Nanjing: A Land of Beauty in the South of the Yangtze River, A Capital of Emperors

Author: Hao Tianshu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Nanjing, one of China's six ancient capitals, is located on the southern bank of the lower Yangtze River. Anciently known as Jinling, it is now the capital of Jiangsu Province. The urban area covers 860 square kilometers with a population of over 3 million. Its jurisdiction spans both banks of the Yangtze River, including six urban districts (Xuanwu, Baixia, Qinhuai, Jianye, Gulou, and Xiaguan), four suburban districts (Yuhuatai, Qixia, Pukou, and Dafang), as well as several counties such as Jiangning, Jiangpu, Liuhe, Lishui, and Gaochun. Since the city was first built by Fan Li, a minister of the Yue Kingdom in 472 BC, Nanjing has a history of nearly 2,500 years. It has served as the capital for successive dynasties, including Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, and the Southern Dynasties of Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen. It was once a "golden land of six dynasties and a beautiful city of three Wu regions," historically known as the "Six Dynasties' Land and Ten Dynasties' Capital." Additionally, the Southern Tang, the Ming Dynasty (Hongwu era), the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the government of the Republic of China (Kuomintang) also established their capitals here, earning it the historical title of "a land of the Six Dynasties and a metropolis of ten dynasties." To this day, countless cultural relics and historical sites remain underground and above ground in Nanjing, forming an important feature and advantage of its rich historical and cultural heritage. The Nanjing Museum is renowned worldwide for its collection of Six Dynasties artifacts.