Nanjing Travel guide

As a key tourist city in China, Nanjing's tourist economy has been developed quickly. Its tourist industry is beginning to take shape. It has 76 travel agencies, 21 of which are engaged in international tourism. There are 75 tourist hotels with more than 9000 guest rooms. There is special tourist train between Nanjing and Shanghai, the largest city in China. Three luxurious excursion ships are running between Nanjing and other port cities on the Yangtze River. Now Nanjing has many public places of entertainment. Going sightseeing in Nanjing, visitors may spend a pleasant holiday and have a taste of the folk custom.

Nanjing lies on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Skirting the northeastern approaches of the city is the Purple Mountains. The ancients compared them to a "curling dragon" and the Stone- walled City southwest of the city to a "crouching tiger". There has been a settlement on its site for over 2400 years. Nanjing is one of China's 4 ancient capitals (the others are Beijing, Xi'an, and Luoyang) and served as capital for ten ancient dynasties. The human inhabitancy dates from 300000 years ago. In its history, many great writers came here and left various moving writings. Richly endowed by nature and history, Nanjing is taking an alluring beauty.

According to location, the scenic spots in Nanjing can be divided into 9 parts: the Purple Mountain, the Qinhuai River, the Stoned City, the Yangtze River, Qixia Mountain, the Southern Suburbs, Tangshan Hill , the Two Lakes, Pukou District and Jiangpu County, Golden Ox Mountain, and the city proper.

Gulou(Drum Tower)

Gulou (Drum Tower) was built in 1383 for a drum. It stands in the center of Ming-dynasty Nanjing city. In 1923 it was turned into a park.

Former office of Provisional President Dr Sun Yat-Sen

Former Office of provisional President Dr Sun Yat-Sen was formerly a flower hall of a Qing-dynasty governor. Dr Sun Yat-sen took up his post as Provisional President of the Republic of China here on the New Year's Day of 1912.

Xuyuan Garden

Xuyuan Garden is also called the West Garden. In the pond there is a marble boat with the inscription "Untied Boat" by Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty. Kings of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom used to discuss their important military affairs here. Dr Sun Yat-sen often met guests, took a walk or rest here.

Memorial of the Delegation of CCP in Meiyuan Xincun

Memorial of the Delegation of CCP. in Meiyuan Xincun is located at Meiyuan Xincun in eastern Nanjing. The Delegation of CCP. led by Zhou Enlai, held negotiations with the government of the Kuomintang for peace from May 1946 to Mar.1947 in Nanjing. The delegation led and developed the patriotic democracy campaign, and made a great contribution to the forming of the "Second Front" and the victory of the Chinese People's War of Liberation. The preparation of the construction of memorial began in 1954. In 1978, it was set up at the former address of the delegation of CCP. The Zhou Enlai's books and data room of the memorial will be set up on Mar. 5,1998, The 100th birthday of Zhou Enlai.

Remains of Ming-Dynasty Imperial Palace

Remains of Ming-Dynasty Imperial Palace It was the palace of Zhu Yuanzhang, Taizu of Ming Dynasty. Later Chengzu had the capital moved to Beijing and only some of the imperial relatives and ministers remained here. The Qing Government turned it to a defence. After the wars between the Qing army and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom it was almost levelled. You can still imagine how grand the palace was at the sight of these jumbo bases of stone pillars.

Nanjing Yangtse (Changjiang)River Bridge

Nanjing Yangtse (Changjiang)River Bridge was completed and open to traffic in October,1968.It is a modern bridge designed by our country and built of materials made by ourselves .The upper highway bridge is 4589 meters long and the lower railway bridge is 6772 meters long. Each arch of the main bridge spans 160 meters. Having turned the deep chasm into a thoroughfare, the bridge stands grand and magnificent.

The Swallow Crag

The Swallow Crag is located on the Zhidu Hill, outside the northern Guanyin Gate. It derived its name from a steep rock hanging over the Yangtze River - in a distance, it looks like a swallow ready to fly away. Holding a strategic point by the River, the Swallow Crag once held great importance in military as well as transport in history. Since the Ming Dynasty, the sights of the Swallow Crag have attracted plenty of literati, who climbed up the crag and chanted poetry to unburden their heart. On the top of the crag was a pavilion housing a stone tablet. The front of the tablet was inscribed with the name of the crag, and the back with a hepta-syllabic quatrain - both were handwritten by Qing Emperor Qian Long. Ascend to the top and enjoy a distant view, you'll find - down below, waves are roaring and beating huge rocks, while far away, the river verges on the blue soothing sky.

Santaidong Cave

Santaidong Cave There are 12 caves along the riverbank under the cliff of Mufushan hill west of YanZiji (Swallow Rocky Hillock). The First, Second and Third caves are more well-known. Deep and wide, the Zigzag Santaidong (Third Cave) is made up of three levels, the upper, Middle and Lower levels. The Guanyinquan Spring in the lower Cave is so limpid that even the bottom can be seen.

On March 13, 1993, a fossil of the ancients' skull was dug up in the Gourd Cave of Tangshan Town in Nanjing. This archaeological find shows that Nanjing was inhabited about 300000 years ago.