Nanking

Nanking, also known as Nanjing in pinyin, is a major city in eastern China and the capital of Jiangsu Province. It lies on the southern bank of the Yangtze River and functions as a cultural, educational, and economic center with a large urban population. The name means “Southern Capital”; Nanking is an older romanization, while Nanjing is the modern standard spelling.

Historically, Nanking has served as a capital for several states and governments. It was an early capital during the Six Dynasties period and later served as the capital of the Ming dynasty before the capital was moved to Beijing in 1421. In the 20th century it was the capital of the Republic of China during portions of the 1920s–1930s and again after World War II; the government relocated to Chongqing during the war and to Taiwan after 1949.

The city is associated with significant events and landmarks. It was the site of the Nanjing Massacre of 1937–1938 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, in which a large number of civilians and disarmed combatants were killed; casualty estimates vary among historians. Notable sites include the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and the Nanjing City Wall, as well as several universities, museums, and cultural institutions.

In contemporary times, Nanking is a major national city in eastern China, serving as a regional political, economic, and transportation hub. It hosts a diversified economy with manufacturing, education, and research sectors and is home to leading institutions of higher education, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.