The legacy of its nearly 450-year history as a national capital forms one of the defining characteristics of Nanjing. This long history has left the city with a rich concentration of historical sites and cultural heritage. The Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, and the Southern Dynasties of Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang, and Chen successively established their capitals in Nanjing, spanning a total of 324 years. This period gave rise to the renowned title “Ancient Capital of the Six Dynasties” and helped shape Nanjing’s distinctive cultural character, marked by openness, inclusiveness, and the convergence of northern and southern cultures.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, established Nanjing as the capital, leaving behind a rich legacy including the Ming City Wall, the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, and the Ming Imperial Palace Ruins. The Ming City Wall is the longest and largest ancient city wall in the world still in existence, while the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nanjing is renowned for its remarkable concentration and preservation of Ming Dynasty heritage.

Nanjing served as the capital of the Republic of China from 1927 to 1949. More than 200 well-preserved buildings from this period remain today, including Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, the Yihe Road Historic Residence Area, and Ginling College (now Nanjing Normal University). Plane trees, widely planted during this period, have since become one of Nanjing’s iconic urban landscapes.

Nanjing is the only city in China designated by UNESCO as a “City of Literature.” The city is closely associated with literary classics such as Dream of the Red Chamber, The Scholars, and The Peach Blossom Fan. Renowned poets and writers, including Li Bai, Wang Anshi, and Su Shi, also left celebrated works in Nanjing.

Centered around Confucius Temple and the Qinhuai River, this is one of Nanjing’s most iconic areas for experiencing local culture and everyday life. The area is home to the Qinhuai Lantern Festival, Jiangnan Examination Hall—the largest imperial examination venue in ancient China—and Wuyi Lane. A nighttime cruise along the Qinhuai River is one of the most popular experiences for international visitors to Nanjing..

Nanjing is an important center of Buddhist culture, home to renowned sites such as Qixia Temple and the Thousand-Buddha Cliff, Jiming Temple, and Foding Palace at Niushou Mountain, which enshrines a Buddhist skull relic. The striking architecture of Foding Palace makes it a particularly distinctive landmark.

Nanjing Yunjin Brocade, a traditional Chinese silk craft, has a history of more than 1,600 years, dating back to 417 AD, when a government office dedicated to brocade production was established in Jiankang, the ancient name of Nanjing. Renowned for its brilliant colors, exquisite materials, and intricate craftsmanship, Yunjin is known as the “Crown of Brocade”. Traditional Yunjin weaving requires the collaboration of two skilled craftspeople, and even experienced weavers can produce only 5–6 centimeters of fabric a day, giving rise to the saying “an inch of brocade is worth an inch of gold”. In 2009, the craftsmanship of Nanjing Yunjin Brocade was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Other important forms of Nanjing’s intangible cultural heritage include Jinling Classical Scripture Printing, gold foil craftsmanship, and Qinhuai lanterns.