Abstract: “Ji Jing” (Scenic Clusters) refers to a distinctive system of landscape compositions within a specific regional context, reflecting local historical landscapes and collective cultural identity. Using Nanjing as a case study, this paper compares prefectural-city and county scenic cluster systems from three perspectives: historical origins, thematic compositions, and spatial configurations. By analyzing prefectural and county gazetteers, prints, paintings, and other materials, several key findings emerge. First, the prefectural city scenic cluster system began to form in the Ming dynasty, marked by spontaneous literary creation and gradual cultural accumulation, while county-level systems largely emerged in the Qing dynasty, exhibiting strong policy-driven orientation and sudden formation. Second, scenic sites in the prefectural city gradually increased, shifting from predominantly natural landscapes to natural-cultural balance, forming a richer and more interconnected landscape. In contrast, county scenic remained relatively static, simpler, more modest, and weakly connected. Third, prefectural city scenic sites featured “clustered concentration with linear extension” and “inward densification with outward expansion,” creating strong spatial cohesion. By contrast, county scenic sites were more dispersed, varied, and spatially weaker in identity. These differences result from natural geography, political-economic status, and historical-cultural heritage, while the prefectural city exerted a profound influence on the counties at various levels.