Nanjing (China)

Once the imperial capital - Nanjing also means "capital of the south", as opposed to Beijing, the "capital of the north - the city is rich in history and culture. It's glorious past as a literary town has led to it being one of China's top places for education, culture, art, and research today.

The town's frenetic speed of development has spoiled its charm a little, but Nanjing is still an interesting town and a pleasant place to stay during a trip to China.

Among the must-see sites are the Xiaoling Tomb, (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, the Purple Mountain Observatory, the lakes and gardens and, of course, the Nanjing Massacre Memorial. This latter was constructed in honor of the soldiers and civilians massacred during the invasion of Nanjing by the Japanese army on December 13, 1937, a dark day for the whole Chinese people.