Nanjing is also a city for higher learning where it houses the famous Nanjing University amongst other institutes. This region has been populated for more than 5,000 years but not much have been preserved from that time. Only the seven storey rust-coloured pagoda on Niutou Mountain 12 km south of Nanjing has been preserved from the Tang period.

The Sun Yatsen Mausoleum, was built in 1925 after the death of the founder of the Republic. The complex covers an area of 20 acres. The body of Dr Sun Yatsen was moved here in1929. An avenue lined with beautiful plane trees, has 392 granite steps that lead to the white memorial hall, its roof covered with blue ceramic tiles. The vault is slightly below the memorial hall with various inscriptions on the walls reflect the political heritage of Sun Yatsen. An inscription in Chinese says : "The world belongs to all".

Xinjiekou Square is in the centre of the city where several main roads converge. The largest and most modern hotel in Nanjing, the 36 storey Jingling Hotel is on the square. To the south-west of the hotel is Lake Mochou, named after the Lady Without Sorrows who is said to have lived here in the 5th century. Near Lake Mochou is the Chaotian Palace, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty and is considered the best preserved Confusian temple. Some 12 km north of the city rises Swallow’s Rock, which when viewed towards the Yangzi river resembles a flying swallow, hence its name. In the north east of Nanjing are tombs of rulers and noblemen from the time of the Three Kingdoms and the Southern dynasties. The more than 3 metres high beautifully hewn stone sculptures of animals and mythical figures, which line the paths between the tombs are particularly impressive.

Yangzhou which is 80 km north-west of Nanjing flourished between the 10^th and 14^th centuries. In Yangzhou, there are several very beautiful parks and pavilions as well as Islamic tombs from the Song period at the eastern canal bank. Yangzhou is famous today for its excellent craft works, including lacquer objects, jade carvings, papercuts and embroidery.