The Finer China
Text and Photos: Naziba Basher
In November of 2015, with 18 other journalists from different countries, I travelled to China to report on The One Belt, One Road Initiative. The moment I heard China, I thought of Beijing and Shanghai, and remembered everything everyone has ever told me about China- 'so much pollution, too many people, this and that'. With all of that taken into consideration, I was quite apprehensive about my stay over there. I was then told I was travelling to Jiangsu Province. No one here knew much about this province, so everyone would stick the same advice they'd have for me regarding Beijing and Shanghai. Little did we know, this face of China's was a whole different story.
From Dhaka, I flew to Hong Kong and from there directly to my first stop in Jiangsu, China- Nanjing city.
The city has its own airport, the Lukou International Airport, located in the southeast of Nanjing, 35 kilometers from the downtown of the city. When I got off the plane, collected my luggage and stepped out onto the roads of the city, the atmosphere and air alone calmed my nerves. It was a greeting I wouldn't forget- orange and red trees lined neatly on the sides of the roads, clean streets, fresh, albeit chilly, air filling my lungs, organised architecture, and a background view of mountains and blue waters to die for- everything welcomed me humbly.
This gorgeous city is located in the center of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, 347 kilometers from the mouth of the river. It is the capital city of Jiangsu Province, with jurisdiction over 11 districts. It is a very famous historical and cultural city, whose construction began nearly 2,500 years ago. The city was the country's capital under various dynasties for more than 450 years.
Nanjing is a gateway city of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. As one of China's first cities to open up to the outside world, Nanjing's service trade and foreign investment still continue to grow, both ranking first in Jiangsu Province. Nanjing city plays a vital role in China's One Belt, One Road Initiative set forward by President Xi Jinping, mainly because the number of financial institutions and the value of their assets gives Nanjing a leading position in second tier cities around the country. Their urban forest ecosystem includes water sources, mountains, the city, and forests, making Nanjing not only comfortable to visit, but also almost perfect to live in.
The port of Nanjing is one of China's 25 major coastal hub ports and a first-class national port to international regions and nations. It is devoted to the development of container, bulk, cargo, petroleum oil and liquid chemical business on the port in addition to the extended operation of shipping logistics, port machinery manufacturing and engineering construction.
Nanjing is the ultimate cultural, industrial and innovation hub. Large-scale enterprises such as the Sanpower group, in the information and modern services industry, are thriving there, bringing utmost improvement to sectors such as financial investments, commerce and trade circulation, information services, healthcare, and real estate development. The Suning Commerce Group Ltd is also an industrial giant, which has built a network of brick-and-mortar stores across 600 cities at home and abroad and e-commerce platform in its 25 years of development.
Their history and culture is very evident in the very surroundings. The Zheng He Treasure Ship Heritage park is ode to China's famous explorer Zheng He, whose voyages began in 1405. Over the span of 28 years, Zheng He and his fleet of 27,800 crewmen made 7 voyages to the West, to nearly 40 countries and regions. In August 2003, with approval from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the archeological team of Nanjing Museum began excavation of six sites of shipyard ruins, after which more than 2000 relics were unearthed, including two giant rudderstocks. In 2006, the State Council approved that the site be listed a state-level historical relic protection site.
With culture and business intermingling harmoniously, Nanjing also kept up to par their education. The Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunication is among the first academic members of the International Telecommunication Union, and its chemical sciences, material sciences and engineering departments rank among the top 1 percent internationally. Nanjing also has well instituted compulsory primary education system; a high percent of school-age children is enrolled in schools. The secondary schools including high schools achieves significant graduate rate.
Nanjing is also widely known as China's 'greenest city' – and for good reason. It is endowed with rich natural resources, and also possesses abundant water resources, both from the Yangtze River and groundwater. In addition, it has several natural hot springs such as Tangshan Hot Spring in Jiangning and Tangquan Hot Spring in Pukou. Surrounded by the Yangtze River and mountains, Nanjing also enjoys beautiful natural scenery. Natural lakes such as Xuanwu and Mochou Lake are located in the centre of the city and are easily accessible to the public, while hills like Purple Mountain are covered with evergreens and oaks.
With such beauty, serenity, and the potential to be a global leading city, Nanjing leaves no reason for one forget it when speaking of China. It's the perfect hub for industrialists, nature-lovers, and culture-geeks – all at once!
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