Nanjing (meaning southern capital) is one of the six ancient capitals of China. It is the capital of Jiangsu province. The city is renowned for being an educational and cultural center, with a large student (foreign and native Chinese) population. Nanjing is a pretty place, with tree- lined streets, hills and lakes, making the intense heat of east China's summers more bearable.
Located in the subtropical climatic zone and surrounded on all sides by mountains which keep heat .jpg)
in, Nanjing is known as one of the three “furnaces of China” (the other two are Wuhan and Chongqing).Nanjing’s average annual temperature is 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) and the annual average rainfall is 1106mm.October is the best month to visit Nanjing. Travelers can beat the summer heat, avoid the cold of winter, and stay dry from the spring showers.
Scenery Spots in Nanjing
The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum was built in 1926 in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), who is recognized as the Father of Modern China. He led the rebellion against the corrupt Qing government resulting in the 1911 revolution which put an end the feudal system. In turn, the Republic of China was founded. The mausoleum is situated at the foot of the south face of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan), and it has become a must-see tourist destination for all visitors to Nanjing. The construction of the mausoleum is symmetrical, and it serves as a fine example of classical and modern beauty.
The Confucius Temple
Situated in the south part of Nanjing and surrounded by the Qinhuai River, the Confucius Temple
(Fuzimiao) is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Confucius Temple consists of a cluster of symmetrically arranged buildings and covers an area of over 26,000 square meters. The temple is home to excellent examples of both Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. There are many places of historical interest within Confucius Temple, such as Jiangnan Gongyuan and Wuyi Xiang. Jiangnan Gongyuan was the largest imperial examination place in ancient China. Constructed during the Song dynasty, potential government officials were examined and selected here. Wuyi Xiang, or “Black Clothes Lane”, was named after the Wu soldiers, who wore black uniforms.
Local Snacks
Nanjing Steamed Duck
As early as 1910, the Nanjing steamed Duck cutlet was awarded a national award by the Qing government and is now popular in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. This dish is characterized by its appetizing appearance and tender and delicate taste. The cooking process involves steeping, boiling, braising and baking the duck. The best places to taste this are the snack bars around the
Confucius Temple area of the city.
Salted Duck
Delicious and tender salted duck is a Nanjing specialty, rich in flavor but not too greasy. Salted duck hangs from many city shop windows and the best time to purchase and eat the duck is said to be August when the duck is seasoned with Osmathus flowers and has a delicate flavor. The best place to sample this dish is in the Wan Qing Lou Restaurant in the south of the city.