It is four hours by train to Shanghai and an overnight train ride to Beijing. Like most Chinese cities, it is almost entirely flat, making it pleasant to tour on bicycle. Since the Center is centrally located, most places in Nanjing can be reached by bicycle in no more than half an hour. The old Ming city wall is still about two-thirds intact. The natural colourings can be spectacular in spring.
Heavy rains fall in spring and summer, but autumn is fairly dry.