Exploring Nanjing: The unseen part of China's ancient capital

From the city's ancient wall, grand monuments, mausoleums and temples, Nanjing has the country's most famous landmarks. But they are not the only reasons why the old capital is considered magical. There are a lot of hidden places needed to be explored to see the city's different side.

At first glance with its peeling paint and shuttered windows, Pukou Railway Station on the north side of the river that divides Nanjing, is an unlikely tourist destination. According to Kt82 Shared Document, during 1914, it was a transportation hub of North and South China and a hotly contested spot  until a rail and road bridge was built across the Yangtze River in 1968.

But as of the present time, it lies largely abandoned in a ramshackle suburban neighborhood. The building, which must have been striking before attracts a small but steady stream of visitors wanting to capture the ancient era.

The Yangtze Hotel, built with bricks from the city's 600-year old wall was also a hidden attraction in the country. China's "other Great Wall" wasn't always as well protected and once held more of the city, as reported by MMC News.

The 600-year old bricks are recognized by their blue-black color, large size and unusual inscriptions, which make surprise appearances in many of the city's older buildings. But, before and after the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, the wall was robbed as a high-quality material. A Chinese architect Zhou Qi has worked to preserve the former guesthouse, which from the 1950s until 2012 contained municipal offices. The renovation is almost done and it is set to open next year for guests.

Every capital city needs a site where the youngsters would gather around and set trends. In Nanjing, many hope that it will be the 1865 Creative Park, where the machinery factories and the military arsenal have been turned into an art zone and business hub.

It has quite a similar vibe as the 798 Art Zone in Beijing. According to CNN, today the place contains the world-class galleries, loft-style apartments and trendy bookstores, as the park opened in 2013. The renovated buildings have managed to preserve of city's industrial character, with double-height windows, brick walls and exposed metal beam. The district is also located on the south side of the Qinhuai River, where a riverbank park gives great views of the city wall.

In the meantime, locals claim that the city's unseen ancient greatness has not yet been exposed to the whole world. They claim that it still needs time as well as efforts for the previously well-known places to be renewed and be recognized by tourists and even other residents once again.