Nanjing-an ancient city rising in transitional China

• Nanjing has been the capital city of six different dynasties, and is the provincial capital of Jiangsu, China.
• Historic, political, and location endowments have propelled Nanjing into one of the sub-centers of the Yangtze River Delta.
• Nanjing is undergoing a profound restructuring of its economic and, more importantly, its physical form and appearance.
• Nanjing has undergone spatial planning and regional cooperation to enhance its competitive strength.
• The future development of Nanjing is discussed as well.

Nanjing, the capital city of six different dynasties in history, is the provincial capital of Jiangsu Province, China. Historic, political and locational endowments have already propelled Nanjing into becoming one of the sub-centers of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), China's emerging global city region. This City Profile summarizes the historical development of Nanjing from the Wu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms Period to 1978, as well as the contemporary development in the last three decades. Striving to become a stronger regional center, Nanjing is undergoing a profound restructuring of its economic and, more importantly, its physical form and appearance. To face the challenges, Nanjing has undergone spatial planning to enhance its competitive strength. We outline the historical development (including the ancient, old, and modern periods), current urban and economic development, spatial planning, regional cooperation, and future development.