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"The wind blows the willow blossoms, filling the shop with fragrance. The Wu girl presses the wine and invites the guests to taste it. The young men of Jinling come to see me off. Whether they want to leave or not, they drink to the bottom of the cup. Please ask the east flowing water, which is greater, my parting thoughts or yours."
Li Bai's poem "Farewell at a Tavern in Jinling" can be said to have captured the charm of Jinling, where "the scenery is beautiful, the wine is beautiful, and the people are even more beautiful." As the ancient capital of six dynasties, Nanjing has too many places to reminisce about, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Zhonghua Gate, Qinhuai River, Xuanwu Lake, and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum... Each one is well-known.
This time, let’s take a look at the treasure check-in spots in the ancient capital of Nanjing that you can’t miss.
When it comes to the most famous attractions in Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, Confucius Temple is undoubtedly one of them. It can even be said that Confucius Temple, along with the surrounding neighborhoods such as Wuyi Alley and the Qinhuai River, is Nanjing's most bustling and well-known tourist attraction - a bustling atmosphere that has actually lasted for thousands of years.
"Wild grass and flowers beside Zhuque Bridge, the setting sun at the entrance of Wuyi Lane. The swallows that once stood in front of the halls of the wealthy and the poor now fly into the homes of ordinary people."
Since the Six Dynasties, the "Confucius Temple" that is synonymous with this neighborhood is naturally the center of the center. As the name suggests, the Confucius Temple is dedicated to Confucius, so Nanjing Confucius Temple can also be called the Confucius Temple.
However, the Nanjing Confucius Temple has a much longer history than the Beijing Confucius Temple. It was first built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty as the Eastern Jin Dynasty's imperial palace. Later, during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, it was expanded into the Confucius Temple on the basis of the imperial palace. Together with the Beijing Confucius Temple, the Qufu Confucius Temple and the Jilin Confucian Temple, it is listed as one of the four major Confucian temples in China.
"The ten-mile Qinhuai River still stands, the dream of the Six Dynasties gone without a trace." Since ancient times, the banks of the Qinhuai River have been a hub for merchants and a thriving culture, culminating in the flourishing Confucius Temple. In ancient times, Nanjing's Confucius Temple was the cultural and educational center of Nanjing and a leading cultural and educational sanctuary in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. It comprises three architectural complexes: the Confucius Temple, the Imperial Academy, and the Imperial Examination Hall.
However, the Confucius Temple we see today is no longer the same as it was back then. Over the past millennia, dynasties have come and gone, and Nanjing's Confucius Temple has been destroyed by war several times, the most recent being during the Japanese invasion of China in 1937. Today's Confucius Temple was actually rebuilt after renovations began in 1984.
Walking in the bustling Confucius Temple today, thinking back to the past thousands of years, I can't help but feel fortunate to be born in a prosperous era. And the culture of our great China has always been continuous, perhaps it is also due to the persistence and inheritance of generations of scholars.
When it comes to the scenic spots of Nanjing, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, the Confucius Temple area is definitely on the list. Here, you'll find the renowned Qinhuai River cruises, the Wuyi Alley, where swallows once danced in front of the Wang and Xie families' halls, and the Confucius Temple, home to a towering statue of Confucius. Right next to the Confucius Temple is the Jiangnan Gongyuan, the largest imperial examination center in Chinese history. It's said that over the centuries, it produced 100,000 Jinshi (imperial examinations), and even Tang Bohu, one of the renowned "Four Talents of Jiangnan," once took the exam there.
Located east of the Confucius Temple in Nanjing, the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall, also known as the Nanjing Imperial Examination Hall and the Jiankang Imperial Examination Hall, was a system used to select talent in ancient China for hundreds of years, starting with Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty and continuing until the end of the Qing Dynasty. The ideal life plan for scholars throughout history was to "become a farmer in the morning and ascend to the throne in the evening."
The Jiangnan area became the economic and cultural center of ancient China after the Song Dynasty. With a large amount of wealth gathering there, literature naturally flourished. The Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall also became a gathering place for scholars from Jiangnan.
The ancient Chinese imperial examination system consisted primarily of the provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations. The latter two were held in the capital, while the provincial examination, the highest level of each province, was held at the Imperial Examination Hall in the provincial capital. The Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall was the premier provincial examination hall in ancient China, reportedly accommodating over 20,000 candidates at its peak. From its founding until its abolition, the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall produced over 100,000 Jinshi (Jinshi) scholars, over a million Juren (Juren) scholars, and over 800 of its top scorers went abroad.
Especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was said that half of the imperial court officials came from the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall, representing a significant portion of the officialdom at the time. Famous historical figures such as Zheng Banqiao, Wu Jingzi, Shi Naian, and Weng Tonghe all hailed from this area, demonstrating its wealth of talent.
Today, the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall has become the China Imperial Examination Museum, said to be the only dedicated museum in China dedicated to the imperial examination system. The museum boasts a unique, sunken design, mostly underground, showcasing the history of the system, statues of famous figures who graduated from the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall, and a replica of an ancient examination hall. The diverse exhibition halls offer a variety of breathtaking views, making it a truly worthwhile visit.
Above ground, you'll find the Mingyuan Tower, a landmark building of the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall, where you can even see the old imperial examination halls. Don't miss this spot when visiting Confucius Temple!
China boasts a rich history spanning 5,000 years, boasting numerous ancient capitals and cities, many of which retain their ancient city walls. Famous examples include the ancient city walls of Xi'an and Pingyao in Shanxi. However, the most magnificent and largest city gate tower to have survived to this day is undoubtedly the Zhonghua Gate in Nanjing.
Nanjing is the ancient capital of six dynasties, but most of the dynasties that established their capitals here were small dynasties that were either isolated or separatist. The Ming Dynasty was one of the truly unified dynasties that established its capital here. In the early Ming Dynasty, Nanjing was a formal capital, so the city walls and gates of the capital had to be built majestically and solidly. The Zhonghua Gate, facing north and south on the banks of the Qinhuai River, is one of the thirteen Ming Dynasty capital gates of Nanjing's Ming City Wall. Its original name was "Jubao Gate".
The Jubao Gate of the Ming Dynasty, now the Zhonghua Gate, has a history of more than 600 years. In fact, it was not built out of thin air, but was expanded on the basis of the original city gate. Going back further, this was also the south gate of Jiangning Prefecture, the capital of Southern Tang Dynasty, and Jiankang Prefecture, the secondary capital of Southern Song Dynasty.
The Zhonghua Gate, which still survives today, stands tall and majestic. Its main gate is over 20 meters high, the height of a seven-story building, and it boasts three barbican walls equipped with heavy-duty gates. Both the horse path and the city walls are exceptionally wide, allowing cavalry to gallop directly up the city walls in ancient times, while the walls could easily accommodate two cars running side by side. Furthermore, numerous soldier caves could house thousands of soldiers. Its meticulous and sophisticated layout made it an impregnable fortress in the age of cold weapons. It is the largest surviving city gate in China and the world's best-preserved, most complex, and largest barbican fortress, earning it the reputation of "the world's finest barbican."
Today, Zhonghua Gate is a landmark of Nanjing and a must-see destination. It connects to the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River Scenic Area, making it a must-see when visiting Nanjing!
The majestic Zhonghua Gate has been around for 600 years, and many legends and anecdotes have been left behind. The most famous one is the story about the cornucopia between Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Jiangnan richest man Shen Wansan. It is said that the original name of Zhonghua Gate, "Jubao Gate", is related to this.
Legend has it that when Zhu Yuanzhang was building Zhonghua Gate, the foundation began to sink halfway through. He hired a surveyor and decided to place a treasure bowl beneath the ground to protect it. Shen Wansan possessed this bowl. Zhu Yuanzhang approached Shen Wansan, the richest man in the world, and asked to borrow it. How could Shen Wansan, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, refuse? Thus, Shen Wansan's treasured bowl was buried beneath the city walls, and this tall gate became known as the "Jubao Gate."
The legend is certainly legendary, but six hundred years have passed, and Zhonghua Gate still stands tall on the banks of the Qinhuai River, becoming an indispensable landmark of Jinling, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties.
When it comes to scenic spots in Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, everyone can probably name a few—Confucius Temple, Zhonghua Gate, Da Baoen Temple, Yuhuatai... Each one is a familiar name. But the title of "Nanjing's No. 1 Scenic Spot" isn't actually one of these popular attractions, but Mochou Lake.
Speaking of Mochou Lake, it is actually quite famous in Nanjing. It is the second largest lake in Nanjing's main city after Xuanwu Lake. It is also very centrally located, just on the west side of the Qinhuai River, not too far from the Confucius Temple, which is bustling with people from morning to night.
Speaking of Mochou Lake, it actually has a very long history. It was formed at least during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. During the Southern Tang Dynasty, it was called "Hengtang". Later, because it was close to Shitoucheng, it was also called Shicheng Lake.
During the early Ming Dynasty, when Nanjing was the capital, the picturesque Mochou Lake reached its peak of prominence. Numerous pavilions and towers were built along its banks, transforming it into a picturesque Jiangnan garden. Later, in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the descendants of Xu Da, a founding general of the Ming Dynasty, used it as a private garden, becoming a renowned Jinling garden – perhaps this is how it earned the nickname "Jinling's No. 1 Scenic Spot."
The origin of the name "Mochou Lake" naturally has a touching legend. The Northern Song Dynasty's "Taiping Huanyu Ji" states: "Mochou Lake is outside the Sanshan Gate. In the past, a prostitute named Lu Mochou lived here, hence the name."
This story tells of a clever, kind, and beautiful woman named Mochou, who lived in Luoyang during the Southern Song and Qi dynasties. Due to her poverty, she was bought by a wealthy man named Lu from Nanjing as his daughter-in-law and brought to the city. When foreign invaders arrived, Mochou, understanding the righteousness of her husband, persuaded him to join the army and expended all his family wealth to fight the enemy. However, Lu falsely accused her of sabotage and ultimately forced her to drown herself in the river. To commemorate this unfortunate woman, Shicheng Lake was renamed Mochou Lake.
There was a poem in her memory during the Tang Dynasty: "The young woman of the Lu family lives in the yujin hall, and a pair of sea swallows nest on the tortoise-shell beams. The cold anvil in September destroys the leaves, and I miss Liaoyang after ten years of military service. No news from the Bailang River north, and the autumn nights are long south of Danfeng City. Who is so sad that I don't see it, and why the bright moon shines on the yellow river?"
Today, Mochou Lake is more of a leisurely strolling park for Nanjing residents. With few out-of-town visitors, it's a tranquil spot. Walking along the lake, visitors are greeted by lush greenery. The Mochou Lake Scenic Area boasts attractions such as the Former Residence of Mochounv, Yujin Hall, Suhexiang, Shengqi Tower, Huayan Temple, Mochou Water Courtyard, Qiwen Pavilion, the Cemetery of Fallen Guangdong Army Soldiers, and Baoyue Tower. A leisurely stroll, reflecting on the millennia of Nanjing City, is truly a delightful experience.
Nanjing is the ancient capital of six dynasties and has many famous historical sites and scenic spots - Zhonghua Gate, Confucius Temple, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Xuanwu Lake, Mochou Lake... In fact, there is one place you cannot miss when traveling to Nanjing, that is the Nanjing Museum.
Speaking of the Nanjing Museum, it has a great background. It is one of the three major museums in China, along with the Palace Museum and the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Its predecessor was the National Central Museum initiated by Cai Yuanpei and others in 1933. It is the earliest museum established in my country and the first large-scale comprehensive museum built with state investment in China.
The museum houses hundreds of thousands of cultural relics, including bronzes, jades, stones, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, gold and silver wares, statues, etc., spanning thousands of years. Among them, pieces such as the "Glazed Pagoda Arch of the Da Baoen Temple" and the "Silver-Threaded Jade Clothes" are national treasures. In terms of both quantity and quality, it is second only to the Palace Museum in China.
The Nanjing Museum is also very easy to find, located on Zhongshan East Road in Xuanwu District, just a few minutes' walk from Ming Palace Station on Nanjing Metro Line 2. The museum is quite large, with a large square. The main building is antique and quaint, divided into "one academy and six halls": the History Hall, the Art Hall, the Republican Hall, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Hall, the Digital Hall, and the Special Exhibition Hall.
The National Museum of China is particularly noteworthy. Called a museum, it's more like a popular online shopping district, somewhat similar to the Heping Fruit Shop in Beijing's Wangfujing district, but even larger. The National Museum of China has recreated a realistic Republican-era street, even featuring an underground train station. Each Republican-era building houses a real shop, creating a bustling atmosphere with tourists shopping and taking photos, a rarity among museums nationwide.
