Nánníng

Nanning is the seat of Qujing, a city on the eastern approaches to Yunnan. The rivers north and south of the town join the headwaters of the Nanpan River, while roads link the plateau with Guizhou and Sichuan. Earlier dynasties made this country a centre of government for the southwest; under the Yuan it became the seat of Qujing Circuit. The Ming advance into Yunnan in 1381 converged on Qujing from the north and east, recognising its importance as a gateway into the province. The following year the Ming made Qujing a prefecture, with Nanning as its seat. Military and civilian settlement brought new inhabitants, and the town continued as a centre of administration through the Qing.