Xuanwu Lake, as viewed from the North shore.
Shopping between Sanshan Street and the Fuzi Miao, Confucian Temple, in Southern Nanjing.
Shopping between Sanshan Street and the Fuzi Miao, Confucian Temple, in Southern Nanjing. The Qinhuai River is just ahead.
An old civil examination school remains near the Qinhuai River.
An old civil examination school remains near the Qinhuai River, with rows of student and scholar statues outside.
The Qinhuai River, which passes through in a thin canal channel past the Confucian Temple.
The Qinhuai River, which passes through in a thin canal channel past the Confucian Temple. China's finest courtesans used to assemble here in ancient times.
The Qinhuai River, which passes through in a thin canal channel past the Confucian Temple, decorated for a festival.
Fuzi Miao, the Confucian Temple, was built in 1034. For almost 1000 years was been the seat of Confucian studies in China. Today it is a relatively upscale shopping area with a nearby night market.
the Museum of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In 1851 China experienced a peasant uprising intent on overthrowing the moribund Qing Dynasty. Aided by the Imperilaist European powers, the Qing put down the Taiping Rebellion in 1864. Today, the 13 year Kingdom they established is lauded by the Communists for attempting to make China independent, even though its leaders were Christians. The museum is extensive and includes many interesting pieces, including some monuments praising European citizens who helped defend the Taiping.
An opium pipe at the Taiping Museum.
The Emperor's Robe at the Taiping Museum.
Period documents preserved from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
Several plates honor foreigners who helped defend the Taiping Kingdom from the Qing and European forces.
Strolling Nanjing Streets, near Sanshan District.
Our lunch place, roast duck and green peppers.
A rundown residential street near the South Gate.
The South City Gate of Nanjing, known as Zhonghua Gate.
Zhonghua Men, the Southern City Gate. Chiang Kai-shek himself banged in the characters over the front door during a restoration.
Zhonghua Men, the Southern City Gate. It’s not so much a gate as a fortress, with several chambers to trap invading troops. It was built from 1368-86 under the command of the first Ming Emperor.
A Ming Dynasty soldier, advertising for KIA, stands guard along the Souther Gate.
An old residential village being cleared for new zoning along the South Gate.
A view from the rear of the Souther Gate back North into the city of Nanjing. A Martyr's Shrine and Temple are visible in the background.
Zhonghua Men, the Southern City Gate. It was built from 1368-86 under the command of the first Ming Emperor. The 12 meter tall, 33 km long city walls of Nanjing were famously successful in dissuading attackers. The bricks are held in place with a mixture of glutinous rice mortar, and there are four entrances.
the city’s Revolutionary Martyr’s Shrine, built on the site of a Nationalist execution ground for Communists during the 1930’s.
Fuzi Miao shopping area lit up at night
Chinese Wal*Mart
Nanjing Public Library, across from the President Palace.
We head East to the Presidential Palace, a compound shared by many successive Chinese regimes. The Taiping Emperor stayed here, as was Sun Yat-Sen’s house and office, and Chiang Kai-shek’s offices, whose chair you can sit in. It's a lot of history in one stop.
Pictures of successive Chinese regimes line the walls at the inner chamber of the Presidential Palace.
A Taiping Kingdom zone within the President Palace.
A Taiping Kingdom zone within the President Palace; the Emperor's Chambers.
A Taiping Kingdom zone within the President Palace; Emperor's Office
Within the President Palace. Mao ordered this stone built to commemorate the Taiping Revolutionaries.
The Nationalists' War Room in the Kuomintang Headquarters Section of the Presidential Palace.
Kuomintang Headquarters in the Presidential Palace.
Chuang Kai-shek's 2nd floor office in the Kuomintang Headquarters Section of the Presidential Palace.
Sun Yat-sen's house within the Presidential Palace.
Sun Yat-sens office in the Presidential Palace.
A garden within the Presidential Palace.
Next we go to the Purple Mountain, one of the three mountains which form Nanjing’s natural skyline. There are three attractions here: the Tomb of the Ming Emperor (which, unfortunately, was closed for repairs), a Pagoda honoring the sacrifice of Nationalist troops against the Japanese, and the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of Republican China
a pathway to the Tomb of the Ming Emperor
Cherry Blossoms bloom along the pathway to teh Tomb of the Ming Emperor
Entrance to the Tomb of the Ming Emperor courtyard
The Tomb of the Ming Emperor itself is closed for repairs.
Entrance Gate to the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of Republican China.
A stop along the path to the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of Republican China.
A stop along the way, with Sun's famous democratic quotation, "the world belongs to all" enscribed overhead.
Honoring the Founder of the Republic of China
the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of Republican China. A series of steps lead up the mountain to his sarcophagus.
the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of Republican China. Sun is inside.
the view from the top.
the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of Republican China. Nationalist Chinese banners still are painted overhead, out of respect for the old leader.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of Republican China. He used to be visible like Mao, but the casket was sealed improperly and he began to disintegrate. I wonder if his body is really inside the stone, or if the Nationalists took it with them to Taiwan when they fled, along with most of China’s other treasures. A local rumor says they did.
the roof above Dr. Sun
ENtrance to a Pagoda honoring the sacrifice of Nationalist troops against the Japanese
a monument honoring the sacrifice of Nationalist troops against the Japanese
a Pagoda honoring the sacrifice of Nationalist troops against the Japanese
Rape of Nanjing Memorial. When Nanjing, the then-capital of China, fell to Japan in 1937, the invading troops sought to make an example out of the city. The Nationalist government requested that the civilians stay behind, unaware of the fate that would befall them. In the following weeks, 300,000 unarmed Chinese soldiers and civilians were mercilessly raped, butchered, skinned, burned and buried alive. It is one of the darkest, terrifying episodes in human history.
"Peace Bell", Rape of Nanjing Memorial. When Nanjing, the then-capital of China, fell to Japan in 1937, the invading troops sought to make an example out of the city. The Nationalist government requested that the civilians stay behind, unaware of the fate that would befall them. In the following weeks, 300,000 unarmed Chinese soldiers and civilians were mercilessly raped, butchered, skinned, burned and buried alive. It is one of the darkest, terrifying episodes in human history.
The compound is large and built over a mass grave site.
Outside, several stone engravings tell of groups of Chinese who tried to flee across the Yangzi River, only to be slaughtered or buried alive by the Japanese Navy. Every stone ends with a line to the effect of, “We remember these events so that they may never happen again. Make China strong, revitalize the nation.”
the Nanjing War Memorial
a large bridge spanning the Yangzi River. After the Sino-Soviet split in 1960, the construction of this bridge gave the Chinese pride that they could successfully engineer large public works without Soviet assistance. Revolutionary Soviet-realist style statues crown the center of the span, which also offers a commanding view of Nanjing. A bus stops on the bridge to take us back to the train station.
Yangzi River
Nanjing's one subway line
the Drum Tower, a site where many imperial ceremonies were held in ancient days
Xinjiekou Shopping District
Nanjing Government Hall
