Surrounded by the mighty Yangtze River and towering mountains, Nanjing has breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Natural lakes like Xuanwu Lake and Mochou Lake are located at the centre of the city, and are easily accessible to the public. Hills like Purple Mountain are blanketed by evergreens and oaks, and house several historical and cultural sites. The Nanjing Museum, a must-see for every visitor, is possibly the best showcase of China’s 5,000-year history.
Despite its rich heritage and culture, Nanjing also sports a modern face – epitomised by skyscrapers, luxury hotels, shopping malls and sophisticated economic and industrial parks. It is a rapidly-developing city with a population of over six million. Its 11 districts and two counties span over 6,597 sq km.
Weather
Nanjing has a temperate climate, with distinct seasons. December/January are the coldest months, with temperatures dropping to –1° C (–28° F), with snow. June/July are the hottest months, with temperatures averaging 33° C (91° F). There is plenty of rainfall throughout the year.
Language
Mandarin. English is used at major corporations and places of interest.
Time Difference
GMT +8
Visa
There are three types of visas for foreigners who are residing in China for a period of time.
- ‘Z’ (Vocational) Visa This visa is for foreigners employed by independent investment joint ventures, or foreign investment enterprises. Their spouse and dependents will also enter the country on this visa.
- ‘X’ (Study) Visa This visa is for foreign students entering the country for studies. Within 30 days of arrival, students must visit the Exit and Entry Administration of the Nanjing Municipal Public Security Bureau to process their resident applications.
- ‘J-1’ (Journalist) Visa This visa is for resident correspondents/journalists based in China. Within 30 days of arrival, they must visit the Exit and Entry Administration of the Nanjing Municipal Public Security Bureau to process their resident applications.
Within 30 days of arrival, all family members must visit the Exit and Entry Administration of the Nanjing Municipal Public Security Bureau to process their resident applications.
For more information, please visit the Nanjing Foreign Investment and Nanjing Municipal Public Security Bureau website at http://english.njfiw.gov.cn, or consult the embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
China uses the Renminbi (RMB), which comes in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Credit cards are widely accepted at bigger establishments.
| 100 RMB = | approxi. 6.54 UK £ |
| = | approxi. 13.30 USD |
| = | approxi. 9.38 Euro |
| = | approxi. 19.51 Singapore $ |
Shopping
Nanjing is a fun place for shopping. It is known for its cloud brocade, paper-cuts and ‘ancient’ ivory carvings, which make great mementoes. From shopping centres specialising in foreign labels to malls selling local products, and streetside stalls hawking interesting keepsakes, residents and visitors alike will enjoy the diverse shopping experiences in Nanjing.
Nanjing’s famous shopping areas include:
- Golden Eagle International Shopping Centre: A huge luxury-brand shopping centre in the Xinjiekou area, it specialises in jewellery, apparel for men and women, and electrical and electronic goods.
- Deji Plaza is Nanjing’s latest trendy mall. Several international mid to high range brands including Versace, FCUK, Escada, popular athletic wear labels, trendy home furnishings can be found here. There is also a movie theater and arcade on the top floor
- Xinjiekou Department Store: It ranks among the 10 most famous department stores in China, and has over 50,000 commodities on sale.
- Confucius Temple shopping street: Consisting of five markets, this traditional shopping area sells everything from antiques and ancient calligraphic works to flowers, birds, handicrafts and snacks; there are specialty shops within the markets.
- Hunan Road, and downtown: With some 153 shops including five malls and 25 brand boutiques, this is one of the most well-known and busiest shopping streets in Nanjing.
Tipping is not commonly practised in China. Most hotels automatically add a 15 per cent service charge to the total bill.
Business Hours
- Banks and government offices: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00 pm
- Offices: Monday to Friday, 8.50am to 5.00pm
- Shops (hours may vary): Generally open from 10.00am to 9.00pm every day
Traditional Nanjing cuisine is also known as Huaiyang cuisine. It is notable for the emphasis placed on original flavours, and carefully selected raw ingredients. Nanjing dishes are, by tradition, colourful, and use only a moderate amount of seasoning, but a significant quantity of oil.
Huaiyang specialties include Jinling roast duck, steamed duck cutlets, salted duck, Longchi carp and ‘eight delicacies soup’ with ingredients such as fish, water chestnut, lotus root and various types of vegetables. Several restaurants around Confucius Temple serve traditional Huaiyang cuisine.
Nanjing 1912, the main entertainment district in Nanjing, is a colourful kaleidoscope of restaurants, wine bars and entertainment spots, that is popular with the young and trendy. Opened in 2004, Nanjing 1912 is often likened to Xin Tian Di in Shanghai, where one can easily find a variety of traditional restaurants, modern cafes and international restaurants serving a variety of Western, Korean and Japanese cuisine.
Telephone Network
The three biggest mobile telephone service providers are China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.
Health
Nanjing has a sound medical care and public healthcare system. Over 10 general and specialised hospitals can provide medical services to expatriates, including Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanjing Gulou Hospital, Jiangsu Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Jiangsu Oral Hospital, Nanjing Oral Hospital, Nanjing Brain Hospital and Nanjing Ophthalmology Hospital. Foreign-operated medical service providers such as the SOS International also have a presence in Nanjing.
Electricity
220V AC
Public Holiday
New Year’s Day (one day), Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (three days), Labour Day (three days), National Day (three days)
