Nanjing Hotels from RM155

Nanjing, China's traditional 'southern capital,' has been one of the country's most important cities for over 1,000 years. This lower Yangtze Basin city was first China's national capital during the Ming dynasty, then served as the Republic of China capital between 1927 and 1949. As one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals, Nanjing was once one of the world's largest cities and boasts a population of over five million people today.

Buying a Nanjing city pass gives visitors free admission to 21 different attractions for one calendar year. However, no Nanjing landmark is better known than Zhonghuamen, the massive Gate of China which is the best preserved section of the city wall which guarded the city during the 14th century.

Other landmarks along the Qin Huai River's banks include Zhanyuan Garden and the nearby Confucius Temple, which includes a museum and massive market. The Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace now lies in ruins, but once covered an area of over two and a half kilometres and served as an inspiration for Beijing's Forbidden City. A Porcelain Pagoda arched door and a jade burial suit are a couple of the fascinating artefacts within the Nanjing Museum's 11 exhibition halls.

The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall is a tribute to the Chinese who lost their lives during this tragic WWII massacre, while the Taiping Kingdom History Museum tells the story of the lesser known Taiping Rebellion, which took place from 1843 to 1868. Three important Chinese emperors are entombed at Purple Mountain, which can be reached by cable car, shuttle train, or walking.

Thin skinned soup and meat dumplings called xiaolongbao are one of Nanjing's culinary delicacies along with a similar dish called tangbao where straws are used to drink the soup. Yaxue fensi duck blood noodles is a commonly served side dish. Nanjing's cheapest meals are served at pot sticker shops called jiaozi and noodle shops known as miantiao. Small barbecue shops are situated on many of Nanjing's back streets, while the 1912 district is the city's main nightlife district.

Nanjing's fashion district is Xinjiekou, a neon bathed area filled with giant department stores and clothing boutiques. Deji Plaza and DongFang Shopping Centre are two of the biggest shopping centres, but Hunan Road contains many of the same shops in a more relaxed environment. There are also plenty of tiny souvenir and clothing shops around the Confucius Temple.