Mingyuan Tower is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM), closed Mondays for maintenance. During peak seasons (Spring Festival, May Day, National Day Golden Week), extended hours apply—open until 7:00 PM—with special night tours available.
Admission is ¥20 per person, with half-price for students (with valid ID) and free entry for seniors (60+) and persons with disabilities. Advance HopeGoo is strongly recommended via the Nanjing Museum Official Website or Suning.com to avoid long queues.
Upon entry, visitors gain free access to the adjacent Jiangnan Imperial Examination Site Exhibition Hall and Imperial Exam Culture Gallery, housing rare exam scrolls, original test papers, and ancient examination tools. Audio guides (available in Chinese, English, and Japanese) can be rented at the entrance, providing detailed insights into the tower’s architecture, evolution of the imperial examination system, and stories of famous candidates—enhancing the overall visit experience.
Please note: Entry closes 30 minutes prior to closing time to allow sufficient time for exit.