Next stop, Nanjing(2)
Fu Zi Miao Market at 28 Dashiba Jie is a wholesale centre where you can get anything ranging from socks to electronic toys. Don't worry, you don't have to buy in bulk; Hunan Lu is another good district to browse through stores selling clothes and souvenirs.
For a night out in style, head over to the 1912 nightlife district, a cluster of upscale restaurants, cafes, tea houses and bars. The development was named after the year Dr Sun Yat-Sen overthrew the last dynasty of China and established Nanjing as capital of the newly formed Republic Of China.
Today, it is more about the consumer revolution than anything remotely political. For the trendy seeking to wine and dine, this is the place to see and be seen.
While air pollution is still a problem in Chinese cities, the good thing is that you don't have to travel very far for some fresh air and greenery in scenic Nanjing.
Seek respite in The Purple Mountain (Zi Jin Shan), just a 15-minute cab ride from the city centre. Its peaks are often found shrouded in purplish and golden mists in the early morning and evening. Attractions include the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum, the Ming Xiao Ling Tomb, Ling Gu Temple and the Purple Mountain Observatory. It will probably take a full day to see them all, and it's best to avoid coming here during weekends and public holidays if you want to avoid crowds.
About 30 to 40 minutes away from the city is the Qi Xia Mountain. Its beautiful scenery is the perfect backdrop for trekking - a paved trek up the mountain is built around a network of Chinese pavilions, lotus ponds and natural stone formations. In autumn, the maple trees shed their leaves and give the mountain a magical copper hue.
And as you take in the view, that's when you realise that it's just as well Nanjing isn't like Beijing or Shanghai. Its wonderful mix of old and new, city and nature, is just perfect the way it is.
Getting there
China Eastern Airlines flies three times a week to Nanjing.
Where to stay
The Nanjing Holiday Inn, or Holiday Inn Aqua City, is affordable and has good service and location. Rates start from just under S$110. The Intercontinental Hotel offers views of Xuan Wu Lake from certain rooms; rates start around S$170.
Where to eat
Chow on local snacks (or xiao chi) such as fried spring onion pancakes, shredded bean curd sheets and dumplings at Gong Yuan Street in the Confucius Temple area. Hu Nan Street is lined with stalls and small restaurants specialising in local delicacies. There's a range of international restaurants in Nanjing. Try Skyways Bakery for sandwiches and freshly made bread, Meeting Point for cosy osteria-style Italian food, and Himalaya for a hearty blend of Nepalese and Indian food.
