Nanjing is the most important city in the Yangtze Valley — a geographically strategic, historically fascinating and commercially vital center with a population of about five million.

The city has been China's capital no fewer than five times throughout history. Archaeological relics from the area date back more than five thousand years, though Nanjing itself only became a recognized municipality some 2,800 years ago.

Today it is a big, sprawling, busy and colorful metropolis, a center for astronomy and other sciences, and the site of one of China's most respected universities.

Local sights include the famous Yangtze River Bridge, the excellent Nanjing Museum, many parks and temples, and the world's oldest astronomical observatory. Nanjing also contains the tombs of both the first Ming Emperor and Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the founder of modern China.

A trading port and industrial center from prehistoric times (China's first iron foundries were here), Nanjing is still one of the country's busiest cities, which these days includes many joint-venture partnership enterprises with large international corporations.

Nanjing's climate offers four distinct seasons, with extreme temperatures of 37℃ to 2℃. The most pleasant weather occurs from April to June.