WhatmakesNanjinganditsQinhuaiRiverdistrictsouniquefromgreatcitiesofChinaisthatitreallyisacompletepackageofsites,historyandculturalenjoyment.Inasmallspanoftimeavisitorcanventurethroughmorethan2,000yearsofhistoryinabeautifulandserenesetting.Witheverystep,flankedbylushtreesandrushingwaters,Nanjingmesmerizesyou,urgingyoutorelaxandsoakupthehistorythatenvelopsyou.
ThisisperhapstheprimaryfeelingIhadandmanyothershavehadwhenvisitingNanijing.Walkingalongtree-Linedboulevards,driftinglazilydownthewatersoftheQinhuaiorstrollingthroughtheancientlanesandwalkwaysoftheoldcitycenterarewherethespecialmomentsofanytripareformed.Thesights,soundsandtasteswelcomeyoutoexploreandrewardyouateverystep.Forme,personallyIfoundmyselfreallyopeninguptotheexperiencesthatChinahastoofferthetravelerhereinNanjingandwantingtofindawaytostayalittlebitlonger.Asatraveleronerarelyhasthechancetospendmorethanafewdaysinanyonelocationanddevotethetimeneededtoreallybecomeonewithacity.Whenwetravel,manyofthecitieswevisitcanseemdauntingandwehavenoideawheretobegin.TheconceptbehindthisbookistogiveyouaLookintothehistoryofthisfascinatingcity,asolidfoundationofwhatmakesthiscitysouniqueandmostimportantlythehiddengemsnoteasilyfoundotherwisesothatwhenyouvisityoufeellikeyouarereturninghomeandnotmerelyanawe-strucktourist.