'Capital of six dynasties' abounds with beauty spots

By Li Jingjing Source:Global Times Published: 2014-3-21 5:03:01

The pedestrian mall of the Confucius Temple Photo:Li Jingjing/GT



Bronze statues of survivors of the Nanjing Massacre Photo:Li Jingjing/GT
 

The entrance to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Photo:CFP


Deeply affected by the many historical TV shows and movies set during The Republic of China(1912-1949) era, my impression of Nanjing is of men wearing traditional Chinese tunics and women in qipao speaking in Jianghuai Mandarin, like scenes from Zhang Yimou's movie The Flowers of War. Those impressions drove me east to see it for myself.

Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, has a rich history. It played a crucial role as a traffic hub throughout many dynasties and is called "the capital of six dynasties."

But what made this city stand out for me probably started in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and later when it became capital of Republic of China.

Carrying a glorious past, Nanjing also bears a permanent scar: the 1937 massacre in which Japanese soldiers are officially estimated to have killed nearly 300,000 people.

All these unique background factors enrich the character of Nanjing. To better understand the history of China, Nanjing should never be missed.

It boasts not only cultural relics but also scenic areas. If unsure about how to begin your journey, I recommend two different routes: the cultural tour and the scenic tour.

Cultural tour

For those who want to explore the rich history embedded in this city, some places should definitely appear on your list.

The Presidential Palace on Changjiang Lu is one of the largest modern history museums, featuring many regimes and changes through the late Qing Dynasty, the Opium War in 1840 and Nanjing's liberation in 1949.

The museum used to serve as an imperial palace for short stays during the Qing Dynasty. Both officials of the late Qing Dynasty and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864) stayed here. After the 1911 Revolution, Sun Yat-sen was sworn in here as the interim president and built the first republican regime in Chinese history.

Historical materials from those periods are all exhibited in the palace: the office, living room and meeting hall where Sun Yat-sen was sworn in. Walking along the corridor drags you back to an age you can only see in movies.

Another unforgettable part of Nanjing history is the massacre, painful for people in this city and around the nation. Every December 13, the date of the Japanese occupation of Nanjing, is a public memorial day for all Chinese. On that day, a ceremony is held at the Memorial Hall of Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.

The location of the hall is a burial site for some of the victims. Built in 1985 and sponsored by the Nanjing government, it gathers the relics, historical documents and information about victims and survivors.

Walking along the copper floor tiles with survivors' names, ages and footprints leads you upstairs to the dark, gray exhibition hall with huge Chinese characters "300,000 victims" carved on the wall of the entrance.

After visiting such a museum, I felt a bit heavy-hearted, but also felt grateful for a chance to know more about history.

Scenic tour

"Through the mist, I saw the obscure buildings on the Qinhuai River and my boat is approaching the wine house."

This is the scene that the poet Du Mu described in his Tang Dynasty (618-907) poem. Nanjing's river is mentioned in many ancient poems and the Confucian Temple remains the main attraction on the river today.

Both banks of the River have bustled since The Kingdom of Wu (222-280) also one of the places where high officials and noble lords gathered in the past. Now it bustles with shopping and snack stalls.

Buildings on this vehicle-free promenade still follow ancient styles. Shopping store by store, tasting stand by stand, renting a boat or visiting a gallery here are all excellent choices.

During Spring Festival, Lantern Festival or Valentine's Day, the river hosts lantern shows that brilliantly illuminate sculptures, mountains and people at night.

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Xiaoling Tomb of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) are also good places to enjoy beautiful scenery.

The mausoleum is a four A scenic spot. Sun's coffin was buried here in 1929. All the buildings here are built on one axis, reflecting the traditional Chinese architecture. But the magnificent mountains and pavilions built around the mausoleum not only reflect people's respect for Sun, they also carry great artistic value.

Xiaoling Tomb hosts the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. Taking 17 years to build, it is now the biggest mausoleum in Nanjing and recognized as world cultural heritage by United Nations Educational, Scientific and the Cultural Organization since 2003. The dense plants and quiet environment make it a perfect place for relaxing and walking.

Shopping & relaxing

Shopping and enjoying local food are without doubt a crucial part of travelling. There are a few places that will satisfy your need for buying luxury goods and affordable things.

Take line 2 and get off at the Xinjiekou Station for the biggest shopping area. One after another shopping mall sells designer labels including Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani and cheaper ones that cost 100-200 yuan ($16-32). Before leaving, make sure which shopping mall you are heading to and take the right exit: There are 23 exits in this station. Take the wrong one and you have to walk a really long time. Tired of modern shopping malls and looking for traditional Chinese goods?

The Confucius Temple and Lion Bridge areas sell much cheaper goods and traditional crafts. These places are not only famous pedestrian malls, but also famous snack streets. After shopping, walk into any restaurant and taste the most authentic Nanjing food.

Rules of thumb

How to go: There are high speed rail links Nanjing. It takes four hours from Beijing. Within the city, undergrounds line 1 and 2 will take you to almost all scenic spots.

Where to live: If you aim to visit cultural relics and shopping, then stay in the center of the city near Da Xinggong or Xinjiekou subway stations.



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