Nanjing,
an ancient metropolis of
six different dynasties,
is a city with
mountains, waters and
green trees.
The ancestors of
Nanjingers can be dated
back to the apemen who
lived in caves at
Tangshan Hill hundreds
of thousands of years
ago. About 5000 to 6000
years ago some people
came to the tableland by
waters and made a living
by fishing, hunting or
farming.
Nanjing took shape at
the confluence of the
Changjiang (Yangtse) and
Qinhuaihe rivers.
Goujian, King of Yue
State, had a city built
by the Qinhuaihe and
named it Yuecheng 2500
years ago. Later Chu
State had a city called
Jinling erected at the
foot of Qingliangshan
Hill. Yuecheng and
Jinling were the
embryonic forms of
Nanjing.
The Yangtse River rushes
from southwest towards
the Stone Hill which is
strategically located
and difficult of access.
Sun Quan, King of State
Wu, had his military
fortress built here with
the giant rocks by the
river as the wall and
named it the Stone City,
which is also called the
Ghost Face City because
of its grotesque shape.
Ever since then, Jinling,
Shitou (Stone) have been
the ancient aliases of
Nanjing.
The Six Dynasties (from
beginning of the 3rd
century to the end of
the 6th century) were
the prime period of
Nanjing. After the
downfall of Western Jin,
North China was reigned
by chieftains of some
nomads. Many
aristocrats, men of
letters, craftsmen
thronged to the south,
promoting the
development of culture,
economy, and crafts and
technology. And Nanjing,
the biggest city of the
time became a new
cultural center in
ancient China.
In modern Nanjing there
are some 40 universities
and colleges and more
than 300 scientific
research institutes,
several art troupes and
a theatre for kunqu
opera, from which about
100 modern operas in
China derived. Nanjing
Library is the third
biggest library in China
in terms of its
collection. The Nanjing
Museum boasts a rich
collection of arts and
crafts.
The modern new Nanjing
is the economic and
cultural center in the
lower reaches of the
Yangtse River. It has
started its voyage to
the outside world. |