Nanjing

Brief Introduction

Nanjing, known as Jinling in ancient China, is the capital of Jiangsu province. it is situated on the vast plain of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and at 32°03'n, 118°47'e. it belongs to the northern subtropical monsoon climate zone where the four seasons are clearly demarcated, the annual mean temperature is 16?, the annual even precipitation is 1,106 mm and the frost-free period is 237 days.at present, Nanjing has jurisdiction over 10 districts and 5 counties,covering an area of 6,516 square kilometers and having a population of about 5,200,000.

Nowadays, Nanjing has developed into a multiple-producing industrial base in eastern China, an important hub of transportation and communication center, one of china's four major scientific research and educational central cities. the gross national products of the whole city in 1995 amounted to 58 billion Yuan, a 12% increase over the previous year.

Transportation

A  major city in east China, Nanjing is very accessible and it can be easily reached by airplane, train, bus and boat.

Airplanes: Nanjing Lukou airport is one of the largest airport in the nation. There are regular daily services from and to almost all the major cities in China and there are even some flights to Shanghai.

Trains: Nanjing railway station is an important stop on the Shanghai-Beijing rail line. There are convenient direct trains to the neighborhoods including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou. trains to Beijing is also available.

Boat: Bordering the Yangtze River, Nanjing has developped a comprehensive waterway transportatation system. Passenger ships leave Nanjing for Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan regularly. compared with air and train travels, getting around via boat can be slow, time-consuming and exhausted, but riverside scenery in China's vast countryside often offer a quite different experience.

Accommodations

Nanjing has numerous hotels ranging from the budget roadside guesthouses, inns to the luxurious five star lodgings. Most of the star-rate hotels are located in Xinjiekou, the city's commercial area. For those who visit Nanjing, the Jinglin hotel(5 star) and central hotel(4 star) are good choices.

Food

Nanjing has a relatively wide selection of local, regional chinese and foreign foods, often at reasonable prices. traditional nanjing cuisine is known as Jiangsu cuisine and is notable for the emphasis placed on original flavor and carefully selected raw ingredients. Nanjing dishes are traditionally bright in color and use only a moderate amount of seasoning but a significant amount of oil.

The characteristics of flavor lie in its mellow taste, neither too salty nor too light, which suits the appetite of everybody. the sumptuous course preserves its natural flavor with fresh and good smell, crisp, soft and tender tastes as its main features. the best places for travelers to sample the local flavor are the area around the Qinghuai river and the Hunan road. the many snack stalls dotted within the Qinghuai river area offer a range of food: (Baozi) steamed buns-stuffed with pork, and other delicate fillings, Bawei Dawei Doufunao (eight-flavoured jellied bean curd pastries) roasted beef, salty duck, animal stomach, chicken feet (phoenix feet) and much more.

Tourist Attractions

Nanjing is an age-old city with both modern and ancient features. It served as the capital for six ancient dynasties, and harbors some glorious remnants of times gone by. History has left the place numerous historical sites and heritage relics which now constitute the main attractions. The mausoleum of Dr. Sun-yat-sen, Mingxiaoling mausoleum, Qinhuai River, the memorial hall to the victims in the Nanjing massacre, Confucius temple, Linggu temple, Mochou Lake, and mount Qixia are some of the best places to visit.