One of the four ancient capitals of China, Nanjing is a cultural center with a 2,500-year history of attracting intellectuals from all over the country. In the Tang and Song dynasties, Nanjing was known as a place where poets gathered for inspiration; during the Ming and Qing dynasties the city was the imperial examination center for the Jiangnan region. This scholarly past has left a rich cultural heritage, with historical sites and ancient relics now sympathetically complemented by the modern and developing city around them.