Jiangsu Province travel guide

This word doesn't match Wuxi's history at all, yet more and more shopping malls, such as Yaohan, are replacing old residences, many of which were once homes of notable figures.

Nanjing is known as the Ancient Capital of the Six Dynasties, but in fact ten dynasties in all established their capitals here, which is why it is also called the “Metropolis of Ten Dynasties.” No other city has endured such deep calamities, with dynasty after dynasty falling here. Now that its former glory and splendour have faded, the ancient city is like a weathered, serene elder, recounting the years of its history to all who listen.

“Of the world's moonlit nights, two parts belong to Yangzhou's charming scoundrels”: this single line of poetry drew emperors, ministers and literati in ancient times, and it remains the most evocative slogan today. The song-and-dance glamour of the old pleasure quarters has long faded. Though “Yangzhou in the third month of flowering mist” is the famous image, the most captivating thing is still the ordinary lanes and alleys of its streets. For a few yuan, hire a pedicab and glide through the lanes that interweave like blood vessels, and Yangzhou's past and present rush at you all at once.

Hopping on any bus in Zhenjiang with no particular destination, watching the street scenes and listening to the local dialect, you may feel as though you have stepped into an old black-and-white film. Beneath the faded, ancient buildings, the city's calm breathing and steady heartbeat come through. It lacks the dazzling looks and vibrant energy of other Jiangnan cities, but its peaceful, gentle atmosphere makes you feel at home even when you are far from it.