Known as the Southern Capital in China, Nanjing is a vibrant and beautiful city with historical political prominence. The city is a centre for education and is the capital of Jiangsu province. Nanjing has also seen rapid development with large rural communities migrating into Nanjing over the recent years. As a result, Nanjing has undergone rapid construction to accommodate this continued in-migration. In addition to this historical prominence, food continues to play an important cultural role in Nanjing. Nanjing cuisine famously and frequently includes duck, fish, or shrimp in numerous local dishes.

Food consumption patterns in Nanjing also reflect the unique challenges inherent in the Nanjing food system. In order to support consumer demands for food freshness and safety, the Nanjing food system has evolved to present multiple avenues to responsibly source and produce food. Nanjing represents both historical importance and modern innovation which make this city a dynamic example of an urban food system.