City Introduction

Nanjing, long one of China's most important cities, is recognized as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China and famous historical and cultural cities. For thousands of years, the Yangtze River has not only given birth to the Yangtze River civilization, but also Nanjing. Nanjing enjoys rivers and mountains, boasting a precipitous topography, beautiful mountains and rivers, and numerous historical relics.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

The Father of China Mr. Sun Yat-sen once said of Nanjing: Nanjing served as an ancient capital of China prior to Beijing. It is located in a beautiful and good place. There are high mountains, deep water and plain. Nanjing gathers the three works of nature that are rarely seen in other metropolises in the world. In history, Nanjing benefits and suffers from its advantageous geographical location and distinguished Fengshui, and has repeatedly undergone turmoil caused by war in the past, but also regains prosperity. And when the central plains were occupied by alien races, the Han Nationality always chose Nanjing to recuperate and prepare for the northern expedition in order to recover Huaxia. Two northern expeditions in respectively succeeded in Ming Dynasty and Republic of China, but those in Eastern Jin Dynasty, Liang Dynasty and Liu Song Dynasty failed. When the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) was just established, ministers all proposed to choose Jiankang (now Nanjing) as the capital to demonstrate the ambition to recover the central plains. However, Emperor Gaozong had no intention of northern expedition and made Hangzhou the capital, but he was forced by public opinion and finally selected Jinling (now Nanjing) as the alternate capital. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864) also made Nanjing the capital to gain the basis of mobilization and legitimacy for the purpose of expelling alien rule. Therefore, Nanjing is regarded as the place of revival for the Han Nationality, boasting a special status and value in the history of China.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Nanjing enjoys rivers and mountains, boasting a precipitous topography, beautiful mountains and rivers, and numerous historical relics.

 

 

 

 

Climate Change

Nanjing features a subtropical monsoon climate, with abundant rainfall (annual precipitation of 1200 mm) and four distinct seasons. It has an annual average temperature of 15.4 °C, annually extremely highest temperature of 39.7 °C and lowest one of -13.1°C. The average annual rainfall of Nanjing reaches 1106 mm. Nanjing is fine and warm in the spring; has much rain in the rainy season; hot and muggy in the summer, and is traditionally referred to as one of the "Three Furnacelike Cities" along the Yangtze River with Wuhan and Chongqing; dry and cool in the autumn; and cold and dry in the winter. Nanjing has a long summer and winter, and short spring and autumn, boasting a remarkable temperature difference between the winter and summer. Each season has its own characteristics and tourism is appropriate in all seasons. So there is a saying of "see mist of Niushou Mountain in the spring, enjoy pure clouds of Zhongshan Mountain in the summer, climb Qixia Mountain in the autumn and view snow of Shicheng in the winter". Due to the change of atmospheric circulation and unceasing afforestation, Nanjing's hot summer has experienced considerable change compared with other cities in the South China, so Nanjing has been de-listed from "furnacelike city".

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Travel Consultation of Nanjing Tourism Committee: 025-83635911

Nanjing Tourist Complaint: 025-52260123

Consumer Complaint: 12315

Nanjing Tourism Quality Supervision and Complaint: 025-52260123

Weather forecast: 96121

Domestic Ticket Booking Service of Lukou Airport: 025-86602902；025- 86505015

International Ticket Booking Service of Lukou Airport: 025-86602912；025-86525730

Lukou Airport Information Office: 968890

Long-haul Bus Station: 96196

Information and Booking of Nanjing Railway Station: 025-85822222

Nanjing South Railway Station Information Office: 025-52414183

Nanjing Passenger Transportation Management Office: 025-86655664

Price Reporting Center of Nanjing Municipal Commodity Price Bureau: 12358

Taxi Complaint: 86655664

 

 

 

 

Notes

Notes for travelling in Nanjing:

1. Take measures to prevent sunstroke in the summer.

2. Nanjing tourism distribution center is located at the bus station on Zhongshan South Road.

3. Tourist Complaint: 025-52260123.

4. Spring and autumn are most appropriate for sightseeing in Nanjing, but autumn is undoubtedly the most beautiful season when the red maple leaves are fascinating.

5. Tour buses around the Xuanwu Lake may carry tourists as required in an on-call stop manner, and provide guide services.

6. Oriental plane and willow are widely planted along roads in Nanjing. Respiratory allergies may be induced by catkins if you travel in Nanjing in the spring. You may bring use gauze mask.

7. You'd better wear comfortable shoes as there are a lot of mountain roads in Zhongshan Scenic Area.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Jinling Lantern Show

Time: December 30 to January 18 of the lunar calendar

Location： Confucius Temple and its surroundings

Also known as Qinhuai Lantern Show or Confucius Temple Lantern Show, which is a kind of traditional custom activities widely circulated in Nanjing. Between the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival every year, Confucius Temple holds a large-scale lantern exhibition, which is one of China's most famous lantern festival activities. Lamps are lighted up on January 8 and lighted off on January 18 of the lunar calendar. The climax of Jinling Lantern Show is seen on Lantern Festival day.

Climb city wall

Time: January 16 of the lunar calendar every year

Location： Zhonghua Gate

On this day every year, Nanjing citizens will climb the city wall for sightseeing with family or friends, as the saying goes, "walk to ward off disease" and "step on the road of peace". In the past, tourists often climb three mountains, Shicheng, Jubao (Zhonghua Gate) and Tongji Gate. Now only Jubao (Zhonghua Gate) is open to tourists. Nanjing is warm and comfortable in the first month of the lunar calendar. Its beneficial to the body to go out for a walk and take a fresh breath.

Nanjing International Plum Blossom Festival

Time: Late February to middle March every year

Location： Meihua Mountain

Meihua Mountain in the east suburb of Nanjing is among four great places for enjoying plum blossom in China. The early spring of each year sees thousands of flowers in full blossom, and tens of thousands of Nanjing citizens or foreign tourists flock to Meihua Mountain for sightseeing. The sea of faces and flowers is so spectacular. A series of festivals are launched during this period, such as plum blossom painting and calligraphy exhibition, large-scale song and dance performances, plum blossom cultural knowledge lectures, "hand in hand with Meihua Mountain" cherub garden tour, "I choose plum blossom as national flower" signature activities, etc.