Once the capital of all of China, Nanjing is a capital rich in history. From the Nanjing massacre to the Treaty of Nanjing, and the military fighting Japan in Word War II, the history of Nanjing is an interesting history indeed.

Nanjing, also spelled Nan-ching or Nanking, is the capital of China’s Jiangsu province. It was the standing as capital of all of China during several different periods in history. Nanjing translates to “Southern Capital” and is listed as one of China’s four great ancient capitals throughout history. Nanjing served as the capital of China before the China Civil War.

Nanjing’s history is traced back through the millennia because it was one of the first areas of China to be developed. Its history begins as the Yue conquer the Wu, and the Chu conquer the Yue, establishing in history what is present day Nanjing China. Since then its history has seen the China capital destroyed and rebuilt time and again.

The treaty of Nanjing was enacted in 1842 and was an unequal treaty marking the end of the historical Opium war between British and China forces. The treaty of Nanjing was signed aboard a British war ship docked in a Nanjing harbor.

Nanjing played a pivotal role in history during WWII. The year of 1937 was a tumultuous time in its history. In 1937 Nanjing was invaded by Japanese forces, which overtook the military protecting the then capital of the Republic of China. The Japanese troops annihilated the military and civilians in what came to be known as the “Nanjing massacre.” It was a short but horrible time in history. Though the exact death toll of the massacre was never confirmed, the military tribunal and war crimes tribunal charged with investigating the Nanjing massacre put the death toll upwards of 300,000 in Nanjing alone. The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall was constructed after the 1937 massacre in remembrance of this horrible time in history where so many military and civilians were killed.