Nanjing has always been a cultural center. In the past, Nanjing was a place where poets gathered to compose poems reminiscent of its luxurious past and the city was the official imperial examination center for the Jiangnan region, again acting as a hub where different thoughts and opinions converged and thrived.
Today, with deep cultural roots and strong support from local educational institutions, Nanjing is commonly viewed as a “city of culture”.
At the mention of Nanjing, one would think of an old-fashioned city that was the capital city of six ancient dynasties. Nanjing also comes with a nostalgic feel and one can feel it if one spends but a few days within the city.
One of the most popular cultural places to visit would be the Confucius Temple; the Temple was founded during the Song Dynasty in the early 11th century. It was initially an imperial academy but was later changed to a center of culture and commerce. Though many other similar temples are found in other parts of China, the Confucius Temple in Nanjing is particularly special because of its age and history, making it an essential place to visit. Teahouses, restaurants, opera theaters, and many other kinds of recreational facilities attract and entertain visitors and local residents.
The Confucius Temple is located on the north bank of the Qinhuai River, which has been the source of many poems and stories. The river is well-known for its picturesque scenery, but lacked luster in recent times. Fortunately, the city's charming historical scenes were brought back to life in 1985, when the Nanjing Municipal Government rebuilt the streets in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Next off would be to savor the local architecture. Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, which is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of the Chinese palatial style, is the best place to enjoy the local architecture. Dr. Sun Yat-sen is looked upon by many as China's founding father and was buried in Nanjing in 1929.
Sitting on the mountain's slope, the mausoleum looks majestic and sublime. The vault is more than 700 meters away from the entrance of the mausoleum on the square below. There is a three-tier stone stand upon which a huge bronze ding, an ancient Chinese vessel symbolizing power, perches. Beyond is the 480-meter-long and 50-meter-wide stairway with 392 stairs, leading to the vault. On both sides, tall pine trees, cypress trees and gingko trees guard the way alongside. At the end of the stairway is a huge gate. The tri-arched marble gate is inscribed with four Chinese characters written by Sun, which reads: "The nation is the people's nation and everyone should serve the nation selflessly." Visitors can learn about Sun's life in the hall.
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