Travel Guide Nanjing: The Birthplace of the Ming Dynasty

(Source: Travel Pulse)

About an hour from Shanghai on the bullet train is the secondary city of Nanjing. Though the city itself is little known in western circles, its historical importance as the birthplace and former capital of the Ming Dynasty has made it a popular destination for Chinese nationals.

That rich history goes along with solid modern development, including cheap luxury lodging, rich local food, and China’s first ever craft brewery. Below, we provide a quick rundown of what to see and do as a first-time visitor.

Confucius Temple Complex: The area known collectively by locals as “Confucius Temple” buzzes with local tourism. It was a hub of government, commerce, religion, and entertainment during the Ming Dynasty and home to the country’s largest imperial examination hall, the Jiangnan Examination Hall, as well as the city university and the Confucius Temple (3,000 of them were established across Asia to continue the teachings of Confucius). For a long time, this historical hub was ignored by just about everybody, during which the Qinhuai River, which flows directly in front of the Confucius Temple, turned black.

In the mid-80s, $375 million was poured into its revitalization, transforming the once-polluted river into the urban waterway that exists today. There you’ll find restaurants, apartment buildings, tourist shops, river boat rides, and hotels. You should hire a guide to take you on a tour of the Confucius Temple and Jiangnan Examination Hall. The area is best viewed at night when decorative lights make it come alive.

Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall: This important and emotional museum was built in 1985 to commemorate the victims of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. The memorial is a solemn tribute to the 350,000 lives that were lost in the attack by the Japanese and includes historical documents, cultural relics, art, and sculptures. It is heavily visited by local tourists as an incredibly important and fateful time in their history, similar to the respect the West holds for the Holocaust.

Master Gao: Today, there are more than 300 craft breweries in China. But the first was founded in 2008 and started right here in Nanjing. Master Gao – the man who owns the brewery by the same name – spent time in Providence as a homebrewer and was inspired by Sam Adams. He returned to China to start what has become a new phase in the country’s beer history in one of its most modern areas, the 1912 Blocks entertainment complex. Stop by for a pint and ask if he’s around (he speaks English very well).

Lao Mendong District and The Wall: The Zhonghua Gate is the best-preserved part of city wall, which was built by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, in the 14h century when Nanjing was its capital. The original wall was nearly 22 miles long and, at the time, was one of the longest city walls in the world. Approximately 15.5 miles are still intact today, and six sections are open to the public.

The Zhonghua Gate is just a few minutes from the Lao Mendong district, a pedestrian-only shopping and dining area designed in a classic Chinese style. Find yourself to the top of the wall for a stroll during sunset for views of the city and then make your way to Lao Mendong for dinner and an evening walk.

Cultural Parks: There are a number of cultural parks fit for an afternoon, most of which involve a stroll through history, both literally and figuratively (a guide enhances your understanding of the latter). Several of Nanjing’s tributes and monuments have been expanded into historic areas, located in scenic areas that provide great leaf-peeping opportunities in the fall. The Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen honors the father of the Republic of China in a lush scenic area called Purple mountain. The park also has a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty.

(Source: Travel Pulse)

The Nanjin Niushoushan Cultural Park

The Nanjing Niushoushan Cultural Park, which opened in late 2015, is a stunning preservation of a centuries-old scared Buddhist site. Maybe revitalization is a better word. The miraculous palace is built into the side of a mountain and goes down six floors below ground level. If you’ve had enough of past culture and want to focus on the present, head out for a coffee/tea carrying morning walk around center city’s Xuanwu Lake, specifically along and through Xuanwu Park. It’s an old imperial garden, and here, you will get a glimpse of the active Nanjing locals engaging in group exercise (like dancing), walking, or having morning tea with friends.

Where to Stay: Nanjing is a super cheap destination when it comes to high-quality lodging. For the price of a mid-range hotel (or less) here in the States, you can stay at one of the top hotels in the city: The Shangri-La ($108/night), InterContinental ($124/night), Sofitel($68/night), and Fairmont ($104/night) can all be had for rates that are unbelievably low.

What to Eat: Salted duck is by far the most popular food in Nanjing, and you should be sure to try it in all forms: marinated, roasted – hey, you can even scarf down a duck tongue. But the most memorable food you’ll eat when in Nanjing is the “hairy crab.” I know, it doesn’t sound incredibly appetizing. But these little suckers are sweet and tasty, and they’re extremely popular with locals (much like Chesapeake Bay crabs). So much so that, when in season, they sell them in boxes at the airport for travelers to take with them (seriously). Known as they are because of the hair that grows from their shell, they are available during the fall throughout Gaochun County.