Nanjing

Nanjing (meaning southern capital) is one of the six ancient capitals of China, situated at the south bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Today, Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province and covers an area of 860 square kilometers with a population of more than 5 million.

Nanjing area has been inhabited for but 5000 years, and a number of prehistoric sites have been discovered in or around the city. Recorded history, however, begins in the Warring States period {453-221 BC), when Nanjing emerged as a strategic object of conflict. The arrival of a victorious Qin dynasty (221-207 BC) put an end to this, allowing Nanjing to prospe as a major administrative centre. Nanjing today looks at once new and old -- new due to the ongoing modernization drive, and old because it is already 2,460 years old, and, as one of the nation's seven ancient capitals, it was the capital city for 10 feudal dynasties or regimes.

Nanjing is one of China's more attractive major cities. Among all the dynasties that had their capital in Nanjing, the Ming left the city with the most cultural relics, including the Nanjing City Wall, Zhuyuanzhang's Mausoleum and the Drum Tower. The city was also the birth place of China's first democratic revolutionary, Dr.Sun Yat Sen (Sun zhongshan),and his Mausoleum is situated majestically upon the slopes of the nearby Purple Mountain. There are also many other cultural sites relating to him in Nanjing.

Nanjing is a city with mountains, waters and green trees. With the Yangtse River running through the northeast of the city, mountains and hills encircling on three sides and rivers and lakes scattered about, Nanjing boasts beautiful natural scenery, as well as historically being a great defensive capital. The locals have learned to love this green and varied landscape, giving the area such pretty sights as the Plum Blossom Hill, Zixia Lake and Xuanwu Lake.