Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre

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Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre

Museum

A museum and memorial that commemorates those killed in the 1937 Nanjing Massacre; travellers come to remember the victims and study the historical record through exhibits and memorials.

Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre NanjingSuzhouWuxiChangzhouYangzhouXuzhouNantongZhenjiangMemorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre

Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre essentials

Address: Jiangdongmen, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

The Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre is a museum and commemorative complex built to remember civilians and unarmed soldiers killed after Nanjing fell in December 1937. It stands in Jiangdongmen, near a burial site known as the “pit of ten thousand people”, and was first opened by the municipal government in 1985 and expanded in 1995.

The memorial occupies a substantial landscaped site and is arranged in three main parts: outdoor exhibits with sculptures and tablets, a coffin-shaped hall that shelters skeletal remains recovered from local mass graves, and a largely underground exhibition hall that presents documents, photos and multimedia about the massacre and its context. Many items and a garden were donated by a Japanese-Chinese friendship group.

Visiting is a sober, often emotional experience; the displays use architecture, sculpture and film to convey the scale and human impact of the events. Admission is reported as free but requires prior registration, so check current visitor requirements locally and allow time to move respectfully through the exhibits.

  • Skeletal remains hall: A coffin-shaped, sheltered display exhibiting skeletal remains excavated from nearby mass graves, presented as a solemn memorial.
  • Exhibition hall of historical documents: A half-underground, tomb-like hall housing photographs, documents, charts, film and testimony that explain the events and their aftermath.
  • Outdoor sculptures and reliefs: Large statues, relief carvings and an atonement tablet set in landscaped grounds that frame the memorial’s public-facing statements.
  • Wall of names and memorial walkway: A wall listing victims and a walkway displaying survivor footprints and commemorative inscriptions for reflection.
  • Donated garden: A small garden on the grounds donated by a Japanese-Chinese friendship group, offered as a quiet space for contemplation.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre#

Nanjing has hot, wet summers and cool, drier winters; the clearest and most comfortable periods for walking around the memorial are in autumn and spring.

Autumn (best)
October - November · 7°C - 22°C (45°F - 72°F)
Weather is cooler and rainfall typically falls from summer levels, giving comfortable conditions for outdoor sections and walking between sites.
Spring (good)
March - May · 5°C - 26°C (41°F - 79°F)
Temperatures rise and gardens start to green, though rain increases toward May; choose clear days for outdoor exhibits.
Summer (not recommended)
June - August · 21°C - 32°C (70°F - 90°F)
Very hot and humid with heavy rainfall in June and July, which can make outdoor areas uncomfortable and crowded.

Weather & Climate near Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre#

Climate

Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -1°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1090 mm/year), wettest in July.

Air Quality: AQI 119 Unhealthy (Sg)
Best Time to Visit
OctoberSeptemberMay
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
40°
Warmest Month
-13°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable -1° - 7° 0° 40 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.0 m/s 0.3 low 10.1h
February Good 1° - 9° 2° 53 mm partly cloudy 78% 3.2 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.9h
March Acceptable 5° - 13° 8° 75 mm partly cloudy 75% 2.9 m/s 0.8 moderate 11.9h
April Good 11° - 20° 16° 88 mm partly cloudy 73% 3.1 m/s 1.1 high 12.9h
May Very Good 16° - 26° 21° 93 mm partly cloudy 71% 2.8 m/s 1.3 high 13.7h
June Good 21° - 29° 25° 156 mm overcast 74% 2.7 m/s 1.2 high 14.1h
July Acceptable 25° - 32° 33° 214 mm overcast 82% 2.1 m/s 1.5 high 13.9h
August Good 24° - 32° 32° 129 mm partly cloudy 81% 2.0 m/s 1.5 high 13.2h
September Very Good 20° - 27° 23° 96 mm partly cloudy 78% 2.4 m/s 1.1 high 12.2h
October Excellent 14° - 22° 18° 55 mm partly cloudy 73% 2.5 m/s 0.8 moderate 11.2h
November Very Good 7° - 16° 11° 58 mm partly cloudy 75% 2.7 m/s 0.5 low 10.4h
December Good 1° - 10° 3° 33 mm partly cloudy 75% 3.0 m/s 0.3 low 9.9h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre#

The memorial is in the Jiangdongmen area of downtown Nanjing. Visitors reach the city by air at Nanjing Lukou International Airport or by high-speed and conventional rail to the city’s railway stations, then continue locally.

From central Nanjing take Metro Line 2 to Yunjinlu Station and follow the signs to the memorial - the entrance is across the street from Exit 2 - or take a taxi for the last short stretch. Check local maps and metro service for the best connections from your arrival point.

Tips for Visiting Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre#

  • Register ahead if required and check the memorial’s visitor rules before you go.
  • Dress and behave respectfully; the site is a place of mourning and study.
  • Expect strong emotions and allow at least an hour to move through the main exhibits at a reflective pace.
  • Combine the visit with nearby historical sites such as Presidential Palace (Nanjing) or Ming Xiaoling if you have time.