Nanjing is one of the seven ancient capital of China. Currently, it is the second most important city (after Shanghai) in eastern China. Its GDP per capita was ¥27128 (ca. US$3280) in 2003, ranked no. 31 among 659 Chinese cities.

History

Kingdom Chu established Jinling (金陵) in this area in 333 BC.

The city has experienced numerous destructions and reconstructions.

At least three subsequent cities were constructed: Jiankang (建康) of 229 AD (it met total annihilation at 589 AD and became farmland thereafter), a later Jinling built in 914, and the early Ming capital Nanjing (南京) constructed in 1366.

Nanjing was also capital of the Taiping rebellion in the mid-19th century.

After the Northern Expedition in 1928, the Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-Shek established Nanjing as the capital of China in opposition to a government in Beijing led by northern warlords and a alternate government in Wuhan led by Wang Jingwei. After the completion of the Northern Expedition in 1931, Chiang's government became the only recognized Chinese government.

The city fell to the Japanese in 1937 who massacred prisoners-of-war, refugees and its residents during the Battle of Nanjing (see Nanjing Massacre). Chiang moved his government to Chongqing City, and the Japanese established Nanjing as a puppet government under Wang Jingwei. After the end of World War II, Nanjing was reestablished as the capital of the Republic of China. In 1949, after the defeat of Chiang's forces on the Mainland, the capital of the People's Republic of China was established in Beijing. The Republic of China on Taiwan continues to recognize Nanjing as its "official" capital, while Taipei is deemed as only "temporary."

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