Where?
Nanjing (南京) is located in eastern China, the capital city of Jiangsu (江苏) province. It sits on the Yangtze River and is a key city in the Yangtze River Delta region (长江三角洲). As the first city you reach after crossing the Yangtze River in East China, Nanjing is a vital transportation hub: Nanjing South Railway Station (南京南站) is one of the largest in Asia, linking the city to Beijing, Shanghai, and beyond.
It is not just "somewhere near Shanghai (上海)" as all people in East China introduce their hometown to foreigners . However, it is very close, just a one-hour high-speed train ride away, so remember to visit Nanjing (and other cities in Jiangsu) when you are in Shanghai!
Location on Map
History
With over 2,500 years of history, Nanjing is one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals. It has served as the capital for many dynasties, earning the titles of "Ancient Capital of the Six Dynasties" (六朝古都) and "Capital of Ten Dynasties" (十朝都会). The Six Dynasties include Eastern Wu (东吴), Eastern Jin (东晋), Liu Song (刘宋), Southern Qi (南齐), Liang (梁), and Chen (陈).
Nanjing (南京) got its name from the combination of "Nan" (南), meaning south, and "Jing" (京), meaning capital. It was also the capital of the Republic of China (中华民国), the most recent capital before Beijing (北京).
Fun fact: Nanjing's history as China's capital is longer than the history of the United States as a nation.
Explore the City
Discover scenic spots like the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Purple Mountain, Confucius Temple, and the ancient city wall. Don't forget to enjoy the famous salted duck! (To be continued...)