Nanjing Travel Guide

Nanjing Facts

Chinese Name: 南京 (nán jīng)
Population: 8,500,000
Area: 6587.02 square kilometers (2,543.26 square kilometers)
Location: in the south of Jiangsu Province, east China
Administrative Division: 11 districts (Xuanwu, Qinhuai, Jianye, Gulou, Qixia. Yuhuatai, Jiangning, Pukou, Liuhe, Lishui, Gaochun)
Area Code: 025
Zip Code: 210000 - 211800
GDP (2019): CNY 1,403.015 billion (USD 203.365 billion)

Famous Communication Center with Impressive Historical Heritage

Lying on the south bank of the Yangtze River, Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, is one of the most delightful destinations in China. It is easy to get to Nanjing by bullet train and air as it is one of the China’s key transport centers. Known as the capital city of six dynasties in ancient Chinese history including Kingdom of Wu (222 – 280), Eastern Jin (317 - 420) and four states of Southern Dynasties (420 - 589): Song, Qi, Liang and Chen, it has a lot of brilliant cultural heritage sites. You can see the ancient city walls and the old educational center Confucius Temple as well as architecture in the period of the Republic of China here. Many resorts, natural attractions and amusement parks also cannot be ignored.

Now Nanjing is an important national science and education center and the number of various institutions of higher education is second only to Beijing. Travelers can easily get a leisurely stroll on the boulevards lined with lush trees near those old campuses. Also, you cannot miss the museums with abundant collections and remember to taste the local Nanjing snacks like Nanjing Steamed Duck and Salted Duck.

History

Nanjing served as the capital of 6 dynasties from the Kingdom of Wu (220 - 280) to Southern Dynasties. The early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) is the last feudal dynasty that found capital in Nanjing but then the third emperor Ming Chengzu (Zhu Di) moved the capital to Beijing in 1421. In spite of its glorious times, Nanjing witnessed the historical vicissitude of modern China, from the Opium War in 1839, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebelling against the Qing Dynasty (1636 - 1912) in 1853 to the establishment of the provisional government of the Republic of China by Dr. Sun Yet-sen in 1912. Nevertheless, it also witnessed the hardest moment of this nation, the inhuman Nanjing Massacre that more than 300,000 Chinese common people were killed including women and children by Japanese army in 1937. Carried profound history but also deep suffering past, Nanjing now has transformed into a developed industrial city.

Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty

Attractions

Historical Sights

Cultural Sights

In addition to historical sights, memorials, museums and cultural sights also attract thousands of visitors. The famous Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao) is not only a memorial place for the Great Sage but has a surrounding area bustling with shops, restaurants and a snack street housed in traditional architectural buildings. The nearby Imperial Examination Museum of China (Jiangnan Examination Hall) and Former Residence of the Wang and Xie Families have seen their best days in ancient times. In the city center, Nanjing Museum is a must for visitors with a collection of more than 420 thousand pieces, including about 2,000 that are rare and valued. The Zijinshan Observatory (Purple Mountain Observatory) to the east of the city center was the first modern observatory built in China.

Qinhuai River

Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Qinhuai River, in the southwest of the city, extends one hundred kilometers. The river used to be the most flourishing part of the city in the old days. In many Chinese novels, it is renowned as a place which nurtured beauties and romance. Today, it is a place for people to recall the old splendor of this historical city. Like all sights here, it tells the story of past, present and future of the city.

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Like most major cities in the country, Nanjing is developing rapidly. Great changes have taken place in the city. Modern highways and railways connect the city with most major cities throughout the country and it is becoming a sparkling metropolis akin to Shanghai and Beijing with skyscrapers, luxury hotels, fashion shopping malls, supermarkets and highly-developed economic zones throughout the city. Transport in the city is very convenient with the new metro service in addition to taxis, public buses, tourist special lines and other means of transport. Modern amenities in luxury hotels make your stay a comfortable one. Dazzling shopping malls and department stores can be found in the commercial areas of the city with stocked plenty of international brand names. The city is also home to several colleges and universities and a large foreign population. The city is become an international metropolis with new faces every day.

Since Jan. 30, 2016, the 144-Hour Visa-Free Policy has been implemented in the city to facilitate passport holders of 53 countries and regions to enjoy a visa-free stay up to 144 hours when taking an international transfer via Lukou Airport, and passengers can travel to Shanghai and Zhejiang as well.
Read details about 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit.