Nanjing: A Glance at the Ancient Oriental Capital With Unique Charm

Nanjing, referred to as "Ning" and called Jinling and Jiankang in ancient times, is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It boasts the elegant names such as the ancient capital of six dynasties and the capital of ten dynasties. The long history of development and the cultural infiltration of past dynasties have made Nanjing, a famous historical city, surrounded by numerous historical relics with unique charm.

Source:quanjing.com

Many historical remains can be seen in Nanjing, which has been the capital city of many dynasties. The stone city site maintained the historical relics ranging from the time before christ (BC) when the King Wei of the State of Chu set up the city on the stone mountain to the time when Sun Quan rebuild the stone city and to the early period of the Tang Dynasty when the stone city became the regional center of Nanjing. The Forbidden City of Nanjing, the largest palace of the Medieval Ages around the world and known as the No. 1 palace in the world at that time, is the center of the Nanjing city in the early period of the Ming Dynasty. The Drum Tower park, a witness to the Ming Dynasty capital, is a place for major ceremonies. The Jiangning Imperial Weaving Bureau was the residence of Emperor Kangxi in Nanjing. He visited the regions south of the Yangtze River for six times during his reign, and chose the Jiangning Imperial Weaving Bureau as his residence during the visit for five times. In addition, Cao Xueqin was born here. He is the author of The Dream of the Red Chamber, which is one of China's four great classic novels. In modern times, the history of Nanjing people's fight against foreign invaders and struggle for national independence is also recorded in places such as Yuhuatai martyr cemetery and The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

Source:quanjing.com

Containing the solemn nature of the ancient capital city, Nanjing also presents the vitality of an ancient metropolis. The Confucius Temple-Qinhuai River Scenic Area, with the Confucius Temple ancient architectural complex as the center, the ten-mile-long Qinhuai River as the axis and the Circumvallation of the Ming Dynasty as the bond, showcases a complex of factors including natural scenery, landscape gardens, temples and schools, streets and markets, dwellings and customs, cuisines and shops, science popularization and education, and festival culture. It not only gathers famous historical and cultural sites of Nanjing, but also serves as the largest traditional ancient downtown streets. Jiming Temple, built in the Western Jin Dynasty, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nanjing. It has been reputed as the "First Temple in the Southern Dynasties" and the "First Temple Among the Four Hundred and Eighty Temples of the Southern Dynasties" since ancient times. It is the center of Buddhism in southern China during the Southern Dynasties.

Source:quanjing.com

Nanjing has been occupying an important position in the history. As the capital city of six dynasties, Nanjing was once prosperous and became a bountiful resort in southeast China. Numerous historical relics of six dynasties can be visited, explored and appreciated in today's Nanjing. Taking a boat ride along the Qinhuai River, standing silently among the ancient palaces and temples, you can see the prosperity and vicissitudes of thousands of years, and feel the massiness and colorful history.