Sun Yatsen's Mausoleum and the Ming Tombs

Nanjing (meaning southern capital) is one of the six ancient capitals of China, situated at the south bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Today, Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province and covers an area of 860 square kilometers with a population of more than 5 million.

Various dynasties have made Nanjing their base. The most famous of these periods is when Nanjing was the capital of China; during the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644 and the establishment of the People's Republic of China in the early 20th Century. Many of the city's historical sites are date back to these periods and Sun Yatsen's Mausoleum and the Ming Tombs are examples of the wealth of culture existing in this ancient city.

Today, 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. The pace of life here is slower than many other Chinese cities and Nanjing seems quite conservative in comparison to the brash modernity of neighboring Shanghai. Indeed the local's mantra "man zou" (go slow) is a reflection of the cautious and reserved attitude of many of the city's residents.

Like many Chinese cities however, the charm of this place is being threatened. The developers have moved in and the old streets and classical buildings are being torn apart to make way for expressways and skyscrapers.

For the time being, Nanjing remains a charming city to spend a few days in, absorbing some history and relaxing in the laid back atmosphere before it disappears altogether.

Purple Mountain scenic area contains a collection of Nanjing's most famous and interesting sites. Chinese tourists congregate en- masse on Zijin Shan visiting various places of interest and finding respite under the shade of the trees from the heat of Nanjing's summers. The Mountain not only contains numerous historical relics but is also a lovely place to walk and explore. When you wander off the beaten paths up here and onto the small forest tracks, the air feels welcomingly clean and the crowds disperse.

There are numerous sites to visit including, Sun Yatsen's Mausoleum, the Ming Tombs, Plum Blossom Hill and the Linggu Temple.

It is best to allow yourself a day to explore the Mountain. There are numerous options for transport and access. One nice way to see the sites and the mountain is to hire a bike. Ask in the major hotels for more information. Bus No. 9 from Xinjeikou also goes up to the peak although each of the sites is a fair distance apart. There is a minibus linking the sites and taxis also cruise the mountain looking for passengers. The nicest way, (if you have time and energy) is just to try and see a few of the more interesting sites and to take a walk in the woods, enjoying the fresh air and tranquility of this secluded mountain.

One of the most charming aspects of Nanjing is the laid back atmosphere in the city. This relaxed feeling can be best appreciated in the area popularly known as Fuzi Miao or the Qinhuai River district.

The Qinhuai river is actually a tributary of the Yangzi river and passes through Nanjing in the area surrounding the Confucius Temple. Since ancient times, this has been a place where merchants gathered and culture and arts thrived. In 1985, the authorities decided to "renovate" and, although this may have ruined some of the authenticity of the district, it is still a very popular and pleasant area to walk, eat, drink and shop! Today, the atmosphere here is vibrant and fun. It is a traditionally intellectual district, home to many learned scholars and Confucian educationalists. Jiangsu traditional opera is performed in the courtyard in front of the temple during festivals and the streets here are filled with vendors and hawkers.

This is also a popular place to take a boat trip down the river. There are some pleasant journeys available on the "Qibanzi" boat, a kind of small boat with a roomy cabin and cane chairs on the deck. There are also various paddle boats available for hire which are cheaper than the "Qibanzi", but don't travel very far or fast due to their miniature size and the fact they require man power (or rather leg power) to steer them!! There are many tourist shops and stalls around these parts and it is worth bargaining before you buy.

There are various places of historical interest dotted about including the Confucius Temple , Egret Isle (the Chinese quarter in the 17th Century) and the Taiping History Museum.

The nicest time of day in Fuzi Miao is evening. When the sun sets over the river, the streets fill up with stalls for the night market and the restaurants and tea houses burst with people and noise.

Nanjing is a good place to see a bit of Chinese history and culture away from the tourist route; the city is littered with cultural relics, museums and nice scenery and is small enough to get around in a short period of time. For those living or staying in Shanghai, Nanjing makes a nice alternative destination for a weekend vacation.

Nanjing is ranked as one of the six ancient metropolises of China, the 2000 year old city enjoying the reputation as the "capital of ten dynasties". Among all the dynasties that had their capital in Nanjing, the Ming left the city with the most cultural relics, including the Nanjing City Wall, Zhuyuanzhang's Mausoleum and the Drum Tower. The city was also the birth place of China's first democratic revolutionary, Dr.Sun Yat Sen (Sun zhongshan),and his Mausoleum is situated majestically upon the slopes of the nearby Purple Mountain. There are also many other cultural sites relating to him in Nanjing.

Thanks to its geographical location and political importance, Nanjing has a rich and varied history and is well known throughout China. Perhaps most importantly, the ancient city enjoys major religious significance for the Chinese. The Jiming Temple, and the Wuliangdian Hall, an arch-shaped brick hall in the Linggu Temple built without using an inch of wood or nail, are both good examples of the city's religious position.

Nanjing is a city with mountains, waters and green trees.With the Yangtse River running through the northeast of the city, mountains and hills encircling on three sides and rivers and lakes scattered about, Nanjing boasts beautiful natural scenery, as well as historically being a great defensive capital. The locals have learned to love this green and varied landscape, giving the area such pretty sights as the Plum Blossom Hill, Zixia Lake and Xuanwu Lake.

Nanjing boasts a highly developed transportation system with its own international airport, railway station and numerous bus stations. The city is also strategically located on the Yangtze River and many boats operate in and out of the city's port.

By plane:
Ctrip can book, reserve and sometimes deliver flight tickets to members! Nanjing Lu Kou Airport is one of the largest airports in the nation. Nanjing airport has regular daily connections to all the major Chinese cities and there are also flights to Hong Kong. The airport is 35km from the urban area and is connected with the city by a highway (around 45 minutes). There are regular bus services to and from the city center which run between the Hanzhong Lu and the airport. Most five star hotels provide free transport to and from the airport. A taxi from the airport to the center of town should cost around RMB80-100. (Lu Kou Airport tel: 6602902)

By train:
Nanjing also has excellent rail links especially to Shanghai (4 hours), Suzhou (2 hours) Hangzhou (5 1/2 hours), Anhui and Beijing. The newly renovated Railway station is located in the north of the city and the soft seat entrance is to the right of the station as you face it. Train tickets are available here, or at a ticket office near Gulou on Zhongshan Bei Lu. Most major hotels can can also get tickets for a small service charge. This is a good option as it is much easier than queuing up at the train station! Taxis to and from the train station to the center of town should cost about RMB 20-30. There are also buses to the University area around Shanghai Lu (no.13) or Xinjeikou (No. 1A) from outside the station.

By bus:
The main long distance bus station is near the train station in the north of the city. Getting reliable information about the bus services can be problematic however. You can try asking in the major five star hotels and there is a bus ticket office at 209 Zhongshan Bei Lu. The buses themselves are generally good and a speedy bus service operates to Shanghai (3-4 hours), Suzhou (2 hours), and Hangzhou (5-6 hours). There is also an overnight bus to Wuhan which now takes less than 12 hours. Touts also stand outside the bus station vying for passengers to fill up their cars. These drivers are generally heading for Shanghai and this can be an efficient and fast way to get between the two cities. The drivers won't leave until there are four people in the car however. This doesn't normally take long and once the car is full the trip takes around three hours. The driver should charge you RMB100 per person.

By boat:
Nanjing has a developed river transportation system and passenger ships for the following destinations leave regularly: Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chongqing (5 days) and Wuhan (2 days). The length of journey varies depending on the type of boat you travel on. This is a lovely way to travel between some of the more popular spots but can be wearing and time consuming. The port in Nanjing is on the western side of Zhongshan Bei Lu. Bus no 4, 10 and 302 and take you there. (tel: 8805501)

City transport:
Getting about in the city itself is usually pretty easy and there are ample taxis around town and a good (though crowded) bus service.