Nanking

Nanking, officially KIANGNING, capital of Kiangsu, till the 15th century the capital of China, on the Yangtze River, 130 miles from its mouth. From 1853 to 1864 it was the capital of the Taipings (q.v.), and it has never recovered from the desolation then caused; memorable buildings destroyed were the Porcelain Tower (see CHINA, p. 186; also PAGODA, p. 694), the summer palace, and the tombs of the kings. The walls were 30 miles around, in places 70 feet high. There is here an arsenal on the European model. In 1842 Nanking was captured by the British and a treaty signed. By the treaty of Tientsin (1858) it was nominally opened to foreign trade. Pop. 150,000.