As the capital city of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing (formerly known in the West as Nanking) is the political, economic, and cultural center. It is one of the ancient capitals and an outstanding tourist city. Nanjing was made the capital of ten feudal dynasties in China. It is a wealthy, prosperous city, benefiting both from its proximity to Shanghai, and from its gateway position on the Yangzi River , which stretches away west deep into China interior.