Nanjing 南京

Downtown Nanjing
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nanjing_downtown_view.jpg
Author: taylorandayumi


Nanjing (南京) is the capital of Jiangsu Province, China. It is located in the lower Yangtze River basin. Nanjing is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, together with Beijing, Luoyang and Xi'an. It served as capital for six dynasties, and also served as the capital of the Republic of China

Today Nanjing is a modern city with a population of over five million people. It is the second largest commercial center in East China after Shanghai, and will play host to the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.

The area of Nanjing was the site of an ancient city called Yecheng, founded in 495 BC during the State of Wu. In 333 BC, the State of Chu vanquished the State of Wu to establish Jinling Yi, to the northwest of present-day Nanjing.

Stone carvings at the Tomb of Kang Maocai
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stone_Carvings_of_the_Tomb_of_Kang_Maocai_01_2011-05.JPG
Author: 猫猫的日记本


Nanjing became a capital for the first time in AD 229, during the Three Kingdoms Period. The city was razed when the Sui Dynasty reunified China. It was reconstructed in the late Tang Dynasty and was named Jinling. Nanjing's medieval city walls, built during the reign of Hong Wu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in around 1368 is today the longest surviving city wall in the world. Between 1358 and 1425, Nanjing is believed to be the biggest city in the world, with a population of 487,000.

Nanjing remained the capital until 1421, when the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty relocated the capital to Beijing. Two centuries later, Prince Zhu Yousong was enthroned in Nanjing in 1644. However the reign was shortlived.

Nanjing was selected as capital with the founding of the Republic of China in January 1912. However it only became capital in 1927 when the Kuomintang took over Beijing. The Japanese invasion of Nanjing led to be bloody Nanjing massacre. The Japanese established the capital in Nanjing while the Nationalist government moved its capital to Chongqing.

After the Japanese surrender, the Kuomintang reestablished the capital in Nanjing. In 1949 the People's Liberation Army ejected the Kuomintang from Nanjing. Since then, Nanjing has been the provincial capital of Jiangsu Province.

Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nanjing_Yangtze_River_Bridge.jpg
Author: Jack No 1

Planning your trip to Nanjing

By Plane
Nanjing's Lukou International Airport is located 35 kilometers from downtown Nanjing. The cheapest way to leave the airport is by bus. There are two express bus routes from the airport to Nanjing, both terminating at the Nanjing Railway Station. The fare is ¥20 and the ticket can be purchased at the kiosk outside the Arrival Hall.

By Train
The fast train takes just over two hours to go from Shanghai to Nanjing, and is a good option if you are visiting both cities. The Nanjing Railway Station is located near to the Zhongyangmen long-distance bus station.

Exploring Nanjing

The most practical way to get around in Nanjing is to take the subway. Buy the stored-value card, Jinlingtong (also called IC-tong), which you can use to ride the subway and bus, and can also be used to purchases at the Suguo convenience stores. The cards can be bought at any subway station, bus station and Huaxia Bank branches.

The Subway Line 1 goes north-south through the city, with stops at the main shopping areas around Zhujiang Road and the Nanjing Railway Station.

Taxis are relatively inexpensive and is another option to consider. Always insist on using the meter. The meter starts at ¥9 and you can travel anywhere within Nanjing for less than ¥15.

The entertainment precinct in Nanjing, China
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nanjing-Fuzimiao-area-shopping-street-3149.jpg
Author: Vmenkov

Places of Interest in Nanjing

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Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

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