Nanjing, the Southern Capital

[Nomenclature]

China has had many capitals through the ages, but in the last 1000 years or so there had been pretty much a duopoly on the title, Beijing (the Northern Capital) and Nanjing (the Southern Capital).

For different people, those two capitals represents different things. Communist vs Nationalist. Authoritarianism vs liberalism. Non-Han vs Han. So even to this thread, more than 60 years after the founding of PRC the controversy still refuse to fade away, and there are still many people who believe Nanjing rather than Beijing should be the nation's capital.

It's kind of ironic a Beijinger like me would start a photo thread on Nanjing, but I do love the city despite never setting my foot in there.


A little request first though, please refrain from posting anything on the Japanese massacre during WWII. Nanjing is an ancient city with long and proud history. Its unfair to the city for people to focus narrowly on just one very tragic event.

The Nanjing skyline

 

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On the streets

 

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By the river

All pictures above are from either Gaoloumi, Skyscraperscity or Nanjing.org
Later I'm going to post some Republican era architectures.

 

[AUz]

Is it me or others also just get impressed whenever they see any pics of China?

 

[American Pakistani]

wowwwwww stunning city indeed.

 

[cross1993]

Beijing = Non-Han?

 

[Nomenclature]

Beijing = Non-Han?

Yeah a lot of people does make such an argument. For example

??? - ? - ¥?

 

[cross1993]

That is Bullshit. Only Beijing can truly represent Han.

 

[Nomenclature]

NY Times recently has a nice article on Nanjing which is remarkably free from trappings of ideology, probably because it's under the travel section.
In Nanjing, China, Art and Youth Help a City Recover From Its Tragic Past - NYTimes.com

Nanjing is also a major centerof education and research. In fact it's one of the top 20 cities in world by scientific output.

 

[Tractor]

I remember this place,Fuzimiao,10 years ago I have been to and unfortunately stepped into mud.Dirty place but looks much more better now.

 

[Nomenclature]

As I promised, architectures from the Republican era:

The ironic front gate to the republican Presidential Palace. The rising of a red flag over the gate is a frequent imaginary used in China to symbolize the fall of KMT rule in China.

Site of the republican Provisional Government

Xijia Pavilion in the Presidential Garden

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Madame Chiang Estate

Guanghua Pavilion

Republican Navy Headquarters

 

[Tractor]

Nanjing representing China's unfortunate history with shabby appearance.