Six Dynasties Museum

Capital of the six dynasties, Nanjing was the first city in the world to amass a population of more than one million. This era is celebrated with the Nanjing Six Dynasties Museum, in which visitors can see over 1,200 artifacts, including porcelain, pottery, epigraphs, stone inscriptions, calligraphy and paintings and even a section of the city wall. Constructed on the ruins of Jiankang Castle (a drainage facility from the original site forms another exhibit), the building is an attraction in itself, being designed by Pei Partnership Architects, founded by Chien Chung Pei and Li Chung Pei, sons of I.M. Pei. The Six Dynasties refers to the ancient Wu, Jin, Song, Qi, Liang and Chen dynasties from the early 3rd century to end 6th century, a period that saw great interaction of nationalities and ethos plus a growing prosperity of traditional culture.