Jianye, Luoyang, Jiankang, Shengzu, Nanjing. This is not a complete list of the names that were given to the ancient city that stands on the Yangtze River throughout its history. Due to its advantageous location in the delta of the longest Asian river, the former capital of the country, and now the main city of Jiangsu province, Nanjing was a tasty morsel for many conquerors. History did not spare Nanjing - suffice it to recall the massacre at the turn of 1937-1938, when about 300 thousand local residents died at the hands of the Japanese invaders. However, it would be difficult to find another Chinese metropolis in which the past would be intertwined with modernity so harmoniously.
What to see in Nanjing? Tourists love to photograph the Qinhuai River, an offshoot of the Yangtze River in the foreground, the roof of the Confucius Temple on the left, and the skyscrapers in the center - three worlds combined into one frame. This, of course, is just an illusion, because, like in other cities of modern China, old monuments are considered to be just decoration, devoid of functionality. The most important thing is what will only happen, development, speed, dynamics. And money.
Yet Nanjing is considered one of the nicest cities in the whole of the Middle Kingdom. It is a cultural and scientific center with many parks, lakes and rivers. There are low mountains nearby. It is worth coming here for a few days.
TOP 10 attractions in Nanjing
Temple of Confucius
Temple of Confucius
The temple, known as Fujimiao, is a place of worship for the great thinker of the 6th-5th centuries. BC BC, which had a great influence on Chinese customs and the organization of society. Since the founding of the temple in 1034, the sanctuary did not stop its work as a cultural center, although it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current buildings date back to the 19th century. The Temple of Confucius was especially favored by the rulers in the era of the Ming dynasty, as state exams were held here.
Fujimiao still attracts thousands of tourists. On its territory there is a bronze statue of Confucius more than 4 meters high and weighing 2.5 tons. There is a golden tree of happiness in front of the entrance. Each visitor to the temple can test his fate by purchasing a special heavy card at a kiosk in the nearest market, writing his wish on it and throwing it on a tree. If she holds on to the branches, then the desire will be fulfilled.
City walls
City walls
Chinese rulers loved to build fortifications that were equally designed to contain enemy armies and control local residents. The walls, erected in Nanjing between 1366 and 1393 by order of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty, stretched 35 km. The largest ring of stone and brick walls surrounded the city, the smallest one defended the emperor's palace. On each stone used to build the wall, you can see the name of the supplier who, in the event of a wall collapse, had to be held accountable to the authorities.
About one fourth of the ancient walls have survived to this day. Some fortifications have been restored, you can climb them to see old Nanjing, Lake Xuanwu and other sights of the city from a height of 12 meters.
Bridge over the Yangtze
The road and rail bridge across the Yangtze River in Nanjing has been the pride of the Chinese Communist Party since the 1960s. This is the first large structure designed and built by local workers without the advice of foreign engineers. It took 100 thousand tons of steel, 1 million tons of cement and 8 years of labor to build this bridge. The entrance to it is guarded by stone figures of a worker, a peasant and a soldier, who hold books with the theses of Chairman Mao.
Recently, the bridge has again been in the spotlight of the press around the world. Reporters found out that this crossing of the Yangtze is very popular with suicides. In recent years, the bridge was under the tutelage of an ordinary resident of Nanjing Chen Si, who managed to save more than 300 desperate people from an irreparable step. Now called the "Angel of Nanjing," and other volunteers have joined the patrol of the bridge.
Xuanwu Lake
Nanjing does not have such impressive modern architectural structures as in Beijing or Shanghai, but there is something that surpasses the buildings of these megacities in its grandeur - Xuanwu Lake with an area of 444 hectares and a circumference of 15 km. According to local legend, a black dragon, the Taoist god of water Suan-wu, was seen in this reservoir, after which the lake got its name.
Five islands on the lake are connected by arched bridges. A visit to the lake and the park around it can take up to five hours. The park contains temples, pagodas, pavilions, teahouses, restaurants, entertainment venues, a small zoo and other attractions.
The main entrance to Xuanwu Lake Park is the gate of the same name, which is part of Nanjing's city wall bordering the southern and eastern parts of the park.
Qinhuaihe river
Qinhuaihe is an unusual river. Before merging with the Yangtze River, it flows through the whole of Nanjing along two branches. The one that runs along the old walls is called the outer river and is considered the natural moat of the old capital. An inner river makes its way through the city center. People have lived on the banks of Qinhuaihe since time immemorial. Most of the local legends are associated with its waters.
In 1985, the city government made the river part of a tourist attraction. It turned out that Nanjing looks attractive not only from the height of city walls or skyscrapers, but also from the water. Qinhuaihe cruises are in high demand. Pleasure boats pass by 600-year-old Zhanyuan Gardens, Confucius Temple and Zhonghua Bastions.
Porcelain pagoda
The 78-meter Porcelain Pagoda was once the most famous structure in Asia. She was even mentioned by Hans Christian Andersen in one of his fairy tales. The walls of the pagoda were covered with glazed porcelain tiles. This building was designed by Emperor Yongle in the 15th century. A staircase of 184 steps led to the top of the temple, which was officially called the Good Pagoda. Each floor of the building was decorated with lanterns that could be seen from afar at night.
In 1856, during the Taiping Rebellion, the pagoda was destroyed. In 2010, a Chinese businessman donated a colossal amount of money to rebuild the tower. No one has undertaken to recreate the porcelain decoration in our time, so the architects decided to build a copy of the temple from glass and decorate it with thousands of LED bulbs. This building is no longer the Porcelain Pagoda, but no less interesting.
Jiangxin island
The ecological island is called Jiangxin by modern Chinese journalists. It is located on the Yangtze River a few kilometers from the historic quarters of Nanjing. In 2009, the island was at the center of an experiment. Here they began to build an ecological city with low carbon emissions and the use of renewable energy sources. The island owes its fame to numerous vineyards, where about 130 varieties of grapes are grown. It is best to come here in late July - early August, when the annual grape festival takes place here.
There is a forest park on the southern tip of the island. There is a folklore village nearby. Jiangxin is a pleasant walking area with markets, rural restaurants, gardens, canals, ponds and boulevards.
Bookstore "Avangard"
Bookstore "Avangard"
The most interesting Chinese bookstore does not have an extravagant facade, impressive staircase and beautiful chandeliers. To get into this kingdom of books, you need to enter the concrete underground garage under the Vutashin stadium. Previously, there was a bomb shelter here, and then it was converted into a parking lot for high-ranking officials.
In 1999, the garage was bought and completely rebuilt by businessman Qian Xiaohua. Today, the Avangard bookstore attracts thousands of tourists and locals who willingly sit at two long tables and read books. There is also a café and an art gallery. There is also a meeting room, which is often used for concerts.
Lingu
Lingu is a 6th century Chinese monastery located in the vicinity of Nanjing. This sanctuary changed its name several times, and in the second half of the 14th century it was moved closer to the tomb of the first ruler of the Ming dynasty in the Purple Mountains. There we can see him now.
During the Ming era, the temple flourished. It occupied a huge area of 300 thousand square meters. m. A five-kilometer road led from the gate to the religious complex. The monastery was home to 1 thousand monks. Today, only a few buildings have survived from the huge Lingu complex. Among them is the famous Hall without rungs, built only of bricks, without the use of wood and nails. Next to it, 60.5 meters, rises the Lingu Pagoda, which was designed by an American architect in the 1930s. You can climb to the upper level of the pagoda.
Xiaolin Mausoleum
The Xiaolin Mausoleum is located at the foot of the Purple Mountains on the eastern outskirts of Nanjing. The founder of the Ming dynasty Tai-zu and his wife Ma found their last refuge here. The construction of the mausoleum began in 1381 and was completed in 1431. In 1384, the empress was buried here, and 14 years later, the emperor with all the concubines.
The entire burial complex occupies a huge territory and is one of the largest in China. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The mausoleum complex is divided into two parts, connected by the Sacred Road, which is guarded by stone statues of real and mythical animals and people. The journey ends near a mound surrounded by a high wall, where the imperial family is buried. Its diameter is 400 meters. On the way from the main gate to the mound, you can see several pavilions, steles, statues.
