The Essence of Ancient Nanjing

(We travel back in time as we take a look at the oldest part of the ancient city of Nanjing. )

The ancient city of Nanjing dates back nearly 2,500 years. It used to be the capital of six of China's feudal dynasties. It’s also known as "Liu Chao Gu Du", or "the ancient capital of six dynasties".

The Qinhuai River, the main river in Nanjing, flows for a distance of 5 kilometres through the city. The areas along it have long been important centres of business and culture, attracting merchants and literati from all over China.

Together with the Confucius Temple, which can also be found along the river, they form an important part of Nanjing’s cultural heritage.

Seventy-six year old Zhu Ping has lived by the Qinhuai River most of his life. Writing poetry and prose is one of his hobbies and not surprisingly, the Qinhuai River and the Confucius Temple figure prominently in his writing.

"The Qinhuai River is the largest river in Nanjing. I've written more than 100 poems and prose dedicated to the mother river of the city."

In fact, the locals in Nanjing all have a genuine affection for the river and the temple. It’s a magical place to visit, the ancient marketplace here is always a hive of activity and the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers and the famous Qinhuai delicacies.

The Confucius Temple was built some 1000 years ago during the Northern Song Dynasty. Five hundred years later during the Ming and Qing dynasties, trade along the Qinhuai River was at its peak. Many prominent personalities were attracted to the area during this period, among them Li Bai and Du Fu, two of the most famous poets in Chinese history.

Since the 1980s, the local government in Nanjing has spent more than 2-billion yuan, or about 250-million U.S. dollars on the restoration of historical sites along the Qinhuai River. In 1991, the state tourism bureau designated the area as one of China's most popular tourist destinations.

Head of the Qinhuai District, Shi Chengzhong, says what’s most impressive about the Qinhuai River is its rich history, and the number of well preserved ancient sites, which can be found nearby, and of course the fascinating marketplace.

"Everything along the Qinhuai River reveals the rich cultural background of the place."

The market place is a veritable treasure trove, where you can find all kinds of things like flowers, kites, lanterns, gold fish, pet birds, toys, and more than 80 kinds of traditional Nanjing delicacies. The list is endless.

This particularly scenic part of Nanjing covers an area of about one square kilometre. It attracts more than 10-million visitors each year and generates about 2-billion yuan, or about 250-million U.S. dollars in revenue for the city.