Abstract:As an evolving and living cultural form within the landscape system, the urban waterfront landscape is in urgent need of identification, understanding and management of its historical form. As one of the great leaders in the development of waterfront landscapes, Nanjing deserves to learn from historical wisdom. However, the existing studies lack an in-depth exploration of its development history and patterns. This study takes the perspective of the senses of Jinling, combines it with the translation of historical maps, summarizes the evolutionary lineage and development sequence of waterfront landscapes from the pre-Qin dynasty to the Ming and Qing dynasties, explores its historical patterns and elements, and draws the following three conclusions: Firstly, Nanjing’s waterfront landscape development was influenced by a combination of natural changes, urban construction, social development, functional changes, and cultural customs, and eventually formed a linear system represented by the Qinhuai River; Secondly, the overall pattern features more construction in the south than in the north and more river attractions than lakes. This is closely related to the expansion of the city and official policies; Thirdly, the majority of humanistic attractions were developed in the city’s inner river system, which is closely related to the construction of the city along the Qinhuai River from the Three Kingdoms period and the changes in cultural customs. The above research is vital in complementing the history of Nanjing’s landscape and understanding the regularity of the development of China’s landscape, as well as laying the foundation for the subsequent conservation of landscape heritage.