With China’s big leadership changeover now complete, hubs across this “Dragon Nation” are closely examining their spokes.

Take Nanjing (“Ning,” for short), the capital of Jiangsu Province, which Forbes magazine recently rated one of the top 10 business cities in China.

Nanjing is surrounded by a range of peaks with names like Stone Mountain, Zhong Mountain and the evergreen-laden Mount Zijin (Purple Mountain) and sprawls amid the calm waters of Lake Xuanwu and Lake Mochou. Each of these natural wonders holds its own mysteries and legends that have intrigued emperors and philosophers for centuries. After all, it’s said Lake Mochou was named after a talented dancer-singer named Mo Chou, who traveled a great distance to marry there.

It’s no surprise location matters.

It helps that Nanjing lies between the two juggernauts of Beijing and Shanghai. Both cities are reachable by speedy bullet train and by air. They say the Shanghai–Nanjing rail stretch is the busiest railway in the world, as high-speed trains routinely depart every 15 minutes and complete the 200-mile journey in just under two hours.

The burgeoning metropolis of 8 million residents holds a staggering pedigree of rich history. The former capital of six dynasties and the Republic of China in the early 20th century lies strategically inland, sheltered from the east coast as it straddles the Lower Yangtze River by the booming Yangtze River Delta.

Nanjing city center © Wangkun Jia | Dreamstime.com

Nanjing, whose name translates as “southern capital,” is a vital center for production and commercial exchange. Its position is brilliant, as this city center easily feeds the nation’s economy through its vast tentacles — a head-scratching transportation network coupled by a high-tech infrastructure that seems to be forever expanding.

With an area spanning 2,500 square miles, Nanjing provides a vital link to the rest of the country. The capital serves as an international urban center, second to Shanghai in importance in the Yangtze River Delta region. To boot, the economic prowess of the province is now considered to be a major force second only to Guangdong.

Shipping remains vital here. Known as the largest inland port in Asia with a total handling capacity of more than 60 million tons annually, the Nanjing Port is linked with 160 ports in 76 countries and regions. Eastward from Nanjing, the Yangtze River, which can accommodate ocean-going vessels of 50,000 tons, is ideal for cargo shipments.

Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge © Wangkun Jia | Dreamstime.com

An intricate transportation network allows for rapid transfer of products and people. The railway system in Nanjing remains a leading spoke with the fast Beijing–Shanghai express train and two other national lines, Nanjing–Wuhu and Lianyungang–Urumqi. Bridge construction also plays a key role across the province. The Jiangyin Yangtze River Highway Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in China when it first opened in 1999 and remains the third-largest in China. The 1960s saw the construction of a completely Chinese-made double-deck railway and highway bridge known as the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, which still proudly symbolizes Chinese ingenuity.

The rapid urban growth led to an airport expansion of the main gateway, Nanjing Lukou International Airport, with the construction of a second passenger terminal to be completed later in 2013. Currently, the airport serves 12 million passengers annually, but growth is forecast to reach 30 million by 2020.

Statistics compiled by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council indicate Nanjing’s economy, the third largest in Jiangsu province, grew by 13.1 percent year over year from 2009 to 2010. Growth continued into 2011, increasing by 12 percent to CNY 614 billion (USD 98.6 billion) according to the China Jiangsu website, a communication portal operated by Jiangsu Zhongjiang Network Media Co., Ltd.

As a leading industrial hub in China for manufacturing and exports, Nanjing is blessed with a rich human resource economy attracting the biggest brains globally; the city boasts 40-plus universities, including the 26-year-old Hopkins-Nanjing Centre. Today, more than 2 million people living in Nanjing hold post-secondary degrees, which accounts for 26 percent of the total population.

Since 1978, government reforms helped make Jiangsu Province a hotbed for economic development. Insiders attribute the success to several sectors: industry, education and tourism. Five major industries lead the boom — petrochemical, information technology, automotive, iron and steel, and power — with a 2010 reported sales revenue of CNY 500 billion ((USD 80 billion).

In November 2011 alone, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade reported that among Jiangsu’s foreign exports, 51 percent were electronic products, 31 percent high-tech and 9 percent textiles.

One of the country’s first IT pioneers, Nanjing is home to more than 800 software companies, including multinationals like Motorola, Microsoft and Siemens. Telecommunications is front and center, with Jiangsu Province possessing the second-largest telecommunications development in China. The entire province is hard-wired with the installation of fiber-optic cable and digital microwave transmission. Insiders claim mobile telephone signals can reach the whole province and roam across the vast country.

Thanks to government stimulus, two new national software hubs, known as the Nanjing Software Park and the Jiangsu Software Park, are fueling innovation among many other development projects. Dubbed the “IT and Microelectronics Industries Base” of Jiangsu Province, the Nanjing Jiangning Economic Technological Development Zone is aptly situated on the city’s outskirts minutes from the airport, connecting to hospitals, universities and luxury hotels via an intricate subway system. To date, more than 1,800 projects from 42 countries have been created with 36 of the world’s 500 strongest corporations based here.

Other new urban development projects include the Jiangsu Art Museum, which opened during the inaugural Nanjing Biennale in 2010. This international debut helped introduce the growing local art scene to a global audience. Its theme was “And Write” and drew critical acclaim.

Unlike Beijing’s mega-spend on the 2008 Summer Olympics, Nanjing, which will host the 2014 Youth Olympics, has taken a spendthrift approach, repurposing old buildings, recycling equipment from Singapore (the last Youth Olympics host city) and erecting fewer new builds. However, Zaha Hadid, the starchitect behind Scotland’s Riverside Museum and the London Aquatic Centre, is designing the event’s flagship building, the Nanjing Youth Olympic Centre, in the city’s southwest end known as Hexi New Town, revered as Nanjing’s new Central Business District.

NANJING: JUST THE FACTS

Time Zone: GMT +8
Phone Code: Country code: 86 City code: 25
Currency: Chinese yuan (Chinese yuan renminbi)
Entry/Exit Requirements: U.S. citizens must have a passport valid for at least six months, with at least one blank page, and acquire a visa before entry through specialized travel agencies or the nearest Chinese consulate.
Official Language: Mandarin; English is more widely spoken.
Key Industries: Electronic, automotive, steel, electrical, chemical

Checking in with Francis Yuk

Chief Representative in Asia for the International Apparel Federation

WHAT DOES NANJING OFFER BUSINESS TRAVELERS?
China is among the top spots for world travelers, both for business and sightseeing. Nanjing is geographically located in the central east of China, about a two-hour flight from Hong Kong and one hour from Shanghai by speed train. Nanjing is also one of the key commercial and trading centers in China; as one of the country’s designated business centers, it offers professional translating services, Western hotels, excellent food and wonderful people. This year, Nanjing will host the 29th IAF World Apparel Convention, Sept. 23–29.

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND VISITORS SEE AND DO IN NANJING?
There is culture to experience and much to see in Nanjing. The best time to visit is autumn, which falls between September and November; it is quite hot in summer. There are many historic sites in Nanjing such as the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who was the founder of modern China, and the 60-foot-high Ming City Wall, built in the 1360s. Nanjing was the capital of China for six different dynasties in the ancient days. In those old days, if one captured Nanjing, one owned China.

WHAT ARE TWO THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT THE CITY?
The two best things I like about Nanjing are the mixture of ancient history and modern China, and shopping. One can experience the cultural changes of China within one city. On the other hand, one can also find gifts and souvenirs with good value and price.

HOW HAS NANJING CHANGED IN THE TIME YOU HAVE KNOWN IT?
I lived in remote villages in Jiangsu Province in the early 1950s. In those days, to reach Nanjing from my village was a really big thing. It took more than 10 hours to commute to Nanjing, by bicycle, then by cart pulled along by cows in farm lanes, then by slow-moving old buses and then by a slow train. Back then, there were no high-rise buildings, no TV, no modern hotels; public transportation was a rare thing. Nowadays, Nanjing is reachable by airplane, high-speed bullet train and motorways. It is one of the most modern cities in China and Asia.

Restaurants in Nanjing

Crowne Plaza Nanjing Hotel & Suites This 58-story high-rise smack in the Xinjiekou business and entertainment hub serves as a great launch pad for city sightseeing and meetings. 89 Hanzhong Road $$$

Grand Metropark Hotel Nanjing Located next to the spectacular Nanjing Museum, this 561-room property is also adjacent to an expressway and a subway, making commutes faster than at downtown accommodations. 319 E. Zhongshan Road $$$

InterContinental Nanjing Stunning panoramas from the city’s tallest landmark make this luxury property a favorite perch for skyline viewing, plus the 5-star service makes it easy for guests to unwind. 1 Zhong Yang Road $$$$

Where to Stay in Nanjing

Finnegan’s Wake Irish Pub Hungry hamburger seekers and those craving typical Irish pub food head to this laid-back landmark for Western specialities. South Zhongshan Road No. 400 Cinnalane $$

Plum Garden One of China’s most acclaimed restaurants specializes in Jinling cuisine, big on duck with an excellent array of other Huaiyang dishes as well as additional local cuisines. Jinling Hotel, Xin Jie Kou Square $$$$

Summit Restaurant Dine on the finest local Huaiyang cuisine amid jaw-dropping views of lakes and mountains. No wonder Jiangsu Province’s highest Chinese eatery continues to inspire awe. InterContinental Nanjing, 1 Zhong Yang Road, Gulou District $$$$

INFO TO GO

Located 19 miles south of Nanjing, the newly expanded Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) offers various transfers to downtown. Hotel shuttles charge an average $5 fare per person. Two public bus lines (about $3) depart every 20 minutes from the airport. Line One buses operate from the first plane arrival of the day to the last. Airport taxis are available 24 hours a day at the first floor of the arrivals terminal; fare is $15–21 depending on downtown destination.

Things to Do in Nanjing

Head to Nanjing’s version of The Great Wall, the Ming City Wall — one of the only ancient city walls in China still standing — then scour around the Ming City Gates. Be amazed by the artistry of what many believe is the longest city wall ever built.

Prepare to immerse in Nanjing’s natural scenic wonders as you head to the Zhongshan Hill Scenic Area at Zhongshan Mountain National Park. From this perch, the blossoms of Plum Blossom Hill tugged at the locals’ heartstrings as early as the first dynasties.

The sacrificial hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum © Jinfeng Zhang | Dreamstime.com

Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum is the final resting place of the man revered as the “Father of Modern China” and attracts throngs of visitors. The journey is as spectacular as the award-winning architecture. Climbing the floating steps to reach this national treasure is an otherworldly experience.

Drop by the Ming Tomb located at the base of Purple Mountain. Revered as one of the largest imperial tombs in China, this breathtaking site will not disappoint. Stone statues depicting lions, camels, horses and even elephants pay their respects.

At the Confucius Temple overlooking the Qinhua River, this restored relic harkens to the late Qing Dynasty and is surrounded by a lively street market brightly lit at night.

Overlooking the Yangtze River, the Yuejiang Tower — styled in glazed tiles, red columns and flying phoenixes — has a fabulous view. Visitors spend hours checking out the 30-plus historical sites like the ancient Wanxian Pavilion.

The city has plenty of specialties, among them delicate brocade. Stop by the Nanjing Museum of Cloud Brocade, a living museum showcasing the exquisite artistry of yunjin cloud brocade, first created in 1300. Brocade samples created by on-site artisans are available for sale in the museum shop.

The Nanjing Museum displays an astounding collection of 400,000 items depicting early rural life, including precious artifacts from the many imperial dynasties that once ruled from this hub.