Nanjing

   

Nanjing (南京, Pinyin: Nánjīng, Wade-Giles: Nan-ching; Postal System Pinyin: Nanking) is the capital city of Jiangsu Province in the People's Republic of China. It is situated in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River at 32°03'N, 118°47'E. Nanjing is the second largest city in the region, Shanghai being first.

南京
Nanjing, Jiangsu
Abbreviation: 宁 (pinyin: Ning)
Image:Nanjing_China.png
Origin of Name南 Nan - South
京 Jing - Capital
Put together - Southern Capital
Seat of Government Xuanwu District
Area 6421 km²
Population
 - Total (Year)
 - Density
Ranked 1st
5,410,000
965.58/km²
GDP in RMB¥
 - Total (Year)
 - per capita
Ranked xth
141.06 billion ¥
27128 ¥
put miscellaneous info, like tree, flower, language, religion etc. here
Administration Type Sub-provincial city
CPC Nanjing Committee SecretaryLuo Zhijun
MayorJiang Hongshen
County-level divisions13
Township-level divisions129
Postal Code210000--211300
Area Code025
License Plate Prefix苏A


Nanjing is called "The Capital of Education, Science, Culture, Art and Tourism". It was called “The Capital of Heaven”. Nanjing has been well known as a cultural and educational center in China for more than 1700 years. It is one of the four ancient capitals of China and was the capital for ten dynasties and/or kingdoms. It had been the political and economic center for the Yangtze River delta region for hundreds of years. Nanjing is also the transportation hub in eastern China and the downstream Yangtze River area. Nanjing is a popular tourist city, with large number of heritage tourist sites.


Economy

Nanjing had been the economic center for the Yangtze River delta region for hundreds of years. Its GDP per capita was ¥27128 (ca. US$3280) in 2003, ranked No.31 among 659 Chinese cities.

History

In 495 BC, the State of Wu established Yecheng (冶城) in today's Nanjing city area.

The State of Yue conquered Wu and established Yuecheng 越城 in 473 BC.

The State of Chu established Jīnlíng (金陵) in this area in 333 BC.

The city has experienced numerous destructions and reconstructions.

At least three subsequent cities were constructed: Jiànkāng (建康) of AD 229 (it met total annihilation in AD 589 and became farmland thereafter), a later Jinling built in 914, and the early Ming capital Nánjīng constructed in 1366.

Nanjing was also the capital of the Taiping Rebellion in the mid-19th century.

After the Northern Expedition in 1928, the Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-Shek established Nanjing as the capital of China in opposition to a government in Beijing led by northern warlords, and an alternate government in Wuhan led by Wang Jingwei. After the completion of the Northern Expedition in 1931, Chiang's government became the only recognized Chinese government.

In 1937 the city fell to the Japanese, who massacred prisoners-of-war, refugees and its residents during the Battle of Nanjing (see Nanjing Massacre). Chiang moved his government to Chongqing City, and the Japanese established a puppet government in Nanjing under Wang Jingwei. After the end of World War II, Nanjing was reestablished as the capital of the Republic of China. In 1949, after the defeat of Chiang's forces on the Mainland, the capital of the People's Republic of China was established in Beijing. The Republic of China on Taiwan continues to recognize Nanjing as its "official" capital, while Taipei is deemed as only "temporary."

Transportation

A photograph of the Nanjing skyline.
Enlarge
A photograph of the Nanjing skyline.
Missing image
Lower_yangtze_2.png
Cities on the Yangtze, between Wuhan and Shanghair


Nanjing is the transportation hub in eastern China and the downstream Yangtze River area. Five means of transportation such as railway, waterway, aviation constitute a three-dimensional and mass transport volume traffic network all-round.

Nanjing Port is a port for foreign trade leading to the Pacific ocean and western countries. The port area is 98 kilometres in full length and has 64 berths including 16 berths for ships with a tonnage of more than 10,000.

Within Nanjing, there are over 60 highway long-distance passenger traffic lines leading to all parts of the province; the Tianjin-Pukou, Shanghai-Nanjing and Nanjing-Wuhu Trunk Railways meet in Nanjing which has become an important hub of railways linking north, east and central China. The main railway

After extension, the Nanjing International Airport has more than 20 air lines lea ding to all major cities in the country. Airlines such as Air China and Southern China serve the city. With the start of construction of the new airport, Nanjing will have a modernized airport.

There is an intricate system of buses for transporation inside the city. Taxis are also in no shortage.

Being one of six major telecommunication hubs in the country, Nanjing has a telecommunication network which is composed of multiple modes and linking with all parts of the country and all countries in the world.

Tourism

Nanjing is a popular tourist city, with probably the largest number of heritage tourist sites in China. The lakes, rivers, mountains, forests, parks, squares, streets and buildings are integated to be a beautiful city.

Famous tourist attractions include:

  • Purple Mountain
  • Purple Mountain Observatory
  • The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum: the origination of imperial mausoleum of Ming and Qing dynasties.
  • Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum: the greatest modern mausoleum in China.
  • Soul Valley Temple
  • Xuanwuhu Lake: the largest ancient imperial garden lake in China.
  • The Porcelain Pagoda of Nanjing: one of the Seven Wonders of the World in the Middle Ages .
  • Nanjing Ming City Walls: the world's longest surviving ancient city walls.
  • Zhonghua Gate of Nanjing: the greatest ancient city gate in China.
  • Fuzimiao Temple Area: the greatest traditional Chinese commercial center.
  • Xinjiekou Commercial Area: the greatest Chinese commercial centre, called "The first Chinese commercial Circle".
  • Chaotiangong Palace: the biggest and best preserved ancient building complex in Southern China.
  • Jimingsi Temple: in ancient time it's called The First Tempe of Southern Dynasties (Southern China).
  • Rain Flower Pebbles
  • Jiangan Gongyuan: the symbol of culture of Jiangnan area(Southeastern part of China south of the Yangtze River ). More than half of the nation's Champion of scholars in Qing dynasty won imperial examination here.
  • Zhanyuan Garden: one of the five most famous gardens in Jiangnan area.
  • Xuyuan Garden: one of the five most famous gardens in Jiangnan.
  • Mochou Lake: in ancient time it's called the First Lake of Jiangnan Area.
  • Yuejiang Tower: a famous river-viewing tower that was initially proposed by the first emperor of Ming dynastyand for six hundred years existed only on paper; it was constructed in actuality in modern times.
  • Presidential Palace of the Republic of China
  • The Museum of Chinese Modern History
  • Stone City
  • Qinhuaihe River
  • Nanjing Museum
  • Ming-Dynasty Imperial Palace Remains

Culture and Art

  • Nanjing Library: former Central Library, one of the biggest libraries in China.
  • Nanjing Museum: former Central Museum, one of the biggest museums in China and the world.

Education

Nanjing has been an educational center of China for more than one thousand years. Nowadays, it boasts with some of the most prominent educational institutions in the region, which are listed as follows;

National

  • Nanjing University (南京大学) (originated in 258, modern incarnation founded 1902)
  • Southeast University (东南大学)
  • HoHai University (河海大学)
  • Nanjing Agricultural University (南京农业大学)
  • China Pharmaceutical University (中国药科大学)
  • Nanjing University of Science & Technology (南京理工大学)
  • Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (南京航空航天大学)

Public

  • Nanjing University of Technology (南京工业大学)
  • Nanjing Forestry University (南京林业大学)
  • Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(南京中医药大学)
  • Nanjing Normal University (南京师范大学)
  • Nanjing University of Finance & Economics (南京财经大学)
  • Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (南京邮电学院)
  • Nanjing Institute of Meteorology (南京气象学院)
  • Nanjing Institute of Physical Education (南京体育学院)
  • Nanjing Arts Institute (南京艺术学院)
  • Nanjing Audit University (南京审计学院)
  • Nanjing Xiaozhuang College (南京晓庄学院)
  • Jinling Institute of Technology (金陵科技学院)

Private

  • Sanjiang University (三江学院)

Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.


See also: Treaty of Nanjing


Prefecture-level divisions of Jiangsu
Prefecture-level cities: Changzhou | Huaian | Lianyungang | Nanjing | Nantong | Suqian
Suzhou | Taizhou | Wuxi | Xuzhou | Yancheng | Yangzhou | Zhenjiang
List of Jiangsu County-level divisions


de:Nanking eo:Nankingo es:Nanjing fr:Nankin ja:南京 ms:Nanjing pl:Nankin ru:Нанкин sv:Nanking zh-cn:南京


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