Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, as one of the nation’s seven ancient capital cities.

Located in the lower Yangtze River drainage basin and Yangtze River Delta economic zone, Nanjing has long been one of China's important cities. It is recognized as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. It was the capital of Wu during the Three Kingdoms Period and the capital of the Republic of China prior to the Chinese Civil War.

Nanjing is also one of fifteen sub-provincial cities in the People's Republic of China's administrative structure, which enjoy special jurisdictional and economic autonomy.