Capital of Jiangsu province and capital of China under several dynasties, including the early Ming. Nanjing combines a long history with a relaxed pace, tree-lined streets and a strong university culture.
Climate
Humid subtropical, with hot summers (it was long called one of China's 'furnace cities'), a rainy season in June and cold, damp winters.
Local language
Mandarin; the local Nanjing dialect belongs to the Lower Yangtze (Jianghuai) branch of Mandarin.
Food to try
Salted duck 盐水鸭
Nanjing's signature dish: tender duck cured in brine and served cold, with a delicate flavour.
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 Duck blood and vermicelli soup 鸭血粉丝汤
A cheap, warming bowl of glass noodles, duck blood, liver and tofu puffs in a clear broth.
Photo: ZhengZhou · CC BY-SA 4.0 Duck-oil sesame cakes 鸭油酥烧饼
Flaky baked cakes made with duck fat, a common breakfast and snack around the city.
Sights
Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China · CC0 Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum 中山陵
The tomb of the founder of modern China, on the forested slopes of Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan).
Photo: Dick Rochester · CC BY-SA 2.0 Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River 夫子庙·秦淮河
Lantern-lit riverside streets with snack stalls and boat rides, liveliest in the evening.
Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY 4.0 Ming City Wall 明城墙
Long stretches of the 14th-century wall survive, with sections you can walk along on top.
Photo: Windmemories · CC BY-SA 4.0 Xuanwu Lake 玄武湖
A large lake park beside the city wall in the centre, good for walking and boating.
Culture
Ancient capital heritage 六朝古都
Nanjing was the capital of six dynasties and of the early Ming. Its Ming city wall is one of the longest surviving city walls in the world.
Qinhuai Lantern Festival 秦淮灯会
Every Lunar New Year the Qinhuai River area is lit with lanterns, a tradition that goes back centuries.
