About the City of Nanjing 


Nanjing is one of China’s great ancient capitals and historically and culturally famous cities. It has so many scenic spots deserving visits: Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Ming Dynasty Tomb, Zhonghua Gate, Zhanyuan Garden (Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Museum), Ganjia Residence (Nanjing Folklore Museum),  Presidential Residence, Confucius Temple, Nanjing Museum, etc. Students can, outside of class time, visit other places in China. When traveling, you must bring your passport and residence permit, and must protect your identification and valuables. 


Nanjing’s climate is subtropical and humid, its average annual temperature  is 15.3 , and its annual precipitations is 1106.5 mm, with the rainy season being mid-June to early July. “Summer heat, Winter cold” are words that differentiate Nanjing from other cities south of the Yangzi River in how aptly they describe the city’s climate. Chances of snow are usually greatest in December. 



Spring:  Nanjing’s spring begins roughly in late March or early April, and lasts until late May or early June; its average length is 60-70 days.


Summer: Nanjing’s  summer runs from early or mid-June to mid-September, lasting roughly 100 days, and can be divided into distinct rainy and mid-summer drought weather.


Fall: Fall runs from mid-September to mid-November, lasting roughly 60 days.


Winter: Nanjing’s  winter lasts from mid-November to late March or early April of the next year.  Winter weather is characteristically cold and dry. Falling temperatures and  strong winds are this season’s main weather phenomena.



Confucius Temple


Confucius Temple is located in the south of Nanjing City, situated on banks of Qinhuai River. For many years it's a place reputed as a center of culture, arts, shopping, entertainment and grand fairs. 


In 317 in Jin Dynasty, Nanking Imperial University was constructed in Fuzimiao area, and later in Southern Tang dynasty the imperial university was again located there. In southern dynasties, many esteemed families lived around the area. 


In 1034 in Song Dynasty, the famous Confucian Temple was expandingly constructed. 


The area was very prosperous in Ming and Qing dynasties, well known as Shi Li Qinhuai, which means that the streets in the Fuzimiao area had a total  length of 10 Li (5 km), and the place was described as with countless shops, restaurants, bars and hotels, lining up two sides of these streets with colorful signs and lights. 


Today Fuzimiao area is still one of the most famous attractions for tourists.


Qinhuai River


The Qinhuai River is the biggest river in Nanjing. It's also the birthplace of the age-old Nanjing culture. As such, it's called Nanjing's mother river. It is the life blood of the city. Qinhuai River is so fascinating that it captures the imaginations of people both at home and abroad. 


The Qinhuai River is divided into inner and outer rivers. Painted boats with red lanterns once shuttled to and from, heavily made-up, gifted alms all became historical things. A busy colorful bazaar has gradually taken shape here. 


Now the flourishing riverside area can be compared to the Nanjing Road of Shanghai and some do call it the Mini Nanjing Road. Small shops, stores, restaurants  and bars cluster the area. You can find everything here ranging from colorful  trinkets to local specialties. If you are good at bargaining you will be able to  purchase some very cheap items here. At night the whole area is lit up with colorful lights thus creating a very impressive scene. A lively street market is set up in the area and both locals and tourists take part in the bargain hunt. 



The Former Residence of Gan Xi    


The Former Residence of Gan Xi, known as the Grand Courtyard of the Gan Clan, is located on Zhongshan South Road, Nanjing. It  lies next to Nan Bu Ting, the South station of the former Nanjing Police Station. 


It was built in the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor (1796–1820), the Qing  Dynasty, and its first owner was Gan Xi’s father, Gan Fu. Originally known as Fraternity Hall, it now serves as the Nanjing Folk Museum.


There is a well-known claim that the Forbidden City, the largest imperial palace complex, contains 9,999 and a half rooms, and that the largest mandarin estate, namely the Mansion of Confucius’ Descendants in Qufu, supposedly comprised 999 and a half rooms. As a large residence belonging to commoners, the Gan Family Mansion was often said by analogy to contain 99 and a half rooms, though in fact there are over three hundred. 


As the Nanjing Folk  Museum, it displays an exhibition of handicrafts, including Yixing clay teapot, Chinese paper cutting, miniature engravings, Chinese opera make-up patterns  (脸谱), old clocks as well as local snacks. It is worth noting that some parts of  the residence are still privately owned or occupied by certain  companies.



Ji-Ming Temple


The Ji-Ming Temple is a renowned Buddhist temple in Nanjing. It is one of the most antique temples in Nanjing. The temple is located near the Xuanwu Lake in central Nanjing. It was built first in the Southern Tang Dynasty and then in the Song Dynasty. The existing Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty. 


With Xuanwu Lake at the back, Jiming Temple faces the Purple Mountain to the east. Inside the temple are Guanyin Building, Huomeng Building, Jingyang Building, Rouge Well, etc. Legend has it that when the emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty and his concubine hid themselves in the well in order to escape the enemy pursuit, the stains of rouge were left on the well: hence the name of  Rouge Well. Behind the temple there remains a section of palace wall called Taicheng.






Qixia  Mountain 


Qixia Mountain is a mountain in the northeast part of Nanjing. In the Southern Dynasties (420-589), there was a Qixia cottage in the mountain, so the mountain’s name Qixia derived from it. Qixia Mountain includes mountain peaks: the main peak, Sanmao Peak, with an elevation of 286 metres; Dragon Mountain, like a lying dragon, located in northeast ; Tiger Mountain, like a fallen tiger, located in the northwest. Qixia Mountain has many scenic spots and historical sites. Its red autumnal leaves and especially its Dongfeitian grottos which were founded in 2000, make it a famous tourist attraction 

both at home and to  abroad.



Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum


Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum is situated at the foot of the second peak of Mount Zijin (Purple Mountain) in Nanjing, China. Construction of the tomb started in January 1926 and was finished in spring of 1929. The architect was Lu Yanzhi, who died shortly after it was finished. It is classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.



The Ming Xiaoling  Mausoleum


The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum (literally Ming filial mausoleum) is the tomb of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming  Dynasty. It lies at the southern foot of Purple Mountain, located east of the historical centre of Nanjing, China. Legend says that in order to prevent robbery of the tomb, 13 identical processions of funeral troops started from 13 city gates to obscure the real burying site.The construction of the mausoleum began during the Hongwu Emperor's life in 1381 and ended in 1405, during the reign of his son the Yongle Emperor,  with a huge expenditure of resources involving 100,000 labourers. The original  wall of the mausoleum was more than 22.5 kilometres long. The mausoleum was  built under heavy guard of 5,000 troops.



Xuanwu Lake  


Xuanwu Lake  is located in Xuanwu District in the central-northeast part of Nanjing, near Nanjing Railway Station and Ji Ming Temple.The Ming city wall borders the park to its south and east and a pagoda and the Zifeng Tower overlook the lake. The lake covers 444 hectares and is 15 kilometers in circumference. According to the local legend, a black dragon was seen in the lake and was believed by Chinese Taoists to be a god of water protection called Xuanwu which gave it its name.Xin-JiekouXin-Jiekou is the central business district of Nanjing, which has a history  of nearly 100 years.It gave its name to Xinjiekou subway station.