Must-Visit Places in China’s Ancient Capital

Nanjing is one of China’s ancient capital cities, dating back to the eighth century, B.C. It’s known for its wonderfully preserved temples, palaces and other historical monuments, as well as several natural landmarks.

Set along the Yangtze River inland from Shanghai, Nanjing is easily accessible and offers a great place to learn about Chinese culture and history for a few days, a single day or for the entire duration of your trip to China. 

National Landmarks & Historic Sites

As a former capital of China during the Ming dynasty, Nanjing offers a wide variety of historical and national landmarks.

Mausoleum (Photo via aimintang / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

One of the biggest places to visit multiple sites is the Zhongshan Mountain National Park, which is set within the scenic Purple Mountain. Here, you’ll find fifteen important historic landmarks, including the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the UNESCO-designated Xiaoling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty. 

Other attractions include the Confucius Temple Qinhuai Scenic Area, the Nanjing Niushoushan Cultural Park, the Chaotian Palace and the Nanjing Library, the country’s oldest public library and one that houses over 1.5 million ancient text from the Tang to the Ming dynasties. 

Museums

With so many historical and cultural sites in one city, it’s no surprise that Nanjing also boasts several museums. 

These range from the Nanjing Museum, which boasts artifacts from all the periods of China’s history, to the Nanjing Folk Museum, where travelers can learn hands-on how the common people lived throughout history.

Folk Museum (Photo Credit: Nanjing Tourism)

Another cultural wonder is cloud brocade, a fabric that is listed as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Nanjing Yunjin Cloud Brocade Museum tells the story of the 1,600-year-old fabric and even offers opportunities for travelers to try their hand at trying to create it themselves.

Natural Wonders

While Nanjing boasts a plethora of cultural and historical attractions, outdoor lovers will also enjoy plenty of activities that connect them with the nature of this scenic area.

The Qinhuai River is a main tributary of the Yangtze and flows through much of Nanjing. (Photo Credit: Nanjing Tourism)

Travelers can take scenic cruises down the Yangtze River, walk along paved paths and historical monuments at Xuanwu Lake Park, marvel at the beauty of plum blossoms at Plum Blossom Hill, which boasts over 30,000 plum trees, and visit the scenic site of a local legend at Rain Flower Terrace, which is also famous for being a great agate-hunting site. 

Nanjing is truly a city of rich culture and deep history. For more information, please visit GoToNanjing.com. 

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