The Qinhuai River has flowed through Nanjing since its founding. Over the years, the area alongside the river has become the city's busiest and oldest neighbourhood. Taking a boat tour, especially at night, is the best way to appreciate the beauty of this historic city. Here, you can sample a variety of authentic street food and find unique souvenirs.

From the 13th to the 15th century, Bruges was the most important trading centre in North-West Europe. Spanish merchants settled along the Spaanse Loskaai (Spanish Quay) and in the Spanjaardstraat. The Germans or Easterners — ‘oosterlingen’ in Dutch — took up residence in the Oosterlingenplein. In this old Hansa Quarter you can admire the mansions of the wealthy international merchants and the great trading nations of the day. You can almost still smell the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

The Yuejiang Tower in Nanjing boasts a unique history, having achieved fame centuries before its actual construction. In 1374, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty envisioned a tower by the Yangtze River, naming it Yuejiang (literally meaning "overlooking the river"). He commissioned authors across the country to write articles praising the magnificent tower, even though it was not yet built. One of these articles became a classic, but the tower's construction was not started until 2000. The reputation of the Yuejiang Tower preceded its actual existence by 650 years.