Collection of China NO:21 Nanjing

Author: Hao Tianshu Bai Zhenkui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: "A land of exquisite beauty in Jiangnan, the capital of the Jinling Empire!" Nanjing, this ancient city, boasts both the beauty of natural landscapes and the elegance of historical relics. Its urban greening is the best in the country, making it a garden-like city that combines ancient and modern civilizations. Today, Nanjing is not only the political, economic, and cultural center of Jiangsu Province but also one of the most important transportation and communication hubs in East China. It is the second-largest international commercial port in the Yangtze River Delta region after Shanghai. As one of China's six ancient capitals, Nanjing is located on the southern bank of the lower Yangtze River. Historically known as Jinling, it is now the provincial capital of Jiangsu Province. The urban area covers 860 square kilometers with a population of over 3 million. It spans both banks of the Yangtze River, including six urban districts (Xuanwu, Baisha, Qinhuai, Jianye, Gulou, and Xiaguan), four suburban districts (Yuhuatai, Qixia, Pukou, and Dafang), as well as several cities and counties like Jiangning, Jiangpu, Lihe, 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 dynasties such as Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, and the Southern Dynasties (including the Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen dynasties). It was once known as the "golden land of six dynasties and three Wus," historically referred to as the "Six Dynasties' land and ten generations' metropolis." Additionally, the Southern Tang, the Ming Dynasty (Hongwu era), the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the Kuomintang government all established their capitals here, earning it the historical reputation of "the land of the Six Dynasties and the metropolis of ten generations." To this day, countless relics and artifacts 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.