

🌍 Nantong Yongxing Bus Station (南通永兴汽车站), toll-free: +86 51385559023. (updated Mar 2024)

Get around

Taxis are cheap to get around Nantong. Buses ply the main streets however can take a bit long to wade through the local traffic if you are in a hurry to get somewhere quick.

Line 1 of Nantong Rail Transit opened in 2022. It runs in an Northwest-Southeast direction and transverses the central part of the city. A second line is under construction and will likely open by the end of 2023.

See
  • 🌍 Langshan (狼山风景区). which means Wolf Hill, is at the peak of a riverside hill and has a Buddhist temple dedicated to a Song Dynasty monk, who it is claimed had powers over water demons. The temple is a popular place for sailors, who offer prayers for safe passage. (updated Oct 2022)
  • The Cao Gong Zhu Memorial Temple commemorates a local hero who defended the city against Japanese pirates in 1557.
  • 🌍 Nantong Textile Museum (南通纺织博物馆). Opened in 1985 as a tribute to the city's long association with the weaving industries, the museum was the first of its kind in China and boast six exhibition halls as well as courtyards and gardens. (updated Oct 2022)
  • 🌍 Nantong Museum (南通市博物馆). Near the center of the city, beside the Haohe river. It was established by a well-known educator, Zhang Jian in 1905. It is made of five parts, the center, the south, the north, the east, the west. It is one of the oldest museums in China, and covers the history of Nantong from ancient to modern times. Exhibits include the skeletal remains of whales, calligraphy and pottery, and English signage is ubiquitous. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 China Audit Museum (中国审计博物馆). A museum that looks at accounting and auditing. It has displays of many different abacuses, including one that can calculate with 40 digits. (updated Oct 2022)
  • Nantong Medical College - was founded in the first decade of 20th century. Visit the college at evening; you may see hustle and bustle.
  • 🌍 Nantong Overseas Chinese Museum (南通华侨博物馆), 19 Haonan Road, Chongchuan District (崇川区濠南路19号) (part of the Nantong Museum complex), ☏ +86 513 85527578, +86 513 851015782, . 09:30-17:00, closed on Mondays. The only Overseas Chinese museum in the Yangtze River Delta region. Free. (updated May 2023)

Do
  • Boat Trip Along the Hao He river is a treat in the evening. You can hire an e-boat for a few hundred yuan and it is worthwhile doing it in the evening when the lights come on and the fountains go splashing around 19:00.
  • Nantong Laowai Mixer, Tiger Tiger. A monthly get-together of the local expat community. Live music. (updated Jul 2018)

Buy
  • Nan da jie its a shopping street, you may find interesting things here.
  • Underground Shopping Streets on the north end of Nan da jie, with a variety of shops, mostly fashion and clothing, located in a converted former bomb shelter. The different aisles actually have street names.
  • RT Mart is a supermarket located on the second floor of the shopping center on the north end of the pedestrian street, near the Underground Shopping Streets.
  • Lan Yin Hua Bu (fabric printed with a distinctive blue flower design) - during the Ming Dynasties this particular design of cloth was popular among Southern China's elite. Now it is only produced at the Nantong Textile Museum.

Eat

Nantongmap.net Nantong Mapped Out is a comprehensive English language website that provides information about all Western style restaurants in Nantong, including maps to specific restaurants and general, localized maps.

A very busy place for a quick meal served in a jiffy can be found along Jiao Yu Lu on the North entrances to Nantong Textile and Vocational College and Nantong Vocational College end. Several hole in the wall restaurants ply their trade here with some great food on offer at a very economical price.

Try out some 'Maala Taang' which is a local version of 'hot pot' except that its cooked for you after you picked up all the veggies and meats to go in the pot from the shelf. Can cost you ¥5-10 for a yummy meal. Along Jiaoyu Lu.

Or, try out a pancake roll with pickle, egg and coriander leaves for ¥2. Couple of shops are well known for this treat near the roadside barbecue where they will grill any snack for you for ¥0.5 a piece.

Doula Shop for a meal in a fancy setting around the City Vogue Hotel. Great array of menu choices for a dining experience which will surely impress.

Waterside Restaurant near the Hao He river area in the Central part of Nantong offers a great spread of steaks and Chinese delicacies in elegant and ambient surroundings overlooking the river. Surprisingly not so pricey for a nice restaurant with lovely decor. Worthwhile taking a look.

Ye Shanghai does churn out a good fare, often full so book ahead for some Shanghainese cuisine.

Captain's Bar and Grill offers a full Western menu that is fairly reasonably priced. Offerings include Mexican, German, Italian and steaks. Also breakfast anytime. Weekends feature a brunch served from 10:30 to 16:30. Captain's is a sponsor of Nantongmap.net. Web site and printable map available. Captain's Bar and Grill and Map

Blue Chip, next door to Tiger Tiger Bar, offers a clean, healthy and sumptuous meal of traditional British styled 'fish and chips' cooked fresh and ready to take-away or eat in their plush diner. They also Cater for Corporate events, private functions and Birthday parties. Website and printable Map

Drink
  • Angels Bar, on the corner of Nanda Jie and Haonan Lu, a few doors east from the Youfei Hotel located inside the MingDu Plaza. Behind the bar stocks a full assortment of whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, and rum. Angels also has draft and bottled beer not to mention all your popular cocktails and shooters. Bring your laptop and a friend cause Angels also offers free WiFi internet connection, pool table, beer pong, foosball, and satellite tv.
  • Captains Bar and Grill, QingNian Lu, near the SanTeh Hotel. Captains bar serves western food, with a slant on Mexican and German. It has great lunch specials, happy hour every night, and free WiFi internet access.
  • City Hunter. Dingy, but friendly
  • Camino, south of the Victoria Hotel on Chengshan Lu. Clean and cheap bar with friendly staff and wide collection of music, most of which has been donated by visiting expats.
  • Chef Richard Bar and Grill Café, Haonan Lu, a few doors west from the Youfei Hotel. Serves Western food, and offers free WiFi network connection.
  • Nantong Shipyard has a row of about twenty bars! Most are aimed at seamen stopping in the port, which makes them a little sleazy, though they have character and can be good fun.
  • Scotland Bar - just a few doors down from Camino this place has a warm and friendly atmosphere and fantastic staff and regulars.
  • Love Tiger Bar - attractive bar, beauty and friendly staff. just a few doors down from Camino and Scotland bar. Good movie music, you can relax here.

Sleep

Mid-range

Splurge

Go next

Nanjing, Shanghai and Suzhou are all very near.

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