Why is Nanjing more like the capital city of Anhui?

Because of the influence of history, culture and geographical location, Nanjing is more like the capital city of Anhui. Nanjing was once the capital of Anhui in history. During the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing was the capital of Nanzhili, which was composed of eighteen provinces. Now Anhui and Shanghai in Jiangsu belong to Nanzhili. In the Qing Dynasty, Nanzhili was changed to jiangnan province, and its jurisdiction was basically the same as that of the Ming Dynasty. Nanjing has always been the political, economic and cultural center of jiangnan province. Anhui and Jiangsu have always belonged to the same province and have been closely related for nearly 700 years, so Nanjing has always had a great influence on Anhui Province.

Nanjing, as the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties and the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Wuhu, Zhenjiang, Maanshan and other cities around Nanjing were all influenced by Nanjing Mandarin. Anhui is located in the Jianghuai area, and the local popular language is Jianghuai Mandarin, so Nanjing and Anhui are homophonic. Then the diets in Nanjing and southeast Anhui are very similar. Nanjing cuisine, as a kind of Jiangsu cuisine, spread to Jiujiang, Jiangxi due to historical influence.

Geographically speaking, Nanjing is located in the southwest of Jiangsu, closer to Anhui, and Nanjing is surrounded by three cities in Anhui, so Nanjing is more like a city in central Anhui. Although Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu, the nearest prefecture-level city is in Anhui, and the distance from Maanshan in Anhui to Nanjing is about 50 kilometers.

Nanjing and Anhui are very close, and the traffic between them is very convenient. The Beijing-Shanghai line, as an important traffic line connecting the north and south of China, connects Nanjing and the cities in the northeast of Anhui. As an important waterway connecting the eastern and western parts of China, the Yangtze River waterway also connects Nanjing with cities in southern Anhui. It can be said that Nanjing has served as a transportation hub connecting most cities in Anhui. Generally speaking, Nanjing and Anhui have a special emotional connection with each other because of their historical experience and cultural blending. Coupled with the influence of geographical location and economy, Nanjing is more like the capital city of Anhui.