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Zhu Ziqing said: "Walking around Nanjing is like visiting an antique shop"
Yu Qiuyu said: "Other ancient capitals condensed history into palaces, but Nanjing dissolved history into nature."
Dr. Sun Yat-sen said, "Nanjing is an ancient capital of China, preceding Beijing. It is situated in a beautiful region with high mountains, deep waters, and plains. These three natural wonders are seldom found in any major city in the world."
In 2019, Nanjing was selected as a UNESCO "World City of Literature", making this city shine again. The literary bloodline of 1,800 years is spreading here. Follow us to appreciate Jinling and enter the Nanjing city in famous books.
Nanjing is beautiful in all four seasons
Ancient human activities were recorded as early as 1-1.2 million years ago, and Nanjing ape-men lived in Tangshan 350,000-600,000 years ago.
It has a civilization history of more than 7,000 years, a city history of nearly 2,600 years, and a capital history of nearly 500 years.
One of the four ancient capitals of China and an important birthplace of Chinese civilization, it has protected the legitimacy of China many times in history. It is the only ancient capital among the four that has never been the capital of a foreign regime.
It has long been the political, economic and cultural center of southern China, and has a profound cultural heritage and rich historical relics.
Capital of Ten Dynasties, Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties (the first six dynasties)
Nanjing, a city that has long revered literature and education, is known as the "National Literary Hub" and the "Southeast's Foremost School." During the Ming and Qing dynasties, over half of China's top scholars came from Nanjing's Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall. Millennia of history and rich cultural heritage have ingrained a deep sense of belonging to Nanjing.
Today, let us unfold history and tell stories to understand the streets and alleys of this city, its past and present.
Confucius Temple, Zhanyuan Garden, Laomendong, Imperial Examination Museum (Jiangnan Gongyuan), and Zhonghua Gate.
The Qinhuai River, formerly known as Longzangpu, was called Huaishui in the Han Dynasty. Legend has it that during his eastern tour of Kuaiji, Qin Shihuang passed through Moling, believing the area to possess "royal aura." He ordered the excavation of the Xiliangang Gorge in the area of Fangshan and Shiqiaoshan, southeast of present-day Nanjing, to divert Longzangpu northward into the Yangtze River, thereby breaking through it. In the Tang Dynasty, based on this legend, the river was renamed Qinhuai. Later generations have pointed out that this is indeed the case.
The Qinhuai River gained widespread fame after the publication of Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu's poem "Anchored at the Qinhuai River." Li Bai's poem "Farewell to the Gentlemen of Jinling" also features the line "Six dynasties have seen successive hegemons, their relics still visible in the capital. To this day, the Qinhuai River is the scene of countless heroes in ritual and music." Regarding the river's origins, the "Compilation of Events of the Six Dynasties" states: "The Huai River...diversifies in a winding course, seemingly untouched by human intervention, and is suspected to have been opened by the First Emperor." Geologists and archaeologists have confirmed that the Qinhuai River is a natural channel, not artificially dammed. However, the possibility of artificial digging in some sections cannot be ruled out.
Qinhuai River Tour Map
Wander around Confucius Temple, searching for the poetic inspiration of "Night Mooring at Qinhuai River," and check in at the Taoye Ancient Ferry, where Wang Xianzhi wrote, "Peach leaves after peach leaves, crossing the river without a paddle." Along the Qinhuai River, approach the China Imperial Examination Museum (Jiangnan Gongyuan) to learn about the rise and fall of the imperial examination system described in "The Scholars," as well as the anecdotes of celebrities throughout history who took the imperial examinations at Jiangnan Gongyuan.
Confucius Temple
Learn about the Former Residence of Wang Dao and Xie An in Wuyi Lane, listen to the song Peach Blossom Fan in Li Xiangjun's Former Residence, and feel the misty rain and talented scholars and beautiful women of the Six Dynasties.
Climb to the top of the Ming City Wall at Zhonghua Gate, where the ancient Changganli and Yuecheng ruins are located. Li Bai once left behind the poem "Changgan Xing" and Cui Hao's "Changgan Qu" is still recited today.
Zhonghua Gate of the Ming City Wall
When night falls, go to [Laomendong] for shopping and dining, enjoy the night view of Jinling, find the Mustard Seed Garden, and experience the leisure and elegance described in Li Yu's "Random Thoughts on Leisure".
Laomendong Mustard Seed Garden
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Xuanwu Lake, Jiuhua Mountain, Ming Palace, Yanque Lake, Wuchao Gate, Nanjing Museum
Zhongshan (Purple Mountain) Tour Guide
Zhongshan Mountain is also known as Purple Mountain because of the purple clouds often lingering around its summit. Zhongshan Mountain and Houhu Lake (Xuanwu Lake) face each other, establishing Nanjing's inherent scenic beauty. With its coiled dragons and crouching tigers, the mountain, water, city, and forest seamlessly blend into one, it is truly a culmination of Nanjing's landscape, culture, and art. Zhuge Liang eulogized Zhongshan as "a dragon coils on Zhongshan Mountain, a tiger crouches on Shitou Mountain; this is the abode of emperors." Starting with Sun Quan, the first emperor of the Six Dynasties, Zhongshan has been a favorite destination for emperors. Throughout history, countless scholars and literati have journeyed to Zhongshan Mountain, leaving behind beloved poems and essays.
Things About the Ming Dynasty and Zhu Yuanzhang's Ming Palace
The Yongle Encyclopedia and the Wuchao Gate
Visit Wuchao Gate, a popular hydrangea viewing spot in recent years. This is where the Yongle Encyclopedia was compiled, and discover the stories of old Nanjing. Then, walk to the Ming Palace and listen to the legendary story of "Those Stories of the Ming Dynasty."
Ming Palace Ruins Park
Visit the Nanjing Museum, one of the three major museums. With over 420,000 collections spanning the Paleolithic Age to the present day, you'll find the same glazed pagoda from Bao'en Temple featured in "National Treasure."
Nanjing Museum
Walk along the Ming City Wall to Qianhu Lake, cross Wutong Avenue, and arrive at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Nanjing's only World Cultural Heritage Site. Check out the beautiful 600-meter Stone Elephant Road, climb to the top of the Xiaoling Mausoleum to overlook Purple Mountain, explore the rarely disturbed Yanque Lake, and listen to the stories of "Zhaoming Wenxuan" and Xiao Tong.
Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Shixiang Road
Yanque Lake
Visit Mount Jiuhua, where part of the skull of Master Xuanzang, the prototype of the protagonist in "Journey to the West," is enshrined. Enter Xuanwu Lake from Jiefang Gate or Xuanwu Gate in Taicheng, then wander through Wuzhouli and encounter the Pioneer Chongzi Bookstore. From the nostalgic poems of generations of literati to Zhang Ailing's "Half a Lifelong Romance," the landscapes and trees here bear witness to the cultural heritage of Jinling.
Xuanwu Lake
Jiming Temple
Presidential Palace, Jiangning Weaving Museum, Meiyuan New Village, Six Dynasties Museum
"Changjiang Road is half the history of Nanjing." This familiar "cultural street" not only houses the Presidential Palace but also bears witness to the rise and fall of Nanjing over the Six Dynasties. From the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, Nanjing's imperial residences were located along Changjiang Road. The resulting Ming Dynasty lyrics and music culture, Qing Dynasty Red Mansion culture, Republican architectural culture, and modern humanities and art have made Changjiang Road an indispensable treasure trove of Nanjing.
Capital Plan and the Presidential Office
Come to the Museum of Modern Chinese History (Presidential Palace), where you can learn about the century-long modern history that gave rise to famous works such as "Capital Plan," "Scientific Nanjing," and "Illustrated Records of Jinling Historic Sites."
presidential palace
Then walk to the Jiangning Weaving Museum, which has witnessed the rise and fall of the Cao family and the Qing Dynasty for more than 260 years. Here, you can listen to the story of the historical masterpiece "Dream of the Red Chamber" and its author Cao Xueqin.
Dream of the Red Chamber and Jiangning Weaving House
Entering the Six Dynasties Museum described in "Records of Jiankang", Nanjing during the Six Dynasties period was the first city in the world with a population exceeding one million, and was known as one of the "two major centers of classical civilization in the world" along with ancient Rome.
Six Dynasties Museum (Photo from Jinyu)
Depart from Nanjing丨0.5 days
National Treasures of the Six Dynasties Museum | 2-Hour Guided Tour
Starting from ￥185 665 people have registered Register nowA visit to Meiyuan New Village in "The Chinese Communist Party Delegation in Nanjing". From May 1946 to March 1947, the Chinese Communist Party delegation headed by Zhou Enlai conducted negotiations with the Kuomintang government here for 10 months and 4 days.
Red Plum Garden Village
[Yuejiang Tower] Appreciate the architectural recreation of "Yuejiang Tower," a model essay from the collection "Guwen Guanzhi." Climb to the top to overlook the Yangtze River and see the dividing line between the two rivers.
Jinghai Temple: Reminiscent of the past and present, it was built by the Ming Emperor to ensure peace and safety during Zheng He's voyages to the West. The Treaty of Nanjing Exhibition Hall within the temple also recreates unforgettable history.
Step into the century-old prestigious Nanjing University and search for traces of The Good Earth on the campus where Pearl S. Buck once taught.
Yuejiang Tower
Nanjing University
Nanjing snacks have a long history and a wide variety of dishes. They have been passed down from the Six Dynasties period to the present day, with as many as a hundred varieties.
Nanjing snacks, one of the four major snacks in China, ranks first among the four major snacks in China. They have a long history, unique flavor and a wide variety. They have been passed down since the Six Dynasties period for thousands of years and have more than a hundred varieties.
The famous snacks include meat, vegetarian, sweet and savory, and come in various shapes. The most representative of them are the Qinhuai River Confucius Temple area. The Confucius Temple Qinhuai snacks are finely crafted, beautifully shaped, made with carefully selected ingredients, and have a unique flavor.
In addition to Confucius Temple, relatively concentrated groups of dim sum and snacks have gradually formed in Hunan Road, Xinjiekou, Chaotian Palace, Changle Road, Shanxi Road, Zhongyangmen, Huimin Bridge, Yanziji and other places.
Nanjing snacks
Nanjing is not like other cities filled with busy crowds and noisy streets. Instead, it is filled with cultural traces and historical imprints accumulated over thousands of years. The charm of the ancient capital can be seen everywhere. Let's travel to Nanjing together according to the famous books!
