1. Introduction

Suzhou (Suzhou dialect: [səu tsøʏ]), abbreviated as Su, historically known as Wu, is a prefecture-level city in the southeastern part of Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta and the Taihu Plain, it is renowned as the "Land of Fish and Rice," "Land of Zhuangyuan (top scholars in imperial examinations)," "Land of Academicians," an economic powerhouse, and a famous historical and cultural city. Since ancient times, it has shared the saying "Above there is paradise, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou" with Hangzhou. The municipal government is located at No. 998 Sanxiang Road, Gusu District.

Suzhou has a documented history of over 4,000 years, with officially recognized city-building history exceeding 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest existing cities in China and one of the birthplaces of Wu culture in the Jiangnan region. Suzhou served as the capital of several small states during periods of turmoil in history, such as the Sun clan regime in Jiangdong during the late Han dynasty and the Zhang Shicheng regime in the late Yuan dynasty. As early as the mid-Eastern Han dynasty, it became the second-largest city in China after the capital Luoyang and one of the world's top ten cities. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Suzhou emerged as a crucial national economic and cultural center. At that time, along with Yangzhou in the same province and Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, Suzhou was one of the three major industrial and commercial hubs in China, with a prosperous economy that made it one of the wealthiest regions in the country and one of the world's top ten cities. However, in the 19th century, impacted by Western powers, the opening of Shanghai as a treaty port, and the devastation of the Taiping Rebellion, Suzhou's industry and commerce declined, its population sharply decreased and migrated outward, leading to a prolonged period of decline lasting over a century. It was not until around the 1980s, with the development of the Southern Jiangsu Model (township enterprises) and the establishment of numerous development zones, that Suzhou's economy began to grow rapidly, with an average annual economic growth rate exceeding 14% from 1978 to 2013. According to a United Nations report, Suzhou's population grew at an average annual rate of 6.5% between 2000 and 2014, ranking first among cities with over five million people globally and earning it recognition as one of the world's most promising cities.

Suzhou is one of the larger cities in China approved by the State Council to enjoy local legislative power. It is an important economic city in the northern wing of the Yangtze River Delta Economic Circle and one of the more economically developed and modernized cities in Jiangsu Province. Its economic output has long ranked among the top in the province, making it the economic, industrial, commercial, foreign trade, and logistics center of Jiangsu. According to various official statistics released in 2016, Suzhou's Human Development Index reached 0.901, surpassing that of South Korea (ranked 18th globally) and reaching the level of Singapore.

Suzhou boasts a profound cultural heritage and is one of the first 24 National Historical and Cultural Cities designated by the People's Republic of China, one of the 10 National Key Scenic Tourist Cities, and one of the first batch of China's Excellent Tourist Cities. The Classical Gardens of Suzhou, representing Chinese classical gardens, are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Suzhou also hosted the 28th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. At the third Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the Organization of World Heritage Cities in 2018, Suzhou was awarded the title of the world's first "World Heritage Exemplary City." Suzhou is a significant tourist destination in China and was rated by the Michelin Travel Guide as the "Top Tourism Recommendation Worldwide" (highest level).

2. Origin of the Name

Suzhou is currently abbreviated as "苏". Legend has it that before Pan Gu created the world, there was a renowned strategist named "胥". Not only was he talented and knowledgeable, but he was also well-versed in astronomy and geography. Later, he contributed greatly to helping Yu the Great control the floods, earning the respect of King Shun, who appointed him as a high-ranking official and granted him the land east of the Yangtze River. From then on, the region east of the Yangtze came to be known as "姑胥". In Suzhou, there is a bridge over the city moat named "姑胥桥". At the foot of Lingyan Mountain in the region east of the Yangtze, 胥 built "姑胥 City" (located in present-day Mudu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City). "姑" was an onomatopoeic word in ancient Wu dialect with no specific meaning.

By the time of the Zhou Dynasty, Taibo fled to Wu, and his descendants moved to 姑胥 City. Since the Zhou Dynasty governed with benevolence, the character "胥", which carried connotations of a jailer, was deemed inconsistent with Zhou's virtues. Therefore, the character "苏" from the line "山有扶苏" in the Book of Songs was chosen. The character "苏" represents a type of grass and is composed of three radicals: grass, fish, and grain, symbolizing a land of fish and rice. Moreover, its pronunciation is similar to "胥". Thus, 姑胥 City was renamed 姑苏 City. Later, King Helü of Wu built the 姑苏 Terrace on Lingyan Mountain, and Lingyan Mountain came to be known as 姑苏 Mountain.

Suzhou was formerly known as "Wu". According to legend, during the late Shang Dynasty, Gugong Danfu of the Zhou state had three sons: the eldest, Taibo; the second, Zhongyong; and the youngest, Jili. Danfu favored Jili, but according to tradition, the throne had to be passed to the eldest son. To respect their father's wishes, Taibo and Zhongyong relinquished their claim to the throne and traveled to the region east of the Yangtze River (present-day Meicun, Wuxi), which was predominantly inhabited by the Jingman people. They adapted to local customs. At the time, the people east of the Yangtze enjoyed running while shouting, so Taibo created the character "吴" to represent them. In Meili, Wuxi, Taibo was proclaimed the ruler, and the state was named "勾吴". "勾" was an onomatopoeic word in the Jingman language with no specific meaning.

3. History

3.1 Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods

Suzhou has been known by various ancient names such as "Gouwu, Wu, Kuaiji, Wuzhou, Wu Commandery, Pingjiang," etc. Its alternative names include "Wudu, Wuhui, Wumen, Dongwu, Wuzhong, Wuxia, Gusu, Changzhou, Maoyuan," among others.

At the end of the Shang Dynasty, Taibo fled to Wu and established the state of "Gouwu" in present-day Meicun (Meili), Wuxi, setting the capital at Wu City. During the Spring and Autumn period (514 BC), Prince Guang (later King Helü of Wu) assassinated King Liao of Wu to seize the throne and ordered the Chu defector Wu Zixu to "survey the land and taste the water" and "model after heaven and emulate earth" to build Helü City (also known as Gusu City or Helü Great City, with its exact location being a subject of historical debate) (another theory suggests it was Kuaiji, built in 559 BC, which is present-day Shaoxing). The State of Wu employed Sun Wu, the founder of military strategy, who trained a formidable army. Wu expanded westward, annihilating the State of Chu and temporarily occupying present-day Hunan, Jiangxi, and Hubei regions. Later, it marched north to attack Qi, dominating the Central Plains and becoming one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period. In 496 BC, Helü was buried at Tiger Hill. However, the "Helü City Ruins" discovered at the border of Changzhou and Wuxi have made the location of Wu's capital, Helü City, a hot topic in historical studies.

In 473 BC, the State of Wu was conquered by the State of Yue, and Helü City became the capital of Yue. In 306 BC, the State of Chu destroyed Yue, "taking all the former lands of Wu, extending east to the Zhe River." During Chu's rule, "Wu County" was initially established. Concurrently, "Chu fortified the southern pass and established the Jiangdong Commandery," with Wu as its administrative seat, governing the entire, albeit vaguely defined, Jiangdong region southward. Around 300 BC, Suzhou's population had reached 100,000.

3.2 From Qin and Han to Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties

In 222 BC, after Qin Shi Huang conquered Chu, Jiangdong Commandery was renamed "Kuaiji Commandery," governing 26 counties (Wu, Wuxi, Qu'a, Piling, Lou, Yangxian, Wucheng, Youquan, Yuhang, Fuchun, Quantang, Haiyan, Yuji, Shanyin, Zhuji, Yuyao, Shangyu, Shan, Taimo, Gouzhang, Mao, Wushang), with its seat at Wu County, present-day downtown Suzhou. Later, part of Kuaiji Commandery was separated to establish Zhang Commandery.

In 209 BC, Xiang Yu recruited soldiers and initiated an uprising in Wu County, the capital of Kuaiji Commandery, overthrowing the Qin dynasty a few years later.

In 202 BC, Kuaiji Commandery came under Han rule. The following year, the Jing Kingdom was established with the three commanderies of Dongyang, Zhang, and Kuaiji, comprising 53 counties, with its capital at Wu.

In 129 AD, the northern part of Kuaiji Commandery was renamed Wu Commandery, with its seat at Wu County. The southern region was separated to form a new Kuaiji Commandery, with its seat at Shanyin.

During the Three Kingdoms period, it belonged to Wu. Before Sun Quan established the state of Wu, Wu County served as the political center of Sun Wu. During the Southern Dynasties, Wuzhou was established. In the era of the Sixteen Kingdoms, continuous warfare in the Central Plains prompted many gentry families to migrate south, bringing advanced culture and technology.

In the 9th year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty (589 AD), Suzhou was established, and the Grand Canal was opened, positioning Suzhou on an important trade route.

During the Tang dynasty, Suzhou was the only "Xiong Zhou" (major prefecture) in the Jiangnan region. It served as the seat of Jiangnan Circuit. After Jiangnan Circuit was divided, Suzhou became the seat of Jiangnandong Circuit. In 825 AD, the great poet Bai Juyi constructed Shantang Street, connecting Suzhou city with Tiger Hill.

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Suzhou was a border city between the Southern Tang and Wuyue states.

3.3 Song and Yuan Dynasties

During the Northern Song dynasty, it belonged to Liangzhe Circuit. In the 3rd year of the Zhenghe era of Emperor Huizong of Song, it was elevated to Pingjiang Prefecture. During the Southern Song dynasty, it belonged to Liangzhe West Circuit. By then, Suzhou was already an important industrial and commercial metropolis, renowned especially for silk. In 1035 AD, Fan Zhongyan established the Confucian Temple and founded the prefectural school. Thereafter, Suzhou enjoyed a long tradition of literary excellence, producing numerous scholars and literati through the ages.

In February 1130, Jin troops moved south, plundering and massacring the city, but it recovered shortly after the war.

In 1275, the Mongol Empire's army occupied Suzhou. The Yuan dynasty changed it to "Pingjiang Route." At the end of the Yuan dynasty, Zhang Shicheng proclaimed himself King of Wu, changed Pingjiang Route to Longping Prefecture, and made Suzhou his capital.

3.4 Ming and Qing Dynasties

In 1367, Zhu Yuanzhang's army captured Suzhou, and Zhang Shicheng surrendered. The Ming dynasty changed it to "Suzhou Prefecture," directly subordinate to Nanjing. During the Ming, the Yingtian Grand Coordinator, who administered the southern part of the Southern Metropolitan Region south of the Yangtze River, was stationed in Suzhou.

In the mid to late Ming dynasty, handicraft workshops emerged in Suzhou. The so-called "machine households providing capital, machine workers providing labor" workshops were these handicraft workshops, marking one of the signs of the sprouting of Chinese capitalism.

During the Qing dynasty, Suzhou was the seat of the Jiangsu Provincial Governor and the Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commissioner.

During the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, Suzhou experienced a period of even greater prosperity. Due to industrial and commercial development, the central city gathered a large population, consistently exceeding 500,000, with the urban population peaking at nearly 5 million. The city's districts extended radially along several major navigable waterways, with the farthest points exceeding 10 li from the city gates (Chang Gate). It was said that "Suzhou excels in its markets."

During the Ming dynasty, the Xushu Pass in Suzhou ranked second in tax revenue among the eight major customs passes in the country. Huizhou merchants active nationwide at the time evaluated major cities: "Today's so-called metropolises: the greatest are the two capitals and the provincial capitals of Jiang, Zhe, Min, and Guang; next are the prefectures of Su, Song, Huai, and Yang; then the departments of Linqing and Jining; the counties of Yizhen and Wuhu; and the towns of Guazhou and Jingdezhen..."

In the Qing dynasty, Suzhou was ranked as one of the "Four Great Gatherings" (四大商业中心) in the country. Due to the concentration of consumers, Fengqiao outside the city formed the largest grain market in the country, with grain supplies coming from Jiangxi and Hunan in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, some of which were resold to Zhejiang and Fujian via sea routes. Suzhou's outer port during the Ming was Liuhe in Taicang (connected to Suzhou via Lou River), and during the Qing, it was Shanghai (connected via Suzhou Creek). During this period, Suzhou was one of the nation's primary cultural centers, listed as one of the "Five Metropolises that Scholars Must Visit." Of the 204 top scholars (zhuangyuan) produced nationwide during the Ming and Qing dynasties, 34 came from Suzhou. Suzhou produced a remarkable number of famous ministers and high officials.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many famous private gardens were built in Suzhou, many constructed by retired officials returning to Suzhou, reflecting distinct literati tastes and differing significantly from the imperial gardens of Beijing or the salt merchant gardens of Yangzhou. Suzhou gardens were highly praised at the time for their exquisite and elegant cultural style.

In 1860, Li Xiucheng led the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom army to attack Suzhou. Suzhou suffered a catastrophe; the prefect ordered the city set on fire, completely destroying the prosperous commercial district outside the Chang Gate in the west of the city. A large number of citizens fled to the Shanghai International Settlement for refuge, becoming an important component of Shanghai's later population. Suzhou was the capital of the Taiping's Sufu Province, where Li Xiucheng built his magnificent Loyal King Palace. In December 1863, Gordon's Ever Victorious Army, cooperating with the Huai Army, captured Suzhou from the Taiping forces. However, after the war, Suzhou's status as the national economic center had been ceded to Shanghai. The population of the entire Suzhou Prefecture plummeted from 6.541 million before the war in 1851 to 2.289 million after the war in 1865—a 65% decrease, as many Suzhou residents who migrated to Shanghai during the war did not return. The population did not recover until 1953, reaching 3.132 million.

After the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, Suzhou, along with Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Shashi, was opened as one of the first inland treaty ports. A Japanese Concession was also established in the southern part of the city, but it never prospered; later, the Ruifeng Silk Mill was opened within its bounds. After the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway opened in 1906, the Shilu area outside the Chang Gate experienced some recovery. In the late Qing and early Republic of China period, the Suzhou General Chamber of Commerce governed the chambers of commerce of the four prefectures of Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang, and the directly-administered department of Taicang, jointly managing Jiangsu commerce with the chambers of Shanghai and Jiangning. The Suzhou Chamber of Commerce took a series of measures to support entrepreneurship, leading to further development of Suzhou's national industry. The Sulun Cotton Mill was founded by Suzhou's top scholar Lu Runxiang.

3.5 From the 20th Century Onward

On October 10, 1911, the Wuchang Uprising broke out. On November 5, Jiangsu Provincial Governor Cheng Dequan declared Jiangsu Province independent in Suzhou. That month, Suzhou Prefecture was abolished, with Changzhou County and Yuanhe County merged into Wu County. From January to September 1912, Wu County served as the provincial capital of Jiangsu. In 1928, the Nationalist Government established Suzhou City, with its jurisdiction within the original urban area of Wu County. In 1930, Suzhou City was dissolved, and its former administrative area was incorporated into Wu County. In 1937, Suzhou fell into the hands of the invading Japanese army. In 1940, the Wang Jingwei regime moved the provincial capital of Jiangsu from Zhenjiang County to Wu County. In 1945, Suzhou was recovered, and the Japanese garrison in Suzhou surrendered to the National Revolutionary Army outside the Chang Gate. In late April 1949, the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign. At dawn on April 27, the 85th Division of the 29th Army of the PLA attacked Suzhou from Fengqiao and captured the city that day. On the 30th, the Southern Jiangsu Suzhou Administrative Commissioner's Office, the Suzhou Municipal People's Government, and the Suzhou Military Control Commission of the Chinese People's Liberation Army were simultaneously established. On May 1, the Wu County People's Government was established. On May 13, the entire Suzhou area was liberated. Suzhou City was established from the urban area of Wu County, and there was also a Suzhou Administrative Region, both belonging to the Southern Jiangsu Administrative Region.

4. Geography

4.1 Location

Suzhou City is located in the central area of the Yangtze River Delta and the Taihu Plain in China. It borders Shanghai to the east, embraces Taihu Lake to the west, connects with Zhejiang Province to the south, and rests against the Yangtze River to the north. Situated in the southeastern part of Jiangsu Province, it neighbors Wuxi City, Changzhou City, Nantong City, Taizhou City, Jiaxing City of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou City, and Shanghai Municipality.

4.2 Topography

Suzhou lies within the Taihu Plain, characterized by high sandy plains along the rivers and a dense network of rivers and lakes, earning it the reputation as the "Land of Fish and Rice." The city's total area is 8,488.42 square kilometers, featuring low and flat terrain. This includes approximately 4,660 square kilometers of plains, about 3,607 square kilometers of water surfaces, and around 221 square kilometers of hills, accounting for 54.9%, 42.5%, and 2.6% of the total area, respectively.

The natural surface morphology of Suzhou is the product of evolution over a long geological history. It has undergone hundreds of millions of years of stratigraphic deposition from the Cambrian period of the Paleozoic Era to the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic Era, along with multiple marine transgressions and regressions, ultimately forming today's natural landscape.

Suzhou's topographic features are predominantly gentle plains. The city's terrain is generally low and flat. The Taihu water network plain can be divided into: alluvial-accumulated high plains with river networks, low-lying lake-and-marsh plains, flat water-network plains, and lakeside polder plains. The terrain slopes gently from west to east across the city. The plains have an elevation of 3–4 meters, with areas around Yangcheng Lake and Wujiang being as low as about 2 meters. Low mountains and hills are scattered sporadically, generally ranging from 100 to 300 meters in height, distributed in the western mountainous areas and the islands of Taihu Lake. Among these, Qionglong Mountain is the highest (341 meters). Other notable mountains include Miaomiao Peak of Dongting Mountain (336 meters), Moli Peak of Dongting Mountain (293 meters), Nanyang Mountain (338 meters), Qizi Mountain (294 meters), Tianping Mountain (201 meters), Lingyan Mountain (182 meters), Yushan Mountain (261 meters), Tan Mountain (252 meters), and Yuyang Mountain (170 meters). The main mountain ranges trend northeast-southwest along Taihu Lake, forming four groups of hills and island clusters: the Qizi Mountain–East Dongting Mountain group; the Qionglong Mountain–Yuyang Mountain–Changsha Island–West Dongting Mountain group; the Dengwei Mountain–Tan Mountain–Manshan Island group; and the residual hills in the Dongzhu–Zhenhu area. Between Qionglong, Yang, and Qizi mountains, there are granite hills composed of Lingyan, Tianping, and Tianchi mountains. Low hills like Xiangshan are found along the river. Additionally, isolated hills such as Yushan and Yushan stand on the plains between rivers and lakes.

Within Suzhou, rivers and waterways interlace, and lakes and marshes are densely distributed. The most famous lakes include Taihu Lake and Cao Lake in the west; Dianshan Lake and Cheng Lake in the east; Kuncheng Lake in the north; and Yangcheng Lake, Jinji Lake, and Dushu Lake in the central area. The Yangtze River and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal traverse the northern part of the urban area. The water from Taihu Lake flows north into the Yangtze River and east into the Dianmao area before entering the river via the Huangpu River. Canal water enters from the west at Wangting and exits south at Pingwang. The original "Three Rivers" that flowed to the sea now drain eastward into the Yangtze River via the Huangpu River, forming Suzhou's three major water systems. The city's total water area (including Taihu Lake) is 3,608 square kilometers. There are over 20,000 rivers of various sizes, with a total length of 1,457 kilometers; among these, 147 are rivers at or above the county level. There are 52 river channels connecting to the Yangtze River (with 41 outlets remaining after consolidation and gate construction). There are 323 lakes and marshes, covering 4.21 million mu (280,700 hectares); among these, 129 are lakes larger than 500 mu, and 87 are larger than 1,000 mu, distributed in the Yangcheng, Dianmao, and Punan regions.

Based on geomorphological genesis, morphology, and regional characteristics, Suzhou's landforms belong to two major regions: the Yangtze River Alluvial Plain Region and the Taihu Water Network Plain Region. These two major regions further encompass six geomorphological types subordinate to delta plains, ancient lake plains, and rocky mountainous areas.

4.3 Climate

Suzhou City (Wuzhong District) Meteorological Data (1991–2020, Extreme Data 1963–2023)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-------------| | Record high °C (°F) | 22.5 (72.5) | 28.0 (82.4) | 31.9 (89.4) | 33.6 (92.5) | 35.8 (96.4) | 37.3 (99.1) | 39.7 (103.5) | 40.4 (104.7) | 37.4 (99.3) | 33.1 (91.6) | 27.2 (81.0) | 24.5 (76.1) | 40.4 (104.7) | | Average high °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) | 10.4 (50.7) | 15.2 (59.4) | 21.1 (70.0) | 26.1 (79.0) | 28.7 (83.7) | 33.0 (91.4) | 32.6 (90.7) | 28.4 (83.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 17.4 (63.3) | 10.8 (51.4) | 21.3 (70.3) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.9 (40.8) | 6.4 (43.5) | 10.7 (51.3) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.9 (76.8) | 29.1 (84.4) | 28.8 (83.8) | 24.7 (76.5) | 19.5 (67.1) | 13.4 (56.1) | 7.0 (44.6) | 17.3 (63.1) | | Average low °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) | 3.4 (38.1) | 7.2 (45.0) | 12.5 (54.5) | 17.9 (64.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.0 (78.8) | 21.9 (71.4) | 16.3 (61.3) | 10.2 (50.4) | 4.0 (39.2) | 14.1 (57.4) | | Record low °C (°F) | -9.8 (14.4) | -7.2 (19.0) | -3.2 (26.2) | -0.4 (31.3) | 5.0 (41.0) | 11.8 (53.2) | 16.9 (62.4) | 16.6 (61.9) | 10.4 (50.7) | 2.6 (36.7) | -4.2 (24.4) | -7.7 (18.1) | -9.8 (14.4) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 98.8 (3.89) | 95.3 (3.75) | 129.3 (5.09) | 119.6 (4.71) | 92.5 (3.64) | 162.1 (6.38) | 92.1 (3.63) | 112.6 (4.43) | 122.3 (4.81) | 123.1 (4.85) | 94.9 (3.74) | 88.6 (3.49) | 1,331.2 (52.41) | | Average precipitation days (≥0.1 mm) | 11.2 | 10.8 | 13.8 | 11.3 | 11.0 | 13.9 | 11.1 | 11.8 | 10.9 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 131.8 | | Average snowy days | 2.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 6 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 74 | 74 | 72 | 70 | 69 | 78 | 76 | 77 | 75 | 71 | 73 | 71 | 73 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 108.8 | 111.5 | 139.0 | 162.0 | 166.1 | 120.5 | 192.4 | 190.4 | 154.5 | 147.3 | 127.7 | 127.2 | 1,747.4 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine | 34 | 36 | 37 | 42 | 39 | 29 | 45 | 47 | 42 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 40 |

4.4 Mineral Resources

Suzhou is rich in mineral resources, mainly concentrated in Wuzhong District and the High-tech Zone. There are 13 proven mineral deposits of medium size or larger, providing a certain amount of resources for Suzhou's social and economic development. The metallic minerals in Suzhou, including proven deposits of iron, copper, silver, lead, zinc, tin, niobium, tantalum, indium, and cadmium, are all genetically related to the magmatic activity of this period.

Suzhou has a wide variety of non-metallic minerals with relatively abundant resources. The main types include kaolin, porcelain stone, granite, alunite, fluorite, limestone, quartz sandstone, and coal.

4.5 Key Environmental Data

Suzhou was awarded the title of International Garden City in 2003. In 2017, Suzhou ranked 72nd in the Global Livable Cities Index released by the UK's Economist and was ranked 1st in mainland China.

5. Administrative Divisions

In 1993, Suzhou was approved by the State Council as a "larger city" with local legislative power. It administers five municipal districts (Gusu District, Huqiu District, Wuzhong District, Xiangcheng District, and Wujiang District) and four county-level cities (Changshu City, Zhangjiagang City, Kunshan City, and Taicang City) on behalf of the provincial government. Additionally, there is one functional zone—Suzhou Industrial Park.

Gusu District encompasses the traditional central urban area, formed by the merger of the former Pingjiang District, Canglang District, and Jinchang District. It covers a total area of 85.1 square kilometers, bordering Wuzhong District to the south, Xiangcheng District to the north, Huqiu District to the west, and Suzhou Industrial Park to the east. It administers eight subdistricts: Canglang Subdistrict, Wumenqiao Subdistrict, Shuangta Subdistrict, Pingjiang Subdistrict, Sujin Subdistrict, Jinchang Subdistrict, Baiyangwan Subdistrict, and Huqiu Subdistrict. As an integral part of the National Historical and Cultural City, Gusu District is home to 18 nationally protected cultural heritage sites, 36 provincially protected cultural heritage sites, 92 municipal and county-level protected cultural heritage sites, 289 controlled and protected ancient buildings, and 790 ancient structures such as bridges and wells. It also boasts three national 5A-level tourist attractions, two Chinese Historical and Cultural Streets, and eight gardens listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Furthermore, while Gusu District shares the same jurisdictional area as the Suzhou National Historical and Cultural City Protection Zone, their authorities differ: the former is an administrative district under the governance of the Suzhou Municipal People's Government, while the latter is not an administrative district.

| Division Code | Division Name | Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |-------------------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| | 320500 | Suzhou City | Sūzhōu Shì | 8,657.32 | 12,748,262 | Gusu District | 215000 | 42 | 52 | | 320505 | Huqiu District | Hǔqiū Qū | 332.37 | 832,499 | Shishan Subdistrict | 215000 | 4 | 2 | | 320506 | Wuzhong District| Wúzhōng Qū | 2,231.46 | 1,388,972 | Changqiao Subdistrict | 215100 | 7 | 7 | | 320507 | Xiangcheng District | Xiāngchéng Qū | 489.96 | 891,055 | Chengyang Subdistrict | 215100 | 7 | 4 | | 320508 | Gusu District | Gūsū Qū | 361.61 | 2,058,010 | Sujin Subdistrict | 215000 | 12 | | | 320509 | Wujiang District| Wújiāng Qū | 1,237.44 | 1,545,023 | Songling Subdistrict | 215200 | 4 | 7 | | 320531 | Changshu City | Chángshú Shì | 1,276.32 | 1,677,050 | Tangshan Subdistrict | 215500 | 6 | 8 | | 320582 | Zhangjiagang City | Zhāngjiāgǎng Shì | 986.73 | 1,432,044 | Yangshe Town | 215600 | | 8 | | 320583 | Kunshan City | Kūnshān Shì | 931.51 | 2,092,496 | Yushan Town | 215300 | | 10 | | 320585 | Taicang City | Tàicāng Shì | 809.93 | 831,113 | Jiangdong Subdistrict | 215400 | 2 | 6 |

6. Economy

Suzhou is a highly developed economic region in China, serving as the economic center of Jiangsu Province, a hub for industry, commerce, and logistics, as well as an important center for finance, culture, art, education, and transportation. The economic development of Suzhou has been exceptionally rapid, with its GDP soaring 12-fold from 90.3 billion yuan in 1995 to 1,201.1 billion yuan in 2012, nearly matching Shenzhen's GDP of 1,295 billion yuan in the same year. In 2014, Suzhou's regional GDP reached 1,376.089 billion yuan, ranking seventh among all prefecture-level and above cities in China, second in East China, and first among prefecture-level cities, trailing only Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. The urban area of Suzhou alone achieved a regional GDP of 708.692 billion yuan.

The four county-level cities under its jurisdiction—Kunshan, Zhangjiagang, Changshu, and Taicang—all rank among the top five in China's list of the top 100 counties (cities) by economic strength, holding the first (tied), third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively. Suzhou is one of the most balanced regions in China in terms of urban and rural development. In 2014, the per capita disposable income of all residents in Suzhou was 39,780 yuan, ranking fourth in China, after Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen. Among these, urban residents earned 46,677 yuan, second only to Shanghai, while rural residents earned 23,560 yuan.

7. Transportation

7.1 Water Transport

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal traverses the region. With over 2,700 kilometers of inland waterways, it forms a vital artery for water and land transportation. Suzhou Port is a dual-purpose river and sea port, serving as the largest port in Jiangsu Province, the fifth largest port in mainland China, and the seventh largest port in the world. In 2015, its cargo throughput reached 540 million tons, and its container throughput was 5.102 million TEUs.

Additionally, many small rivers crisscross the urban area, some of which have become tourist boat routes.

7.2 International Shipping

Ferry services operate from Shimonoseki Port in Japan to Taicang, Suzhou (i.e., the Taicang Port Area of Suzhou Port), Qingdao, China, and Busan, South Korea.

7.3 Railway

The Beijing-Shanghai Railway, Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, and Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Railway pass through Suzhou. The Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity Railway, opened in 2010, reduced the fastest travel time between Shanghai and Suzhou to 24 minutes.

Lines

• China High-Speed Railway: Beijing-Shanghai Railway
• China High-Speed Railway: Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway
• China High-Speed Railway: Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway
• China High-Speed Railway: Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Railway
• China High-Speed Railway: Nantong-Suzhou-Jiaxing-Ningbo Railway (Under Construction)
• China High-Speed Railway: Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou Railway (Under Construction)
• China High-Speed Railway: Rugao-Nantong-Suzhou-Huzhou Railway (Pre-feasibility Study)

Passenger Railway Stations

• Suzhou Railway Station
• Suzhou North Railway Station
• Suzhou Park Railway Station
• Suzhou New District Railway Station
• Kunshan Railway Station
• Kunshan South Railway Station
• Yangcheng Lake Railway Station
• Huaqiao Railway Station
• Zhangjiagang Railway Station
• Changshu Railway Station
• Taicang Railway Station, Taicang South Railway Station

Freight Railway Stations: Suzhou West Railway Station, Zhangjiagang North Railway Station, Taicang Port Railway Station, Weiting Railway Station

7.4 Rail Transit

Suzhou is the first prefecture-level city (excluding sub-provincial cities) in China to independently operate a metro system. It currently has eight lines: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 5, Line 6, Line 8, and Line 11. The operational mileage has reached 323 kilometers with 256 stations. Preparatory work for the Suzhou Metro began as early as 1996. The near-term plan includes 7 rail transit lines, and the long-term plan envisions 9 lines, with a total planned mileage (including extensions) of 380 kilometers, 265 kilometers in the central urban area, 181 stations, and 37 transfer stations. Lines currently under construction include Line 7 (under construction) and Line 10 (under construction).

• The Huaqiao section of Shanghai Metro Line 11 (including Huaqiao Station, Guangming Road Station, and Zhaofeng Road Station) is located in Huaqiao Town, Kunshan City, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It opened on October 16, 2013, becoming the first inter-provincial/city metro line in China. The operational Huaqiao section of Shanghai Metro Line 11 and Suzhou Rail Transit Line 11's Huaqiao Station allow for out-of-station transfers.
• The under-construction northern extension of Shanghai Rail Transit Jiamin Line (Shibagang Road Station, Baiyundu Road Station, and Taicang Station) is located in Taicang City.

7.5 Tram

Suzhou New District plans to build a total of 6 tram lines, with a total length exceeding 80 kilometers. Line 1 commenced construction on September 11, 2012, and began trial operation on October 26, 2014. Line 2 started construction on November 1, 2014, and began trial operation on August 31, 2018.

7.6 Aviation

After Suzhou Guangfu Airport ceased civil aviation services, Suzhou currently has no civil aviation airport. Residents needing to arrive in or depart from Suzhou by air must use airports in neighboring Wuxi or Shanghai.

• Wuxi Shuofang Airport (a joint civil-military airport located in Shuofang Subdistrict, Xinwu District, Wuxi City)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (Take a high-speed train from Suzhou Railway Station or Suzhou North Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, then transfer to Metro Line 2 for a direct ride to Pudong Airport. The entire journey takes approximately 1.5 hours.)
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (Take a high-speed train from Suzhou Railway Station or Suzhou North Railway Station to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.)

7.7 Highway

As of the end of 2018, Suzhou's total highway mileage was 12,174 kilometers, including 598 kilometers of expressways.

• G2 Beijing-Shanghai Expressway Suzhou Section
• G15 Shenyang-Haikou Expressway Suzhou Section
• G1521 Changshu-Jiaxing Expressway Suzhou Section
• G1522 Changshu-Taizhou Expressway Suzhou Section
• G42 Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway Suzhou Section
• G4221 Shanghai-Wuhan Expressway Suzhou Section
• G50 Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway Suzhou Section
• S17 Suzhou-Taizhou Expressway
• S19 Nantong-Xinyi Expressway Zhangjiagang Section
• S23 Jingjiang-Zhangjiagang Expressway Zhangjiagang Section
• S48 Shanghai-Yixing Expressway Suzhou Section
• S58 Shanghai-Changzhou Expressway Suzhou Section
• S80 Taicang Port North Distributor Expressway
• S81 Taicang Port South Distributor Expressway
• Suzhou Ring Expressway (composed of G1521 Changjia Expressway, S17 Suta i Expressway, S48 Huyi Expressway, and S58 Huchang Expressway)
• National Highways: G204, G312, G318, G346, G524, G634, G635
• Sutong Yangtze River Bridge
• Hushutong Yangtze River Bridge

7.8 Urban Elevated Expressway Network

• East Ring Expressway
• South Ring Expressway
• West Ring Expressway
• North Ring Expressway
• Wudong Expressway (East Ring Southern Extension)
• Suzhou North Station Elevated Road (East Ring Northern Extension)
• Dushu Lake Avenue (South Ring Eastern Extension)
• Sufu Expressway (South Ring Western Extension)
• Youxin Expressway (West Ring Southern Extension)
• Suhu Expressway (West Ring Northern Extension)
• Loujiang Expressway (North Ring Eastern Extension)
• Taihu Avenue Elevated Road (North Ring Western Extension)
• Wuzhong Avenue Expressway
• Middle Ring East Line
• Middle Ring West Line
• Middle Ring North Line
• Middle Ring Expressway

7.9 Urban Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

Suzhou currently has 8 BRT lines, which began operation in 2008. Unlike regular buses, Suzhou BRT uses elongated vehicles and operates on the city's elevated expressways and dedicated right-side lanes.

8. Education

Suzhou has long been renowned for its advanced education and concentration of talented individuals. Historically, it has produced 60 top scholars in the imperial examinations and over 1,500 Jinshi (successful candidates). In contemporary times, 117 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering hail from Suzhou, ranking first nationwide. When calculated by birthplace, Suzhou ranks third, following only Shanghai and Beijing. Furthermore, Suzhou is home to two Nobel laureates—Chen-Ning Yang and Steven Chu—ranking first in the country.

8.1 Primary and Secondary Education

The enrollment and retention rates for primary and junior high schools in the city have remained at 100% for many consecutive years. In 2019, Suzhou had 1,682 schools of various levels (including kindergartens), with a total student population of 1.9581 million. This includes 867 kindergartens with 364,700 children, 424 primary schools with 821,300 students, 241 junior high schools (including nine-year consistent schools) with 280,300 students, 74 high schools with 108,600 students, 25 secondary vocational schools and 13 technical schools with 84,400 students, and 12 special education schools with 1,695 students. Within the urban area, Jiangsu Suzhou High School is recognized as one of the nation's most prestigious high schools, a rare gem among schools. Additionally, Suzhou boasts several other traditional renowned schools, such as Suzhou Xushuguan Central Primary School, Jingfan Middle School, Wuxian Middle School, Jiangsu Zhenze High School, Suzhou Experimental High School, Suzhou No.1 Middle School, Jiangsu Suzhou No.10 High School, Suzhou No.3 Middle School, Xinghai Middle School, Xi'an Jiaotong University Suzhou Affiliated High School, Soochow University Affiliated High School, and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Affiliated High School, all of which enjoy high reputations in society.

The county-level cities under Suzhou's administration also began modern educational initiatives relatively early. For example, Jiangsu Changshu High School in Changshu City originated from the National No.2 Middle School founded in Hechuan, Chongqing, in 1938. Jiangsu Liangfeng High School in Zhangjiagang City traces its roots to the Liangfeng Academy, established in 1894 during the Qing Dynasty's Guangxu era. Jiangsu Taicang High School and Taicang No.1 Middle School were founded in 1907, evolving from the Taicang Prefecture Examination Hall of the Qing Dynasty.

Suzhou's basic education system is highly internationalized. The city has 53 international schools, including 18 international classes in public schools, 31 private international schools, and 4 schools for children of foreign nationals. There is also one school for children of Taiwanese businesspeople. Suzhou hosts 26 Sino-foreign cooperative educational institutions and programs, 119 schools qualified to hire foreign teachers, and 145 schools that enroll international students. Additionally, 7 schools serve as bases or classrooms for promoting Chinese language internationally. The total number of foreign students in Suzhou is nearly 6,000, with over 4,000 primary and secondary school students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and more than 600 foreign teachers employed in the city.

8.2 Higher Education

Suzhou is home to numerous higher education institutions and various research institutes. Soochow University is a public undergraduate institution in Jiangsu Province and a member of the "211 Project." It originated from Soochow University, founded in 1900, and operates across five campuses and two independent colleges throughout the city. Another urban institution, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, also has two campuses and one independent college spread across the city.

The Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, located in the Suzhou Industrial Park, was established in 2002 and covers a planned area of approximately 11 square kilometers. It is currently a top-tier base in China for cultivating higher education talent and transforming high-tech research achievements. It hosts 11 comprehensive higher education and research institutions, including Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, the University of Science and Technology of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Nanjing University, Southeast University, Renmin University of China, Soochow University, Sichuan University, Wuhan University, North China Electric Power University, and the National University of Singapore. Additionally, it houses six higher vocational and technical colleges, such as Suzhou Gobo Software Technology Vocational College, Suzhou Centennial College, Suzhou Industrial Park Industrial Technology School, Suzhou Industrial Park Service Outsourcing Vocational College, and Suzhou Pingtan School. The higher education town currently has 68,000 students, including approximately 13,000 postgraduate students, and over 3,000 faculty and staff, nearly 40% of whom hold senior professional titles.

Situated in Suzhou's Wuzhong District, the Suzhou International Education Park is a training base focused on higher vocational education, cultivating high-quality, application-oriented talent. Currently, more than ten higher education institutions have established campuses here, including Soochow University Wen Zheng College, Suzhou College, Suzhou Art & Design Technology Institute, Suzhou Institute of Industrial Technology, Suzhou Tourism & Finance Institute, Suzhou Institute of Construction & Communications, Soochow Foreign Languages Teachers College, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, and Suzhou Institute of Trade & Commerce.

Furthermore, within the prefecture-level city of Suzhou, there are numerous undergraduate and specialized higher education institutions, such as Changshu Institute of Technology, Shazhou Professional Institute of Technology, and Jiangsu Open University Kunshan College. Additionally, several campuses are under construction or have recently opened, including Nanjing University Suzhou Campus, Soochow University Future Campus (Wujiang), Northwestern Polytechnical University Taicang Campus, and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Taicang Campus. Suzhou Vocational and Technical University is also slated to upgrade to an undergraduate institution.

9. Population

By the end of 2013, the city's total population was 13,076,908. The registered (hukou) population was 6,538,372, and the number of registered migrant (floating) population was 6,538,536, making the registered and migrant populations roughly equal. In 2013, there were 67,396 births and 44,478 deaths in the city.

By the end of 2016, the city's permanent resident population was 10.6474 million, with an urbanization rate of 75.5%. At the end of 2016, the registered population reached 6.7820 million, an increase of 111,800 from the end of the previous year, representing a growth rate of 1.66%, which was 0.78 percentage points higher than the previous year. Among them: the male population was 3.3253 million, with a growth rate of 1.58%; the female population was 3.4567 million, with a growth rate of 1.77%. The sex ratio (with females as 100) was 96.20, a decrease of 0.18 from the end of 2015. By region, the registered population in the urban districts was 3.4802 million, an increase of 67,600 from the end of the previous year, with a growth rate of 1.98%; the registered population in the four county-level cities was 3.3018 million, an increase of 44,200 from the end of the previous year, with a growth rate of 1.36%.

According to the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the city's permanent resident population was 12,748,262. Compared with the 10,459,890 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the population increased by 2,288,372 over the ten years, a growth of 21.88%, with an average annual growth rate of 2%. Among them, the male population was 6,657,110, accounting for 52.22% of the total population; the female population was 6,091,152, accounting for 47.78% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 109.29. The population aged 0-14 was 1,727,189, accounting for 13.55% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 8,858,671, accounting for 69.49% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 2,162,402, accounting for 16.96% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 1,585,701, accounting for 12.44% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 10,418,373, accounting for 81.72% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 2,329,889, accounting for 18.28% of the total population.

At the end of 2022, the total registered population of Suzhou City was 7.747 million, an increase of 1.6% over the previous year. The natural population growth rate was -0.6‰, a decrease of 0.88 per thousand points from the previous year. The permanent resident population at the end of the year was 12.911 million, an increase of 0.5% from the end of the previous year. The urbanization rate of the permanent resident population was 82.12%.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population in 2020, the Han ethnic population was 12,620,374, accounting for 99%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 127,888, accounting for 1%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han population increased by 2,233,412, a growth of 21.5%, but its proportion of the total population decreased by 0.31 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 54,960, a growth of 75.36%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 0.31 percentage points.

10. Religion

10.1 Buddhism

• Lingyan Mountain Temple
• Hanshan Temple
• Xiyuan Jiechuang Lü Temple
• Bao'en Temple
• Wenshan Temple
• Baoshan Temple
• Chongyuan Temple
• Baoguo Temple
• Dinghui Temple

10.2 Taoism

• Xuanmiao Temple
• Suzhou City God Temple
• Suzhou Jade Emperor Palace

10.3 Islam

• Shilu Taipingfang Mosque

10.4 Catholicism

• Yangjiaqiao Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church

10.5 Protestantism

• Suzhou St. John's Church
• Lion Mountain Church
• Lequn Society Church (Gongxiang Church)
• Situ Church (Apostles' Church)
• Dushu Lake Christian Church

11. Culture

Suzhou culture is one of the representative cultures of Wu culture, encompassing various aspects such as history, geography, local customs, traditional practices, lifestyle, literature and arts, behavioral norms, ways of thinking, and values. It is the product of long-term creation and accumulation by its people.

11.1 Kunqu Opera

Kunqu Opera is a vocal and performance art system originating from Kunshan, Suzhou, in the 14th and 15th centuries. It integrates singing, recitation, acting, dance, and martial arts. Originally known as "Kunshan Tune" or simply "Kun Tune," it is praised as the "Water-polished Tune" for its delicate and melodious melodies. Kunqu is one of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese opera, with a history of over 600 years, and is honored as the "Ancestor of All Operas and the Teacher of All Operas." The Kunshan Tune began in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties as a branch of Southern Opera, and together with the Haiyan Tune, Yuyao Tune, and Yiyang Tune, it is known as one of the Four Major Vocal Tunes of the Ming Dynasty. Initially, the Kunshan Tune was merely a folk song and minor tune popular among the people of the Wu region. By the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the opera musician Wei Liangfu reformed the Kunshan Tune, making it the mainstream of literati lyric songs and music, which came to be known as Kunqu Opera. Today, it generally also refers to its stage form, Kun Opera. Kunqu uses drums and clappers to control the rhythm of singing, with instruments like the qudi (bamboo flute) and sanxian (three-stringed lute) as the main accompaniment. It primarily uses Zhongzhou Mandarin as its singing and speaking language. In 2001, Kunqu Opera was listed by UNESCO as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity."

11.2 Suzhou Pingtan

Suzhou Pingtan is a storytelling and singing art originating from Suzhou, prevalent in the Jiangnan region, commonly known as "storytelling." It is a local folk art performed in the Suzhou dialect. Pingtan is a collective term for Pinghua (storytelling without singing) and Tanci (storytelling with singing). Pingtan has an audience almost nationwide and also holds some influence among overseas Chinese communities. It was praised by the renowned Taiwanese master of Chinese studies, Yu Dagang, as "the most beautiful sound in China."

11.3 Wu Songs

Wu Songs, also known as Wu Sheng Songs, is a general term in literary history for the folk songs and ballads of the Wu region, representing an important component of Wu culture. Legend has it that in the 13th century BC, during the late Shang Dynasty, King Zhou sent his eldest son to establish a capital in Jiangnan and "nourished the people with songs." From that time, Wu Songs have a history of over 3,200 years. Wu Songs are the collective name for folk songs and ballads in the Wu-speaking regions of China. Nurtured by the water towns of Jiangnan and Wu culture, Wu Songs possess distinct characteristics. Since ancient times, they have been known for their gentle elegance, tenderness, subtlety, and metaphorical complexity, contrasting with the passionate, straightforward, bold, and vigorous nature of northern folk songs. Wu Songs exhibit strong aquatic cultural traits; unlike towering mountains or vast grasslands, they flow like gentle streams—fresh, bright, winding, tender, and affectionate, sharing the same graceful tone as the soft Wu dialect and possessing unique folk art charm. In 2006, Wu Songs were included in the first batch of China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage protection list. Additionally, Suzhou's city song, "Suzhou's Beautiful Scenery," is one of the representative tunes of Wu Songs.

11.4 Language

Wu Chinese is one of the older branches within the Chinese language family, with its ancestral language traceable to the Chinese used by the upper classes of the Wu and Yue states during the Spring and Autumn period over 2,600 years ago. Suzhou dialect is representative of Wu Chinese. The local Suzhou dialect belongs to the Su-Hu-Jia subgroup of the Taihu Lake cluster of Wu Chinese. The Suzhou dialect has long been regarded as the representative dialect of Wu Chinese and is one of the more extensively studied varieties in Chinese linguistic research.

The Suzhou dialect is known for its clear, soft, and melodious pronunciation, with distinct musicality, often described as "the soft Wu dialect." Wu Chinese has also created many vivid and expressive words, some of which have been absorbed into Standard Mandarin. The Suzhou dialect is also a literary language; the dialogue in Wu dialect literature that emerged in the 19th century, such as "The Sing-song Girls of Shanghai," was written in the Suzhou dialect. Today, under the influence of Standard Mandarin, the Suzhou dialect is gradually declining. Many young people in Suzhou no longer speak the traditional Suzhou dialect of their elders, leading to situations where grandparents and grandchildren mix Suzhou dialect and Mandarin in conversation. The large influx of migrants has also made the protection and inheritance of the Suzhou dialect increasingly challenging.

11.5 Fine Arts

Suzhou has a long history of fine arts, with numerous renowned artists emerging over time, notably the "Wu School of Painting" that originated in the Ming Dynasty. Prominent figures include Ren Xiong, Ren Bonian, Wu Changshuo, Yan Wenliang, Dong Xiwen, Zhu Shijie, and others.

During the Republican period, the Suzhou Fine Arts College (now part of Nanjing University of the Arts) was established. The Suzhou Fine Arts College, abbreviated as "Suzhou Meizhuan," is located east of Canglang Pavilion in Canglang District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. It was jointly founded in July 1922 by Yan Wenliang, Zhu Shijie, and Hu Cuizhong, known as the "Three Talents of Canglang." It is one of the earliest fine arts institutions established in China and the first officially government-named fine arts school.

11.6 News, Publishing, and Media

Suzhou's broadcasting and television industry can be traced back to 1945 when the Political Department of the Kuomintang Youth Army's 202nd Division and the Kuomintang Wuxian County Party Headquarters jointly established the Suzhou Youth Radio Station. After Suzhou's liberation in 1949, the "Suzhou Xinhua Radio Station" was set up in the Humble Administrator's Garden on May 15 of the same year, later renamed Suzhou People's Radio Station, undergoing several changes over time. On October 1, 1959, Suzhou People's Radio Station Television began trial broadcasts, which were suspended in 1962 and resumed in 1983 under the name "Suzhou Television Station." In 2001, Suzhou Television Station and Suzhou People's Radio Station merged to form Suzhou Broadcasting and Television General Station, the only public broadcaster in Suzhou. It currently operates 11 TV channels (5 managed by the General Station and 6 by Jiangsu Cable), 7 radio frequencies, 4 newspapers and periodicals, and 1 mobile TV channel, with signals covering Suzhou and surrounding cities. Most programs broadcast by the station are in Standard Mandarin, with only a few programs using the traditional Suzhou dialect (e.g., "Shi Bin's Chat"). Formerly, Jiangsu Cable Suzhou Digital Television broadcast over 100 TV channels, including more than 20 overseas channels such as Phoenix TV and Star TV (also available online), and offered interactive TV services. Suzhou residents can also watch TV programs through China Telecom's IPTV platform. Since 2010, smart TV set-top boxes and internet smart TVs have become widely popular, allowing viewers to watch and stream online TV programs.

In terms of newspaper publishing, during the late Qing and Republican periods, Suzhou had privately run newspapers such as Suzhou Vernacular News, Wujun Vernacular News, Jiangsu Vernacular News, Independent News, and Suzhou Daily, as well as government-run newspapers. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, all newspapers became state-run. Currently, the main publisher of newspapers in Suzhou is the Suzhou Daily Press Group, the only press group in Suzhou. Its flagship newspaper, Suzhou Daily, was founded on July 1, 1949 (formerly New Suzhou News and Suzhou Workers and Peasants News), serving as the municipal party newspaper. Gusu Evening News and City Business News are tabloids, with Gusu Evening News being the first color evening newspaper in China and having a high circulation in Suzhou. The group also publishes the magazine Modern Suzhou. Newspapers distributed province-wide, such as Yangtze Evening News, Modern Express, and Jiangnan Times, are also circulated in Suzhou with considerable local readership.

Additionally, Suzhou historically had numerous publishing institutions. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the main publishers in Suzhou include Suzhou People's Publishing House (abolished in December 1960), Suzhou University Press, and Guwuxuan Publishing House.

In contemporary magazines, the magazine Suzhou Magazine is published by a magazine agency founded in 1988, with editing and printing starting in December of the same year, initiated by Lu Wenfu. The agency is located at Dongqing Stone Lane, Wuque Bridge. To date, Suzhou Magazine has published over 100 issues, with Fan Xiaoqing serving as the editor-in-chief.

11.7 First Batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List

In 2006, 18 items were included in the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List.

11.8 Festivals

• Tiger Hill Pagoda
• China Suzhou International Tourism Festival
• Xuánmiào Temple Welcoming the God of Wealth
• Xishan Taihu Plum Blossom Festival
• Tiger Hill Flower Show
• Humble Administrator's Garden Azalea Festival
• Luzhi Water Town Costume Culture Festival
• Nanhao Street Immortal Temple Fair
• Humble Administrator's Garden Lotus Festival
• Tiger Hill Temple Fair
• China Suzhou International Silk Tourism Festival
• Suzhou Tianping Red Maple Festival
• Hanshan Temple New Year's Eve Bell Ringing

11.9 Proverbs About Suzhou

• Tourism: "Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou." A metaphor for the most beautiful places on earth.
• Lifestyle: "Born in Suzhou, live in Hangzhou, eat in Yangzhou, die in Huizhou." (Also known as "Eat in Guangzhou, die in Liuzhou.") "Born in Suzhou and Hangzhou, buried in Beimang."
• Agriculture: "When Suzhou and Huzhou have a good harvest, the whole world has enough." (Or "When Suzhou and Changzhou have a good harvest, the whole world has enough.")
• Ancient Industry: "Suzhou in the south, Weixian in the north."
• Ancient Commerce: "The finest gathering in all of Wu, flourishing under heaven."
• Minnan and Cantonese Slang: "Selling duck eggs, selling salted duck eggs in Suzhou" metaphorically means someone has died. ("Suzhou" sounds similar to "grave mound" in some dialects, leading to the misinterpretation.)
• Cantonese also has "After Suzhou, there's no boat to take" (similar to "miss the boat") and "Suzhou mess" (meaning a troublesome situation).### 11.10 City Flag The background of the Suzhou city flag is blue, symbolizing "peace, progress, and development." At the center of the flag is the city emblem. The diameter of the emblem is one-third of the flag's width. The emblem features a red water gate at its center, with white flowing water beneath it, surrounded by a white outer ring. The lower part of the outer ring bears the Pinyin "SUZHOU." The graphic emblem symbolizes "the sun and moon shining together, enduring as long as heaven and earth." The two circles forming an eccentric ring represent Suzhou's vibrant vitality and its brilliant, glorious future. The water gate signifies that Suzhou is a historic cultural city, while the flowing water beneath it represents Suzhou's identity as a water town in the Jiangnan region. Hence, there is now the saying, "One Gusu City encapsulates the entire history of Jiangnan."

11.11 Tourism

Suzhou is renowned as a famous tourist destination due to its garden art and Jiangnan water town style. The city boasts extremely rich natural and historical landscapes. Within the urban area of Suzhou alone, there are as many as six national 5A-level tourist attractions: the Classical Gardens of Suzhou (including the Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden, and Tiger Hill), Zhouzhuang Ancient Town, Tongli Ancient Town, Jinji Lake, the Wuzhong Taihu Lake Tourist Area (Wangshan-Qionglongshan-Dongshan), and the Changshu "Shajiabang-Yushan Shanghu" Scenic Area. Suzhou, a land of abundant resources and outstanding people, is praised as the "Paradise on Earth," with the saying, "In heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou." It has long been famous worldwide for its beautiful landscapes and elegant gardens, earning the reputation "Jiangnan gardens are the best under heaven, and Suzhou gardens are the best in Jiangnan." Furthermore, due to its characteristic water town with small bridges, flowing water, and households, it is also known as the "Venice of the East."

Suzhou currently has 538 cultural heritage protection units at various levels, including 34 national key cultural heritage protection units. Indeed, Jiangnan gardens are the best under heaven, and Suzhou gardens are the best in Jiangnan. Suzhou has over 60 well-preserved classical gardens, among which nine, including the Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden, Master-of-Nets Garden, and Lion Grove Garden, have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

11.11.1 Suzhou Classical Gardens

Suzhou Classical Gardens refer to the garden architecture within the city of Suzhou, China, primarily consisting of private gardens. They originated during the Spring and Autumn Period when the State of Wu established its capital at Gusu (514 BC), took shape during the Five Dynasties period, matured in the Song Dynasty, flourished in the Ming Dynasty, and reached their peak in the Qing Dynasty. By the late Qing Dynasty, Suzhou had over 170 gardens of various types. Today, more than 60 are preserved intact, with 19 open to the public. Although not large in area, these gardens excel in artistic conception, using ingenious artistic techniques to arrange and adorn within limited space, creating ever-changing scenes with every step. Suzhou Classical Gardens allow one to "enjoy the delight of mountains and waters without leaving the city walls, and experience the charm of spiritual springs while residing in a bustling metropolis." These gardens integrate residence and garden, making them places for appreciation, touring, and living. This architectural form emerged as a creative response in densely populated cities lacking natural scenery, reflecting humanity's attachment to nature, pursuit of harmony with it, and desire to beautify and perfect their living environment.

In 1997, Suzhou Classical Gardens were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as representative of Chinese garden art. In 2004, the 28th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session was held in Suzhou.

11.11.2 Suzhou Ancient City

The Suzhou Ancient City, covering an area of 14.2 square kilometers, was one of the largest cities in ancient Jiangnan. Its founding is generally traced back to 514 BC with the construction of Helü City by Wu Zixu under the order of King Helü of Wu (though this is debated). For over 2,500 years, the city site has remained unchanged, a rarity in the world. Comparing today's Suzhou Ancient City with the Song Dynasty "Pingjiang Map" (the earliest extant urban plan in China), the overall framework, main water systems, roads, bridges, and scenic spots are almost entirely consistent.

Suzhou is also considered one of China's most exquisite cities, praised by the French Enlightenment thinker Montesquieu as "supernatural craftsmanship." The ancient city largely maintains the ancient dual chessboard pattern of "parallel land and water routes, with rivers and streets adjacent," the river system of "three verticals, three horizontals, and one ring," and the unique features of "small bridges, flowing water, white walls and black tiles, and historic sites and famous gardens." The Tang Dynasty poet Du Xunhe once wrote, "When you arrive in Gusu, you see houses all pillowed on rivers." Suzhou has a total of 3,681 urban bridges, including 27 extra-large bridges, 125 large bridges, 520 medium bridges, and 3,009 small bridges, with a total length of 224,443 meters.

Suzhou Ancient City is famous for its water town characteristics. Shantang Street and Pingjiang Road are two of the best-preserved old districts with water town features. As early as 1834, the "Wu Men Biao Yin" recorded: "Pingjiang Road was anciently named Shiquanli (Ten Springs Lane), with ten ancient wells: one south of Huayang Bridge, one south of Xijia Bridge, and one north of Yuan Bridge."

11.11.3 Taihu Lake

Taihu Lake is the largest lake in the coastal region of eastern China and the third largest freshwater lake in the country. It is a famous scenic area in China. Taihu Lake is a large shallow lake in a plain water network area, featuring 48 islands and 72 peaks within the lake region. The lake and mountain scenery complement each other brilliantly, possessing an unadorned natural beauty, earning it the title "the elegance of Taihu under heaven." Famous tourist destinations in the Taihu Lake area include Dongting East Hill and West Hill, Yuyang Mountain, Mudu Ancient Town, and Suzhou Taihu Lake National Wetland Park. In 1982, the Suzhou Taihu Lake Scenic Area was approved by the State Council to be included in the first list of National Key Scenic Areas. Suzhou possesses 48 of the 72 peaks of Taihu Lake and 8 of the 13 national-level scenic spots around Taihu, including the West Hill Scenic Area, East Hill Scenic Area, Guangfu Scenic Area, Qionglong Mountain Scenic Area, Wangshan Scenic Area, Sanshan Island, Taihu Lake Park, and East Taihu Lake Ecological Park. However, Wuxi, which possesses 30% of Taihu Lake's area, also boasts very beautiful Taihu scenery, leading many tourists to mistakenly believe Taihu Lake belongs solely to Wuxi.

11.11.4 Suzhou Museum

The Suzhou Museum is a famous local folk museum in China. Located on Northeast Street in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, it was established in 1960. The new museum building was completed in October 2006 and is the final masterpiece of the renowned architectural design master I. M. Pei. The museum site is the former palace of Li Xiucheng, the Loyal King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

The museum covers a total area of over 8,000 square meters and is divided into eastern, western, and central sections. The main building in the central section is in a hall-style structure, with beams and rafters fully decorated with Suzhou-style colored paintings. At the side entrance, there is a wisteria planted by Wen Zhengming. Inside the eastern section, there is a classical Taiping Heavenly Kingdom stage, among other features. It is a National Key Cultural Heritage Protection Unit. The design of the new museum building combines traditional Suzhou architectural style, using a tomb-mound form to place the museum among courtyards, where the buildings and their serene environmental style complement each other. During holidays, the Suzhou Museum is extremely popular.

11.11.5 Hanshan Temple

Hanshan Temple is located in Fengqiao Town, about 5 kilometers west of Changmen Gate in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It faces west, with its gate opposite the ancient canal. According to tradition, Hanshan Temple was initially built during the Tianjian era (502-519 AD) of Emperor Wu of Liang in the Six Dynasties period, originally named "Miaoli Puming Tayuan" (Wonderful Benefit & Universal Brightness Pagoda Courtyard). During the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era, it is said that the famous monks Hanshan and Shide came from Tiantai Mountain to serve as abbots here, and the temple was renamed Hanshan Temple. The temple gained fame both in China and abroad due to the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji's poem "Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night": "The moon sets, crows caw, frost fills the sky; / By maples and river lights, a troubled sleeper lies. / Outside Gusu City, from Hanshan Temple, / The midnight bell reaches the traveler's boat." During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, the monk Benji cast a large bronze bell and built the bell tower. Tourists from all over the world often make special trips to Hanshan Temple on New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar) or Chinese New Year's Eve to listen to the New Year's bell.

11.12 Handicrafts

• Silk products
• Sandalwood fans
• Suzhou embroidery (Su Xiu)
• Double-sided embroidery
• Peach-stone carvings (boat models)
• Taohuawu woodblock New Year prints
• Freshwater pearl jewelry
• Chinese painting
• Calligraphy

12. Sister Cities

12.1 Sister Cities within Mainland China

• Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province
• Changchun City, Jilin Province
• Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province
• Zunyi City, Guizhou Province
• Zhengzhou City, Henan Province

12.2 International Sister Cities and Friendly Exchange Cities

By the end of 2018, Suzhou City had established 22 international sister cities (provinces, counties), in addition to an unspecified number of international friendly exchange cities.

• Venice, Italy
• Victoria, Canada
• Ikeda City, Japan
• Kanazawa City, Japan
• Portland, USA
• Tulcea County, Romania
• Jeonju City, South Korea
• Kameoka City, Japan
• Riga, Latvia
• Ismailia, Egypt
• Grenoble, France
• Nijmegen, Netherlands
• Higashimurayama City, Japan
• Esbjerg, Denmark
• Konstanz, Germany
• Taupō, New Zealand
• Nabari City, Japan
• Porto Alegre, Brazil
• Marrakesh, Morocco
• Jacksonville, USA
• Riihimäki, Finland
• Taebaek City, South Korea
• Nowy Sącz, Poland
• Kyiv, Ukraine
• Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
• Logan, Australia
• Antananarivo, Madagascar
• Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina
• Viña del Mar, Chile
• Ōyama Town, Japan
• Hirokawa Town, Japan
• Portland, Australia
• Eiheiji Town, Japan
• Kronoberg County, Sweden
• Tahara City, Japan
• Tottori City, Japan
• Nago City, Japan
• Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo
• Austin, USA
• Malé, Maldives
• Hainaut Province, Belgium
• Windhoek, Namibia
• Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

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Camphor Tree

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