Local Customs and Practices

The old saying goes “All fortunes come from the Southeast and gather at a place called Jinling.” As a capital of ten dynasties, Nanjing is the best in the Southeast with integration of urban grandness, deep culture, elegance and heroism.

Spring Nanjing International Plum Blossom Festival

There is a long history of cultivating and enjoying plum blossom in Nanjing, particularly on Meihua Hill, one of the four national plum blossom scenic spots, which is located in Zhongshan Hill Scenic Area. Now, we also can enjoy the scene at Fujiabian, Pearl Spring, and Gulin Park. It starts from late February to middle March annually, and holds various serial activities and economic and trade exchanges. It is also listed as one of the annual serial tour festivals by National Tour Bureau.

Jinling Lantern Show

Started in the Six Dynasties, it was made prosperous later. Nowadays, the show is held in the Confucius Temple area, starts from Chinese New Year, lasts one month. Particularly buring Yuanxiao Festival(middle January), the lanterns glister along Qinhuai River, people gather here to enjoy the happiness and serenity.

Summer Jiangxinzhou Islet Grape Festival

The large vineyard bears rich fruits on the islet, visitors can enjoy the view of Yangtze River and the natural oxygen bar, experience the rustic charm of picking grapes. It is a summer resort and a grand recreational occasion, also a new agricultural tour spot of the city.

Winter Tolling The Bell to Greet New Year

Qixia Temple is one of the famous Buddhist shrines of our country. People like to toll the bell to greet New Year on December 31 every year. The annual activity combines tourism, religion and folk culture together, makes it solemn and alacrity.

World History and Culture Cities Expo, Nanjing, China

April 30 to May 6 in 2004, the expo was grand opened in Nanjing. 21 domestic and abroad mayors, celebrities were invited. There were various thematic activities and carnival cruises. This expo was planed to be held once two years, and became a window for the exchanges among the international historical cities.

The Symbol of the city

Bixie is the most representative symbol of Nanjing.The celestial stone animals in front of emperors’ tomb are called Bixie, means counteract evil force, symbolizes the position and the personality of the city which is simple and honest.

Cedar is the city tree of Nanjing.

Nanjing has long history of cultivating cedar trees. It integrates with the city wall, and fully displays the characteristics of Nanjing residents. In 1982, the Second Meeting of the Eighth People’s Conference of Nanjing took cedar tree as the city tree.

The Flower of the city

The Plum Blossom is the city flower of Nanjing.
　Plum flower blooms annually in the earliest season, confronts frost and snow, always symbolizes elegant style, strong will, and noble thoughts. In 1982, the Second Meeting of the Eighth People’s Conference of Nanjing took plum Blossom as the city flower.

About YunJin

There is a long history of 700 years to specially produce the dragon robe and phoenix garment during the development of Nanjing Yunjing. Its Zhuanghua hand-weaving technology with wooden-looms represents the top level of brocade weaving in China.

During the thousands of years of its development, Yunjin absorbed and also upgraded the traditional public culture and national culture of China. It was solely used for rnaking dragon robes and phoenix garment for royal families , so the hand-weaving technology of Yunjin also reflects the developing level of science and technology in feudal dynasties . As a result , Yunjin features rich patterns , big flowers , beautiful shapes, gorgeous and unrestrained colors, particularly the application of gold and silver threads , free color-matching and changeable tints. The hand weaving technology was based on best materials available and top level of skill with no regard to costs, thus pushing the color-matching technology and weaving technology of colored woven brocade of China to a new level of development. The emperors , empresses , royal household and palace provided a world of cultural space for the developrnent of Nanjing Yunjin hand-weaving technology of wooden-looms Zhuanghua, which is the only legacy that epitomizes the achievement of Yunjin weaving under a given situation.

In 2009, Nanjing Yunjin was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

More about Nanjing：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing