Nanjing Attractions

As the capital of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing has a history of 2,600 years, one of the big four ancient cities in China, and it is the important birthplace of Chinese civilization. It was world's largest city in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and also was as the capital city of the Public of China (1911-1949) in modern history. So Nanjing is rich of historical and culture heritages. Its advantaged location and unusual natural view make it so popular.

Top Attractions in Nanjing

No.1 Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Tomb

It is the tomb with attached architectures for Sun Yat-sen, the great forerunner of democratic revolution in China and the 'Father of Republic of China'. With an area of 80,000 square kilometers, the tomb is back on mountains with many memorial architectures surrounded, which forms the main scenery of Sun Yat-sen's Tomb, and it is so magnificent. Sun Yat-sen's Tomb is praised as the 'First Tomb in Modern China's Architecture History'.

No.2 Confucius Temple

Nanjing Confucius Temple, built in 1034, is a group of large-scaled ancient architecture complex to enshrine and sacrifice Confucius (the founder of Confucianism), and it is one of the big four Confucius temples in China. it was not only as Nanjing's education center in Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), but was the best of education architectures in southeastern China, in particular, the screen wall in the south bank of Qinhuai River, 110 meters long and 20 meters high, is the best in China. Besides, the area surrounded Confucius Temple is flourishing business area, which ranks top four cultural markets in China.

No.3 Ming Xiaoling Tomb

Built in 1381, Ming Xiaoling Tomb is the joint-tomb for Zhu Yuanzhang ( the founder emperor of Ming Dynasty) and his queen. As the first imperial tomb in Ming Dynasty, it represents the highest achievement of architecture and stone carving art in early Ming Dynasty, and it has a direct influence to the formation of imperial tombs after him in Ming and Qing dynasties. It is the largest imperial tomb in Nanjing, and one of the largest ancient imperial tombs in China, which is listed as World Culture Heritage.

Natural Scenery

Qinhuai River is the cradle land of ancient Nanjing civilization, 110 km long with the drainage area of 2,600 square kilometers, and it is the mother river of Nanjing. Both banks along the river was the flourishing business area since 2nd century, and developed as the cultural center of southern China from Song Dynasty (960-1279), and it entered into the peak time in Ming Dynasty. Now the scenery, along the Qinhuai River with the Confucius Temple as the center, integrates ancient architectures, gardens, decorated boats, market and folk custom as a whole.

With a history of 1,500 years, Lake Xuanwuhu is the largest imperial garden lake in China, and one of the famous three lakes in southern China, which is reputed as 'Pearl of Nanjing'. Located at the foot of Zijinshan Mountain, it has picturesque view all years. There is fish in the lake, as well as lotus, in summer and autumn, wide stretch of pink lotus is mirrored in the emerald green waters, it is so charming.

Historical Site

Built in 1366, Zhonghua Gate was the military defense architecture in ancient China, is the largest barbican entrance of 13 inner city walls in Ming Dynasty, and also it is viewed as the best-preserved barbican city wall with the most complicated structure in the world.

With a history of 600 years, Presidential Palace was the mansion of high officials in early Ming Dynasty and the setting place when emperors of Qing Dynasty visited southern China. Once as the political center in modern China, here had been China’s political and military hub and the original place of important events for many times, and a series of important events happen here or had close relations with it. This architecture complex becomes important site to witness China’s modern history.

Nanjing Museum is a comprehensive historical art museum, one of the top three museums and one of the earliest museums in China. The main building is grandiose, which is the masterpiece in modern architecture history of China, and some of its structures and decoration follow the architecture style of Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. Among 450,000 pieces of collections, many of archaeological excavation articles, ethnic relics, foreign relics, containers from imperial palace, writings from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and relics from Japan's surrender ceremony are unique in China.

Revolutionary Site

From 1927 to 1949, this beautiful place became an execution ground to massacre Chinese Communists and patriotic personages, and there are about 100,000 revolutionary martyrs killed here. Yuhuatai Martyrs' Cemetery is built to commemorate them, which is the largest-scaled memorial cemetery in China.

Memorial Hall to the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre is built in memory of the victims in Nanjing Massacre, where is one of the sites of this historical event and the burial place for victims. In December 13, 1937, Japanese army invaded Nanjing, and started a large-scaled massacre to common Chinese and lasted as long as 6 weeks, during this period, there were 300,000 unarmed Chinese killed. Here is the witness of this inhuman violence in world modern history.

Modern Architecture

Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is China's first double deck bridge with railway and highway self-designed and built by Chinese self, which is significant existence in China bridge history. The highway in upper deck is 4,589 meters long, and has 15-meter-wide driveway and 2-meter-wide walkway; the railway in lower deck is 6,772 meters long and 14 meters wide, with doubletrack, which entered into Guinness World Records by the longest bridge with railway and highway in the world.

Religious Site

Located 1.5 km east from Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Tomb and beside Ming Xiaoling Tomb, Linggu Temple was built in 514, and was one of the big three Buddhist Temples in Ming Dynasty, which got the great name of 'No.1 Buddhist Temple' from the first emperor of Ming Dynasty.

Famous Nearby Attractions

Huangpu River: the mother river of Shanghai. Cruise on Huangpu River is a wonderful experience while visiting Shanghai. You can see the best night view of Shanghai, including distinctive architectures in the Bund, fashionable Oriental Pearl TV Tower and many landmark buildings along the river. It is 301 km from Nanjing, about 3.5 hours driving.

Humble Administrator's Garden: it is the largest classic garden in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, typical of garden in southern China, and is one of the famous four gardens in China, which is praised as 'Mother of Chinese Garden'.  It needs about 2.5 hours from Nanjing (about 220 km).

Slender West Lake: it is a famous garden on lake, and is one of the famous ten scenic areas in China. It is narrow and long, winding for 4.3 kilometers, and it has not only natural scenery, but owns distinctive-styled garden, which is like a long Chinese landscape painting. It is located in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, about 120 km from Nanjing, or 1.5 hours driving.

Yuantouzhu: it is famous for picturesque scenery, which gathers the marrow of Lake Taihu scenery, so it is called Best View of Lake Taihu. It is a famous holiday resort. It is lied in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, about 200 km from Nanjing, or 2 hours driving.

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