1. Introduction

Wuxi City, abbreviated as Xi, historically known as Liangxi and Jinkui, is located in the southern part of Jiangsu Province, situated in the Jiangnan Yangtze River Delta and along the shores of Taihu Lake. It administers five municipal districts—Liangxi, Binhu, Xinwu, Huishan, and Xishan—as well as two county-level cities ranked among China's top 100: Jiangyin City and Yixing City. Geographically, Wuxi lies at the central point of southern Jiangsu and the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area. It borders the Yangtze River to the north, overlooks Taihu Lake to the south, is approximately 128.2 kilometers east of Shanghai, and shares a boundary with Zhejiang Province to the south, giving it significant advantages as a transportation hub and high military strategic value. Known as the "Pearl of Taihu Lake," Wuxi is a core city in the Yangtze River Delta and the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area. The municipal government is located at No. 1 Jinkui Road, Taihu New City.

Wuxi is the birthplace of Jiangnan civilization and Wu culture. Its documented history dates back to the late Shang Dynasty, though its actual historical development spans over 3,000 years. In 1981, the State Council designated Wuxi as one of China's fifteen key economic centers and among the first thirteen larger cities approved by the State Council, granting it local legislative power. Additionally, Wuxi is recognized as a National Historical and Cultural City and was among the first batch of outstanding tourist cities evaluated by the National Tourism Administration in 1998. In March 1983, the city-county administrative system was implemented, with Wuxi County and Jiangyin County (formerly under Suzhou Prefecture) and Yixing County (formerly under Zhenjiang Prefecture) placed under the jurisdiction of Wuxi City, establishing the city's "one body, two wings" structure. Today, Wuxi is a central city in the Shanghai Metropolitan Area and the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan area. It is also the cradle of China's national industry and township enterprises, the birthplace of the Southern Jiangsu Model, and hosts the Wuxi Joint Logistics Support Center of the Joint Logistics Support Force.

Beyond its historical, cultural, and economic development, Wuxi is an important national scenic tourist city and a National Historical and Cultural City. Attractions within the city include Turtle Head Isle of Taihu Lake, Lingshan Grand Buddha, Nianhua Bay, Wuxi CCTV Film and Television Base, Ligong Island in Lihu Lake, Chong'an Temple, Huishan Ancient Town, and the Xihui Scenic Area. Historically, Wuxi has been renowned as a hub for cloth, money, kilns, silk, and rice markets. Currently, Wuxi's landmark industries primarily include the Internet of Things, integrated circuits, and biomedicine. The city also boasts convenient transportation, with the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity Railway, and Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway passing through its territory. As of 2024, the Wuxi Metro operates 145 kilometers of urban rail transit. In the southeast of the city lies the 4E-class Sunan Shuofang International Airport. Alongside its economic achievements, Wuxi has produced numerous notable figures such as Gu Kaizhi, Ni Yunlin, Qian Mu, and Qian Zhongshu, and is home to renowned classical and modern gardens, including Jichang Garden, Li Garden, and Turtle Head Isle.

2. Origin of the Place Name

There are numerous accounts regarding the origin of the name "Wuxi." The most widely circulated theory originates from Feng Menglong's Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms: In the late Warring States period, Wang Jian, a general under King Ying Zheng of Qin, attacked the State of Chu. After capturing Lanling, he led his troops to station at Xishan in Wuxi. While soldiers were setting up cauldrons to cook, they unearthed a stone tablet inscribed with the words: "When there is tin, armies contend; when there is no tin, the world is at peace." Prior to this, Xishan in Wuxi was rich in tin deposits, making it a strategically contested location. Upon seeing the tablet, Wang Jian declared that peace could now prevail in the world. Thus, the place name "Wuxi" (literally "no tin") came into being, and subsequent local chronicles of Wuxi have recorded many variations based on this story.

According to recent research in phonology by linguists, the name "Wuxi" may derive from an ancient Yue ethnic group designation. Like other place names in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region such as Gusu, Yuhang, and Fujiao, "Wuxi" belongs to the "齐头式" (head-initial) type of toponym. The character "无" (wu) is considered a prefix in the ancient Yue language with no concrete meaning, while the original meaning of "锡" (xi) is untraceable due to the long-lost ancient Yue language. However, linguist Zhengzhang Shangfang posits that "无" was an honorific prefix in ancient Wu language, so "Wuxi" would mean "Respected Mountain Deity of Xishan." Zhengzhang Shangfang also provided interpretations for the ancient Wu language meanings of other place names like "Gusu, Yuhang, Fujiao, and Xuyi."

Research by Cheng Deqi, former Secretary-General of the Suzhou Folklore Society, suggests that the legendary Chinese ancestor Fuxi might have originated from the ancient Huashan in Wuxi (present-day Huishan in Wuxi). Some scholars thus speculate that "Wuxi" could be an ancient transliteration of "Fuxi." Others propose that after Taibo arrived in the State of Wu, its capital, Meili, was anciently called "Wuxu," and "Wuxi" evolved homophonically from "Wuxu." However, in ancient and middle Chinese, the characters "羲" (xi in Fuxi) and "虚" (xu in Wuxu) belonged to the velar series (K-type initials), while "锡" (xi) belonged to the dental series (S-type initials). They are phonetically distant and also differ in tonal categories (舒入之别), making homophonic derivation from "羲" or "虚" unlikely.

Additionally, Wuxi was historically known by the alternative name "Liangxi," derived from the Liangxi River. Located in the southwest of Wuxi, the Liangxi River is an important waterway connecting the ancient Grand Canal to Lake Tai. It was excavated by the renowned Eastern Han scholar Liang Hong after he moved south. Liang Hong is the protagonist of the idiom "举案齐眉" (holding the tray level with the eyebrows), symbolizing marital respect and harmony.

3. History

3.1 Prehistoric Era and the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods

When discussing the history of Wuxi, people often first think of Taibo's flight to Wu. The common narrative is that before Taibo's arrival, the Wuxi area was a wild, uncultivated land. It was Taibo who brought advanced farming techniques from the north, teaching the people of Wu how to cultivate crops and raise livestock. In fact, as early as six or seven thousand years ago, the ancient inhabitants of Wuxi were already laboring, living, and multiplying on this land, leading a settled life. Belonging to a region of rivers and lakes, these early inhabitants often used "dun" (mounds or elevated land) as places for living and burial, making "dun" almost synonymous with sites of ancient settlements. Examples include the Xianlidun and Gedaidun sites excavated in Wuxi in the 1950s, and more recently discovered sites such as the Longzhuadun site in Zhouzhuang, Jiangyin; the Gaochengdun site in Shizhuang, Jiangyin; and the Pengzudun site in Guanjia Village, Hongsheng, Wuxi. These sites successively belong to the Majiabang Culture, Songze Culture, and Liangzhu Culture. The Shecheng site at Gaojiadun in Yunting, Jiangyin, discovered in 2001, measures nearly 800 meters at its longest north-south point and nearly 500 meters at its widest east-west point, covering an area of approximately 300,000 square meters. It was constructed no later than the mid-Shang Dynasty and has been called the "First City of Jiangnan." It is also the only discovered ancient city from the Bronze Age in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, predating Taibo's flight to Wu.

During the Liangzhu Culture period, the social productive forces in the Wuxi area had reached a considerable level. Archaeological excavations have unearthed many farming tools from this period, such as stone plows and stone sickles. Rice cultivation had developed two varieties, indica and japonica. People had learned to domesticate animals, and handicrafts were primarily focused on pottery and jade production.

In the late 11th century BC, Taibo, the eldest son of King Tai of Zhou, and his younger brother Zhongyong, in order to cede the throne to their youngest brother Jili, fled south from the Qishan area (now in Shaanxi) to the Jingman region. Taibo chose to settle in Meili, present-day Meicun in Wuxi. He adapted to local customs, cutting his hair and tattooing his body. Taibo disseminated the advanced culture and technology of the Central Plains in the Jiangnan region, earning the admiration of the people, who revered him as their ruler. He named his state "Gouwu." After the Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Shang, because Taibo had no sons, King Wu of Zhou posthumously enfeoffed Zhouzhang, a fifth-generation descendant of Zhongyong, as the ruler of Wu, formally establishing the State of Wu. Confucius praised this act as the pinnacle of virtue. Consequently, Wuxi became one of the birthplaces of Wu culture.

In 473 BC, King Goujian of Yue destroyed the State of Wu. By the Warring States period, Yue had declined and was subsequently conquered by the State of Chu. In 248 BC, Lord Chunshen of Chu, Huang Xie, relocated his fief to the Wu lands east of the Yangtze River to avoid the front lines of war. During his time in Wu, Huang Xie diligently worked to develop the old Wu territories. He restored the former Wu ruins located in Wuxi to serve as a commandery capital, marking the beginning of Wuxi's turtle-shell-shaped old city layout.

3.2 Qin, Han, Tang, and Song Dynasties

During the Qin Dynasty, Wuxi belonged to Kuaiji Commandery. In the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of Han (202 BC), Wuxi County was established. During Wang Mang's reign, it was briefly renamed Youxi. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, with the construction of the Grand Canal, Wuxi gradually became a distribution center for agricultural products and textiles from Jiangnan to North China and even nationwide.

During this period, Wuxi, leveraging its superior natural conditions, convenient water and land transportation, and relatively stable social environment, became an important economic city in Jiangnan. In both the Tang and Song dynasties, Wuxi was a prominent county. During the Song Dynasty, "merchants from all directions brought their goods to the market. Their footsteps followed one another, and the market lasted for over a month before concluding."

3.3 Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties

In the first year of Yuanzhen (1295), the court established Wuxi Zhou (Wuxi Prefecture). By this time, Wuxi was already considered the "foremost among famous counties in Zheyou (region south of the Zhe River)." After the Ming Dynasty, Wuxi developed rapidly and was called the "Rice Wharf" and the "Cloth Wharf." According to contemporary statistics, among the 17 individuals nationwide renowned for wealth rivaling the state, two were from Wuxi.

With commercial prosperity, a trend of literary and scholarly pursuits flourished in the Jiangnan region during the mid to late Ming Dynasty. Wuxi also produced a group of talented scholars and artists during this time, such as Wang Fu, Ji Liuqi, and Shao Bao. Furthermore, Wuxi was one of the important birthplaces of bronze movable-type printing and Kunqu opera. In the late Ming, Gu Xiancheng restored the Donglin Academy, originally a lecture hall of Song Confucian scholar Yang Shi. Here, discussions on state affairs took place, giving rise to the Donglin Party. Consequently, Wuxi became a center of public opinion on state affairs in Jiangnan during the late Ming and early Qing.

By the Qing Dynasty, due to the complexity and severity of the tax system, some populous and commercially prosperous areas under the jurisdiction of the Suzhou, Changzhou, and Songjiang prefectures in Jiangnan, including Wuxi, faced a situation where "the grain quota of a single county could equal that of an entire province like Sichuan or Guizhou." This forced the populace to conceal income and evade taxes. Consequently, in the second year of the Yongzheng reign (1724), the Qing court divided large counties into smaller ones. Wuxi County was thus split into Wuxi and Jingui counties, administered within the same city.

In the mid to late Qing Dynasty, Wuxi's geographical advantages became even more pronounced, as seen in the astonishing development of its silk industry. Records show that in the fourth year of the Guangxu reign (1878), the total raw silk production of Suzhou, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang prefectures was 355,355 jin, while Wuxi alone produced 138,000 jin. This exceeded two-thirds of the total output of Suzhou Prefecture, the traditional center of the silk industry, making Wuxi the largest silk-producing county in Jiangsu Province. Subsequently, the Grain Tribute Bureau originally located in Shanghai was moved to Wuxi, which was designated as the transfer station for tribute grain from various counties in Jiangsu. From 1888 to 1911, Wuxi served as the central hub for handling tribute grain for Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, processing over 1.3 million dan annually. Through this role, Wuxi established its position as one of the four major rice markets. The gathering of merchants from various regions not only promoted the development of the grain trade but also spurred the prosperity of Wuxi's social economy.

By the late Qing, times were troubled, particularly with the rise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, leading to years of warfare. Between 1860 and 1863, fierce battles and seesaw struggles between Qing forces and the Taiping Army in the Wuxi area inflicted unprecedented catastrophe upon the city. Over half of the urban residents were killed or injured, and almost all buildings in the city were destroyed. Not only were millennia-old structures within the city reduced to less than one-tenth of their former number, but the urban and rural population also plummeted, leaving people displaced, the economy stagnant, and culture in decline. Because the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom exclusively worshipped the "God Worshipping Society" (a form of Christianity) and deemed all other religions heretical, Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries were all burned down. Famous sites like Chong'an Temple, Huishan Temple, Qituo Temple, Jinghui Temple, and Dongxu Palace were all destroyed. Historical records consistently note under the "Temples" section: "Destroyed in the Gengshen year of Xianfeng (1860)," serving as evidence. Only a few buildings, such as the Hou Taipu Shrine at the city's revetment, survived because they were used as the residence of the Taiping King Huang Zilong. After Qing troops recaptured Wuxi, the Qing commanders allowed their soldiers "three days of unrestricted looting," subjecting the already devastated Wuxi to another round of plunder. The once-prosperous lower Yangtze region generally experienced a sharp population decline and abandoned farmland.

3.4 Modern and Contemporary Era

3.4.1 Late Qing and Early Republic of China

With the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing in 1843, Shanghai opened as a treaty port. In 1906, the Shanghai-Wuxi section of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway was completed, and Wuxi Railway Station began operations. By this time, Shanghai had become a globally prominent economic center, and the canal-based grain tribute era was gradually being replaced by maritime transport. However, as land prices and wages in Shanghai rose year by year, some visionary national entrepreneurs chose to establish factories in Wuxi, where land was cheaper, wages lower, industrial raw materials more abundant, transportation well-developed, and capital circulation more convenient, making it an ideal starting point for investment. In 1894, the Yeqin Cotton Mill, opened by the prominent local Yang family, was Wuxi's first modern machine weaving factory, marking the beginning and development of Wuxi's modern industry. Subsequently, prominent local families like the Rong, Xue, Tang, and Zhou families established modern industries in Wuxi, primarily focused on textiles and food processing, such as flour milling, silk reeling, and cotton spinning. Wuxi gradually became a new economic center in the Jiangnan region, earning the reputation as the cradle of China's modern national industry and commerce.

Alongside economic prosperity and social change, Wuxi was also at the forefront of modern intellectual enlightenment. In 1898, Qiu Tingliang and his niece Qiu Meilü founded China's first vernacular newspaper, Wuxi Vernacular News. Later, local figures like Yang Yinhang, Wu Zhihui, and Qin Yuliu played pivotal roles in revolutionary activities against the Qing Dynasty.

3.4.2 Republic of China Period

In the autumn of 1911, the Xinhai Revolution erupted. On November 16 of that year, Wuxi declared its restoration. The following year, the Republic of China was founded. Wuxi and Jingui counties were merged back into Wuxi County, under the jurisdiction of Suchang Circuit. After the 1911 Revolution, Wuxi's industrialization continued to grow rapidly, with the number of factories increasing from 11 in 1910 to 78 in 1919.

3.4.3 After the Northern Expedition by the Nationalist Government

On March 22, 1927, the National Revolutionary Army secured Wuxi. To implement local self-governance and democracy, the circuit system was abolished, and Wuxi County was placed directly under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province. Starting in 1934, the Nationalist Government established the Second Administrative Inspector's Office in Wuxi, overseeing ten counties within the former Suchang Circuit area.During this golden decade, Wuxi experienced rapid development in various fields. For instance, in terms of transportation, by 1937, the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway had one major station and four smaller stations in Wuxi, with the fastest journey to Shanghai taking only 2 hours and 2 minutes. On the waterways, Wuxi had seven freight shipping bureaus, operating various steamships, sailing vessels, and fast boats connecting townships and cities in neighboring counties. Industrial and commercial progress was particularly remarkable. By 1932, Wuxi had over 170 factories, employing more than 60,000 workers, with a total capital of 14–15 million yuan. The cotton textile industry was the largest in scale, followed by the flour industry. After industrialization, the traditional Wuxi rice market could produce 260,000 bags of flour daily, ranking third nationally after Shanghai and Harbin. In commerce, there were nine warehouses and 1,661 shops, with over a hundred market towns developed. According to the 1937 "Report on Chinese Industry" by the National Government's Military Commission, among China's six major industrial cities, Wuxi ranked second in the number of industrial workers, third in industrial output value after Shanghai and Guangzhou, fifth in total capital, and was the only city among them without a foreign concession. At the time, the popular song "Scenery of Wuxi" praised Wuxi as "Little Shanghai," and there was a folk saying in Shanghai: "People from Wuxi manage industry and commerce, while people from Ningbo manage finance."

The prosperous economy brought rapid urbanization to Wuxi. For example, Lishe, originally a rural area of Wuxi, saw "goods from distant places flocking in since the opening of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway. What was once considered rare has now become daily necessities." "When the railway first opened, a small organ purchased by the village school attracted crowds of villagers, blocking the doors. Now, even gramophones no longer draw the attention of the villagers." During this period, Wuxi's cultural scene also flourished. In 1920, the Wuxi Sinology College, founded by the great Confucian scholar Tang Wenzhi, became an important venue for promoting Chinese culture. Many modern luminaries, such as Zhang Taiyan, Lü Simian, Qian Mu, Tang Lan, and Wu Qichang, either taught or studied there.

However, after the July 7 Incident in 1937 and the outbreak of the War of Resistance, Wuxi, as an economic center in Jiangnan, suffered a devastating blow. Regarding this, the British journalist H. J. Timperley recorded: "...The destruction in Shanghai was exceptionally severe... Wuxi, about a hundred miles from Shanghai, was a rapidly developing industrial area with a population of approximately 900,000. All factory buildings suffered heavy losses or were completely destroyed due to intense bombing by Japanese aircraft. The most important flour mills, a textile mill, a power plant, and a very modern silk mill were all destroyed. Jiaxing, a silk industry center in Zhejiang with an original population of 450,000, has become a dead city. Songjiang, with a population of 200,000, is almost reduced to ashes. Suzhou, with an original population of 350,000, had only 500 people left when the Japanese army occupied the city..."

3.4.4 After the Victory of the War of Resistance

After the victory in the War of Resistance in 1945, the National Government reduced taxes and provided essential supplies for workers in private enterprises, leading to a temporary recovery in Wuxi's economy. Private industrial and commercial investments increased. By 1947, the total loans issued by banks and money shops in Wuxi reached 83 billion yuan, and the Beitang area formed a new commercial center. In 1947, Wuxi's total tax revenue amounted to 200 billion yuan, with goods tax alone exceeding 10 million yuan, second only to Shanghai. However, the intensification of the Second Chinese Civil War inevitably impacted Wuxi's economy.

3.4.5 The Second Chinese Civil War and the Handover of Wuxi

At midnight on April 23, 1949, the People's Liberation Army pursued the Nationalist forces along the Xicheng Highway and entered Wuxi through the Guangfu Gate, peacefully occupying the city. On April 25, 1949, the Southbound Work Corps of 1,200 members and over 300 underground Communist Party members began public operations under the leadership of the "Wuxi City Military Control Commission." On April 26, the Southern Jiangsu Administrative Office was established in Wuxi. Guan Wenwei, the director of the Southern Jiangsu Administrative Office, also served as the director of the Wuxi City Military Control Commission. Qian Min was appointed as the Wuxi Municipal Party Committee Secretary (though he did not assume office), Xie Kedong as the Deputy Secretary, Gu Feng as the Mayor, and Bao Houchang as the Deputy Mayor. By mid-June 1949, the takeover of Wuxi City was largely completed.

3.4.6 After the Reform and Opening-Up

Since China's reform and opening-up, as a representative of the Southern Jiangsu Model, Wuxi's economy has recovered and achieved remarkable development due to the growth of township and private enterprises. In 1981, Wuxi was listed as one of the 15 national economic central cities. In 1985, the State Council designated Wuxi as an open city in the coastal economic open zone of the Yangtze River Delta. Subsequently, the development of industrial parks attracted large-scale foreign investment, making Wuxi one of the earlier modern industrial cities in China's coastal areas with considerable scale and high standards. Since then, Wuxi has consistently ranked at the top in urban comprehensive competitiveness and investment environment rankings.

4. Geography

Wuxi City is located in the southeastern part of Jiangsu Province, with geographical coordinates of 31°33′N 120°18′E. It borders Suzhou City to the east; faces Lake Tai to the south, looking across the lake at Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province; and adjoins Changzhou City to the west. Notably, Yixing City, one of the two county-level cities under Wuxi's jurisdiction, is separated by Wujin District of Changzhou City, having no land connection with the main part of Wuxi, making it an exclave of Wuxi. To the north, Jiangyin City borders the Yangtze River, facing Jingjiang City under the jurisdiction of Taizhou City across the river. The total area of Wuxi City is 4,627.47 square kilometers (urban area: 1,643.88 sq km, built-up area: 316 sq km). Among this, mountainous and hilly areas cover 782 sq km, accounting for 16.90% of the total area; water surface area is 1,342 sq km, accounting for 29.0% of the total area.

4.1 Topography

Wuxi is situated in the Yangtze River Delta, characterized predominantly by plains with very low-lying terrain. The Taihu Plain is a saucer-shaped depression, with elevations generally below 3.5 meters and the lowest points below 2 meters. This is because the area north of Huishan to Jiangyin was historically part of Furong Lake, which gradually disappeared since the Song and Ming dynasties. Mashan in Wuxi features a bay-like lakeside low mountain and hilly terrain, with numerous hills, arid lands, and mountainous areas within the region, where terraces and floodplains have fertile soil. The subordinate Yixing City belongs to the Yili mountainous area, featuring low mountains and hills. The highest point is Huangtading (611.5 meters) in the south, which is an extension of the Tianmu Mountains and is the highest peak in Southern Jiangsu and the second highest in Jiangsu Province. Overall, Wuxi has a dense river network, beautiful waters, fertile soil, and abundant products, making it a typical Jiangnan water town.

4.2 Climate

Wuxi has a maritime subtropical monsoon climate, characterized by mild and humid conditions with four distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 15.5°C. Rainfall is abundant, with a relatively long rainy season concentrated mainly in summer. The average annual precipitation in Wuxi's urban area is 1,048 mm, the annual frost-free period is about 220 days, and the annual sunshine duration is 2,019.4 hours. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 28.0°C; the coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 2.8°C.

Average Meteorological Data for Wuxi City (1981-2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-------------| | Avg High °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) | 9.5 (49.1) | 13.8 (56.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 25.7 (78.3) | 28.7 (83.7) | 32.4 (90.3) | 31.8 (89.2) | 27.7 (81.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 16.7 (62.1) | 10.4 (50.7) | 20.6 (69.0) | | Daily Mean °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) | 5.4 (41.7) | 9.4 (48.9) | 15.2 (59.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 24.5 (76.1) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.8 (82.0) | 23.6 (74.5) | 18.2 (64.8) | 12.1 (53.8) | 5.9 (42.6) | 16.2 (61.2) | | Avg Low °C (°F) | 0.4 (32.7) | 2.1 (35.8) | 5.8 (42.4) | 11.1 (52.0) | 16.6 (61.9) | 21.1 (70.0) | 25.3 (77.5) | 24.8 (76.6) | 20.5 (68.9) | 14.6 (58.3) | 8.3 (46.9) | 2.4 (36.3) | 12.8 (54.9) | | Avg Precipitation mm (inches) | 58.8 (2.31) | 57.3 (2.26) | 92.0 (3.62) | 79.9 (3.15) | 96.1 (3.78) | 182.9 (7.20) | 172.1 (6.78) | 143.5 (5.65) | 91.5 (3.60) | 57.4 (2.26) | 56.7 (2.23) | 33.8 (1.33) | 1,122 (44.17) | | Avg Relative Humidity (%) | 75 | 75 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 79 | 79 | 81 | 80 | 77 | 75 | 72 | 76 |

4.3 Hydrology

Wuxi City has abundant water systems, featuring a dense network of rivers and numerous lakes. Within the planned water system framework of Wuxi City, there are 5,983 rivers and channels with a total length of 6,998 kilometers. Taking the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal as the vertical axis, there are regional waterways such as the Xicheng Canal, Xibei Canal, Jiuli River, Boduxiang, and Beixingtang to the north; and Caowangjing, Li River, Malixiang, Daxixiang, Zhihu Port, and Liangxi River to the south. Before 1949, the old city of Wuxi was structured around a circular moat system, radiating outward via the Grand Canal, Zhuanshui River, Liangxi River, and Boduxiang, forming a network for water diversion, drainage, and transportation. Within the original old city area, the ancient canal served as the main waterway, with the inner city river forming an arc. After 1949, during urban development, it is conservatively estimated that over 1,000 rivers and channels in the Wuxi area were filled in for road construction.

4.4 Environment

Wuxi is a National Garden City and, together with its subordinate cities Jiangyin and Yixing, is also a National Ecological City, forming China's first National Ecological City Cluster. Within Wuxi, seventeen wetland parks have been constructed, among which Changguangxi Wetland Park and Lianghong Wetland Park are recognized as National Wetland Parks.

In May 2007, due to industrial pollution discharge from areas along Lake Tai in Suzhou and water eutrophication caused by aquaculture in the Suzhou Taihu area, a large-scale cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) bloom occurred in Lake Tai. Furthermore, due to prevailing southeasterly winds in summer, large amounts of cyanobacteria flowed into the Wuxi waters of Lake Tai, rendering Wuxi's tap water unusable. The Ministry of Water Resources subsequently urgently diverted water from the Yangtze River into Lake Tai. In 2008, cyanobacteria blooms continued. However, starting in 2009, through extensive and effective governance in the Wuxi Taihu basin and canal areas, water quality in Wuxi's waters has significantly improved, although industrial pollution and aquaculture from the Suzhou side have never ceased.

In 2009, Wuxi was honored with the United Nations' annual "Global Green City" award. In 2013, according to the "2013 Blue Book of Urban Competitiveness in China" released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Wuxi ranked first among mainland Chinese cities on the "Livability City Competitiveness Ranking," following Hong Kong and Macau.

5. Administrative Divisions

Wuxi City administers 5 municipal districts and oversees 2 county-level cities.

• Municipal Districts: Liangxi District, Xishan District, Huishan District, Binhu District, Xinwu District
• County-level Cities: Jiangyin City, Yixing City

In addition to the formal administrative divisions, Wuxi City has established the following economic functional zones:

• Xishan Economic and Technological Development Zone (National-level)
• Wuxi Liyuan Economic Development Zone (National-level Industrial Design Park)
• Wuxi Landscape City (including functional zones such as the National-level Wuxi Digital Industrial Park and the Provincial-level Wuxi Taihu Landscape City Tourism Resort)
• Wuxi Taihu National Tourism Resort (National-level)
• Jiangyin High-tech Industrial Development Zone (National-level)
• Yixing Economic and Technological Development Zone (National-level)
• Provincial-level: Jiangsu Jiangyin Port Economic Development Zone, Jiangsu Jiangyin-Jingjiang Industrial Park

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (sq km) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | Townships | Ethnic Townships | |-------------------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------|---------------|----------------------| | 320200 | Wuxi City | Wúxī Shì | 4,627.46 | 7,462,135 | Liangxi District | 214000 | 51 | 30 | | | | 320205 | Xishan District | Xīshān Qū | 399.11 | 882,387 | Dongting Subdistrict| 214100 | 5 | 4 | | | | 320206 | Huishan District| Huìshān Qū | 325.12 | 893,675 | Yanqiao Subdistrict | 214100 | 5 | 2 | | | | 320211 | Binhu District | Bīnhú Qū | 628.15 | 915,093 | Xinhu Subdistrict | 214000 | 8 | 1 | | | | 320213 | Liangxi District| Liángxī Qū | 71.50 | 985,465 | Chong'ansi Subdistrict | 214000 | 17 | | | | | 320214 | Xinwu District | Xīnwú Qū | 220.01 | 720,215 | Xin'an Subdistrict | 214000 | 6 | | | | | 320281 | Jiangyin City | Jiāngyīn Shì | 986.97 | 1,779,515 | Chengjiang Subdistrict | 214400 | 5 | 10 | | | | 320282 | Yixing City | Yíxīng Shì | 1,996.61 | 1,285,785 | Yicheng Subdistrict | 214200 | 5 | 13 | | |

6. Economy

After the reform and opening-up, leveraging the early advantages brought by the Southern Jiangsu Model, Wuxi gradually evolved into a major economic hub in eastern China and a highly dynamic commercial city. By the end of 2013, due to its robust comprehensive urban strength, Wuxi was recognized as one of the "China's New First-Tier Cities" by CBN Weekly. Concurrently, in the Forbes Chinese "2013 Best Cities for Business in Mainland China" ranking, Wuxi secured the fifth position, leading among all prefecture-level cities.

In 2022, Wuxi's economic scale reached a new high, with its comprehensive strength continuing to grow. Preliminary calculations show the city achieved a Gross Regional Product (GRP) of 1,485.082 billion yuan for the year, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.0% at comparable prices. The per capita GRP based on the resident population reached 198,400 yuan, ranking first in the nation.

In 2023, Wuxi's per capita GDP reached 206,300 yuan, securing the top spot among large and medium-sized cities in China for four consecutive years.

Sector-wise, the city's primary industry achieved an added value of 13.365 billion yuan, a 1.1% increase from the previous year; the secondary industry achieved an added value of 717.739 billion yuan, up 3.6%; and the tertiary industry achieved an added value of 753.978 billion yuan, up 2.4%. The ratio of the three industries was adjusted to 0.9 : 48.3 : 50.8.

Throughout the year, 158,100 new urban jobs were created, including the reemployment of 77,200 various types of laid-off and unemployed urban workers, and the assisted reemployment of 31,200 individuals facing employment difficulties. The registered urban unemployment rate for the city was 2.68%.

The private economy achieved an added value of 983.124 billion yuan for the year, a 3.3% increase from the previous year, accounting for 66.2% of the total economic output, up 0.2 percentage points year-on-year. The output value of private industrial enterprises above designated size reached 1,426.928 billion yuan, growing by 12.8% compared to the previous year. Private investment amounted to 240.341 billion yuan, a decrease of 3.6% from the previous year.

By year-end, there were 423,300 enterprises of various types registered with registration authorities at all levels in the city. Among these, there were 36,000 state-owned and collectively-controlled companies, 7,000 foreign-invested enterprises, and 380,400 private enterprises. During the year, 51,200 new enterprises of various types were registered. By year-end, there were 660,900 individual businesses, with 80,800 newly registered during the year.

The annual urban Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.1%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points from the previous year. Within this, service prices increased by 1.0%, while consumer goods prices increased by 2.9%. Industrial production prices saw stable growth, with the annual Producer Price Index (PPI) for industrial products rising by 1.7%, and the Purchasing Price Index for industrial producers rising by 3.9%.

6.1 Private Economy

Wuxi has historically enjoyed a relatively developed economy. In 1895, Yang Zonglian and Yang Zonghan founded the first national capital enterprise in Wuxi—the Yeqin Cotton Mill—outside the South Gate. Subsequently, numerous enterprises primarily focused on textiles, silk, and grain processing were established and developed rapidly, making Wuxi one of the birthplaces of China's national industry and commerce. This period witnessed numerous "firsts" and "bests" in Wuxi's modern industrial development history. It gave rise to batches of industrial and commercial giants, including the Rong and Tang families, showcasing the entrepreneurial journey of Wuxi's national industrial and commercial entrepreneurs, which deserves eternal remembrance. After the reform and opening-up, building upon the foundation of the Southern Jiangsu Model represented by township industries, Wuxi's private enterprises flourished. Renowned companies such as WuXi AppTec, Little Swan, Shanhe Pharmaceutical, Heilan Home, and JCET transformed during this period. Since July 1993, when Taiji Industry became the first listed private enterprise from Jiangsu Province on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the scale of listed companies from Wuxi has gradually expanded over the years, forming a relatively unique "Wuxi Sector." This sector ranks first in Jiangsu and plays an increasingly important role in the economic development of the entire Yangtze River Delta.

In terms of data, in 2021, Wuxi's private economy achieved an added value of 924.215 billion yuan, a 9.0% increase from the previous year, accounting for 66.0% of the total economic output, up 0.2 percentage points year-on-year. The output value of private industrial enterprises above designated size reached 1,252.067 billion yuan, growing by 25.4% compared to the previous year. Private investment amounted to 249.340 billion yuan, an increase of 4.6% from the previous year. By the end of 2021, there were 398,300 enterprises of various types registered with registration authorities at all levels in Wuxi. Among these, there were 32,900 state-owned and collectively-controlled companies, 7,100 foreign-invested enterprises, and 358,300 private enterprises. During the year, 59,000 new enterprises of various types were registered. By year-end, there were 629,900 individual businesses, with 123,000 newly registered during the year.

6.2 Foreign-invested Economy

Currently, Wuxi is accelerating its integration with the global economy, with trade partners spanning over 220 countries and regions worldwide. In 2021, Wuxi's total import and export volume reached USD 105.7 billion, 1.5 times that of a decade ago. The city attracted 240 projects with a total investment exceeding USD 100 million each. Simultaneously, its outbound investment has been steadily expanding.

Foreign-invested enterprises in Wuxi include numerous multinational corporations from Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea, such as GE Healthcare (USA), Panasonic Group, Infineon (Germany), LG Chem (South Korea), Sony, Sharp, SK Hynix, and Bosch. Since the province's first Sino-foreign joint venture settled in Wuxi in 1981, the city has gathered over 7,200 foreign-invested enterprises and nearly 12,000 foreign trade enterprises. This includes over 110 Fortune Global 500 multinational companies like SK Hynix, AstraZeneca, and Bosch, with cumulative utilized foreign investment nearing USD 80 billion. Among them, 108 Fortune Global 500 companies have invested in establishing 218 enterprises in Wuxi. While foreign investment continues to increase, Wuxi's trade partners have expanded to over 220 countries and regions across six continents, and its outbound investment has reached 92 countries and regions globally. By 2022, Wuxi's total foreign trade import and export volume exceeded USD 110 billion, setting another historical record. The city's actual utilized foreign capital reached USD 3.83 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.6%.

6.3 State-owned Enterprise Economy

Wuxi City administratively oversees 11 first-tier enterprises including Guolian Group, Urban Construction Group, Transportation Industry Group, Municipal Group, Industrial Development Group, Junlai Group, Metro Group, and Airport Group, along with numerous subordinate enterprises.

The framework of Wuxi's state-owned assets is primarily centered on Guolian Group, which develops banking and extends into insurance based on its existing financial business. The Urban Construction Group, formed mainly by the City Investment Company, Housing Development Group, Taihu New City Construction Company, and Landscape Corporation, undertakes urban environment construction and the development of Taihu New City. The Transportation Construction Group, formed mainly by the Transportation Industry Group, is responsible for the construction and operation of transportation facilities and urban public transport, as well as developing modern logistics. The Municipal Construction Group, formed mainly by the Municipal Public Utilities Industry Group, handles the operation and construction of public utilities like water supply, gas supply, and sewage disposal, the operation and construction of municipal projects like urban roads and bridges, and the development of environmental resources. The Industrial Development Group, formed mainly by the Industrial Company and Weifu Group, focuses on investment in advantageous industries and venture (risk) capital investment. The Junlai Group primarily focuses on hotel management and operation.

By the end of 2021, the total assets of Wuxi's municipal enterprises amounted to 703.010 billion yuan. In 2021, they achieved operating revenue of 171.827 billion yuan, a total profit of 9.609 billion yuan, and paid taxes and fees of 5.865 billion yuan. Compared to 2012, these figures increased by approximately 1.54 times, 4 times, 1.1 times, and 1.42 times, respectively.

6.4 Industrial Parks

Since 1992, when the Wuxi New District was approved by the State Council to become a national-level high-tech industrial development zone, Wuxi now possesses 7 national-level development zones and 15 provincial-level or above development zones. Following the establishment of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone in September 2013, Wuxi has been actively planning for integration. Currently, Wuxi's Business Representative Office in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone has been inaugurated. According to plans, surrounding industrial parks, including those in Wuxi, will be incorporated into the construction of the second and third phases of the free trade zone in the future.#### 6.4.1 Introduction to Wuxi's Six National-Level Industrial Parks Wuxi New District: Established in 1992 with the approval of the State Council. Founded in 1995 on the basis of a high-tech zone, Wuxi New District has now developed numerous specialized parks including the Airport Industrial Park, the National Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and the Taihu Science and Technology Park. It has formed five pillar industries focusing on electronic information, precision machinery and mechatronics, biomedicine, fine chemicals, and new materials. Wuxi New District boasts significant geographical advantages, with both the Shanghai-Nanjing Intercity Railway Wuxi New District Station and Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport located within its jurisdiction.

Xishan Economic and Technological Development Zone: Established in May 1992, approved as a provincial-level development zone by the Jiangsu Provincial Government in November 1993, and upgraded to a national-level development zone in 2003. It consists of two parts: the Western Park and the combined Central and Eastern Parks. The Western Park is being developed into a cluster for advanced functional manufacturing and high-end services. The Eastern Park, also known as the Xidong Innovation and Technology City (S-PARK), leverages the opportunities presented by the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway and the development of Wuxi's Xidong New City. It is planned for technological R&D, leisure and business, high-end residential areas, convention hotels, and high-tech manufacturing.

Wuxi National Industrial Design Park: Also known as Wuxi Liyuan Economic Development Zone, established in June 1992. In May 2003, it was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology as China's first high-tech specialized park themed on industrial design.

Wuxi Landscaped City: Formed in September 2009 through the integration of the former Wuxi Taihu Landscaped City Tourism Resort and the former Wuxi Taihu New City Science and Education Industrial Park. The park houses specialized zones such as the National Digital Film Industrial Park, the China Service Outsourcing Demonstration Zone (Taihu Protected Area), and the National Animation Industry Base.

Jiangyin National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone: Established in 1992, it was upgraded to a National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone with the approval of the State Council on June 15, 2011. Its leading industries include four advanced manufacturing sectors: metal new materials and high-end products, integrated communication equipment and materials, high-end intelligent equipment, and modern traditional Chinese medicine and biological new drugs. It has formed a new modern industrial development pattern centered on five modern service industries: headquarters economy, cultural creativity, software and service outsourcing, modern logistics, and urban economy.

Yixing Economic Development Zone: Upgraded to a National Economic and Technological Development Zone in March 2013. The zone includes important components such as the China New Energy Industry Demonstration Base, the China Green Ecological Demonstration Zone, the National Industrial Service Center, and the Wuxi Low-Carbon Economy Demonstration Pilot Park. It has formed four major industrial clusters focusing on the new energy industry, optoelectronics industry, new materials industry, and advanced equipment manufacturing industry.

6.5 Emerging Industries

Following the Taihu blue-green algae outbreak in 2007, Wuxi established an economic transformation direction focused on industrial upgrading. Currently, Wuxi has formed eight emerging industries: the Internet of Things (IoT), solar photovoltaics, environmental protection, biology, microelectronics, software and service outsourcing, industrial design, and cultural creativity. Among these, the IoT, solar photovoltaics, and microelectronics industries are particularly well-known. Although the development of the solar photovoltaic industry, represented by Suntech Power, has been less than stellar, the manufacturing and R&D of the microelectronics industry continues to flourish. In 2013, the scale of Wuxi's integrated circuit industry ranked second in the nation. The IoT sector is also thriving. In 2012, Wuxi's IoT comprehensive demonstration project became the only comprehensive application demonstration commended by the National Development and Reform Commission and one of the first national smart city construction pilot cities. Furthermore, over 50% of international IoT standards and specifications are formulated by the Wuxi IoT Industry Research Institute.

6.6 Commerce

As an important commercial center in East China, Wuxi has long been renowned for its unique geographical location and historical background. The development of Wuxi's commerce has a long and prosperous history, playing a crucial role in the local economic and social development.

The earliest development of commerce in Wuxi can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, when commercial activities were already taking place here. With historical evolution, Wuxi gradually became a transportation hub and commercial center in the Jiangnan region. Located by Taihu Lake with convenient transportation, Wuxi has been a distribution center for goods such as silk, tea, and rice since ancient times. Today, Wuxi's commerce has developed into a diversified economic system primarily based on service and high-tech industries.

Wuxi's commerce possesses many characteristics and advantages. Firstly, its superior geographical location in the center of the Yangtze River Delta facilitates convenient transportation and the flow of goods. Secondly, Wuxi boasts abundant natural resources and cultural heritage, providing unique conditions for commercial development. Additionally, the Wuxi municipal government has consistently been committed to optimizing the business environment, attracting numerous domestic and foreign investors and entrepreneurs to invest and establish businesses.

Currently, Wuxi's commercial areas are concentrated along Zhongshan Road in Liangxi District. This road gathers numerous Chinese and foreign commercial retail enterprises such as Maoye Department Store, Hongdou Wanhua City, Grand Orient Department Store, Suning Plaza, Plaza 66, Yaohan, Parkson, etc. It also includes three traditional commercial and trade districts: Chong'an Temple, Nanchan Temple, and Nanchang Street. Among them, the Chong'an Temple district is as famous as Shanghai's City God Temple, Nanjing's Confucius Temple, and Suzhou's Xuanmiao Temple, all of which originated from temple markets.

Since the establishment of Jiangsu's first Sino-foreign joint venture retail enterprise, Yaohan, in 1996, and China's second foreign-funded hypermarket, Metro, in 1997, both in Wuxi, the concentration of foreign-funded commercial retail in Wuxi has been second only to Shanghai in the Yangtze River Delta region. Today, Wuxi boasts commercial leaders such as Plaza 66, Grand Orient Department Store, Wuxi Yaohan, IKEA Hub, Yaohan Center, Bailian Outlets, Apple Store, MixC, MixC World, Coastal City, R&F Mall, Maoye Department Store, numerous Wanda Plazas, as well as Baile Plaza, Powerlong Plaza, New District Outlets, Huishan Yueshang Outlets, and other benchmark commercial retail enterprises. Many of these maintain uniqueness within Jiangsu Province or the Yangtze River Delta region. Consequently, Wuxi has established itself as the most important commercial center city in Jiangsu Province and even the Yangtze River Delta region.

7. Transportation

Wuxi enjoys a superior geographical location, situated at the center of the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor. It has been a vital transportation hub since ancient times, with a history of water transport that is particularly long-standing, traceable back to the Bodu River excavated after Taibo's migration to Wu, which is also the earliest canal in China. The construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal further traversed the entire territory of Wuxi, making it the only city through which the Grand Canal passes directly through the urban area. In modern times, the opening of the Wuxi-Shanghai section of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway in 1906 marked the beginning of modern transportation in Wuxi. Subsequently, highways such as the Xicheng (Wuxi-Jiangyin), Xiyi (Wuxi-Yixing), Xihu (Wuxi-Shanghai), and Xisu (Wuxi-Suzhou) were successively built, forming the initial shape of Wuxi's transportation hub.

Today, multiple expressways, national highways, and high-speed railways pass through Wuxi. Within the city, a comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network including an international airport, ports, and a subway system is fully established. Wuxi has become one of the major regional central cities in East China.

7.1 Highways

• As a primary transportation hub in East China, Wuxi is one of China's national highway transportation hub cities. It is traversed by nine expressways including the Nanjing-Hangzhou, Yangtze River Coastal, and Shanghai-Nanjing expressways, as well as multiple national and provincial highways. Due to the historical water-townscape of the old city, major urban roads in Wuxi's urban area were built by filling in canals, resulting in many winding and circuitous road conditions within the city. Farmland also exhibits an interlocking pattern due to the numerous ancient waterways.

• Regarding highway passenger transport, in 2011, Wuxi consolidated several previously dispersed long-distance bus stations into one central bus terminal. This terminal is connected to the North Square of Wuxi Railway Station (the intercity high-speed rail station), and together with the South Square of Wuxi Railway Station, the bus system, and the subway, forms a large transportation center area known as the Central Station. Wuxi Bus Terminal is a first-class passenger station, operating over 1,700 daily departures with an average daily passenger volume of 35,000, reaching nearly 100,000 passengers on peak days.

• Wuxi city possesses a crisscrossing network of express roads, including the Inner Ring Expressway, Middle Ring Expressway (under construction), Fengxiang Road Elevated, Jianghaixi Road Elevated, Tongjiang Avenue, Jincheng Road Elevated, Airport Road Elevated, Lihu Avenue, Taihu Avenue, etc. Projects currently under approval and construction include the Qianhu Road Elevated, Qianrong Road Elevated, and the expressway conversion of Tongjiang Avenue.

• Yixing City, under Wuxi's jurisdiction, has the Fanli Avenue Expressway Conversion Project. Additionally, the Yima Passage connecting to Wuxi's urban area is in its final construction phase. Meanwhile, Yixing City is also planning to build its own rapid transit system.

• Jiangyin City, under Wuxi's jurisdiction, has express roads such as Furong Avenue and Haigang Avenue. Simultaneously, the Xicheng Road and Changshan Avenue connecting to Wuxi are under construction. In the future, Jiangyin City is planning to develop its own express road network system.

7.2 Railway

The Wuxi area is currently traversed by the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway, Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, Nanjing-Hangzhou Passenger Dedicated Line, Xinchang Railway, and the Shanghai-Nanjing Yangtze River Coastal High-Speed Railway. It has five passenger stations: Wuxi Station (Beijing-Shanghai Railway, Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway), Wuxi East Station (Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway), Wuxi New District Station (Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway), Huishan Station (Shanghai-Nanjing High-Speed Railway Dedicated Line, with future expansion plans), Yixing Station (Nanjing-Hangzhou Passenger Dedicated Line, with future expansion plans), and Jiangyin Station (Southern Yangtze River Coastal High-Speed Railway, future Taixiyi Intercity Railway). All are under the Shanghai Railway Bureau, with Wuxi Station being a special-class passenger and freight station.

Currently, the South Square of Wuxi Station has begun renovation projects for its aging buildings and underground passages. Furthermore, as the Taixiyi Intercity Railway planned by Jiangsu Province and the already operational Yangtze River Coastal Intercity Railway will also pass through Huishan Station in Wuxi, both Huishan Station and Yixing Station will be expanded taking this opportunity.

7.3 Aviation

Sunan Shuofang International Airport (IATA: WUX; ICAO: ZSWX) is located in Shuofang Subdistrict, southeast of Wuxi New District, approximately 14 kilometers from downtown Wuxi and 20 kilometers from downtown Suzhou. Originally a garrison of the PLA Nanjing Military Region Air Force, the airport opened China's first United Airlines route to Beijing in the 1980s, which was suspended in 2002. Civil aviation flights resumed in 2004. On May 11, 2010, the Jiangsu Provincial Government decided to establish Sunan Shuofang International Airport based on Wuxi Shuofang Airport, jointly built by Wuxi City and several shareholders.

According to the State Council's "Regional Plan for the Yangtze River Delta Region," Sunan Shuofang International Airport will ultimately be developed into a national trunk airport, a Class I aviation port in southern Jiangsu, and a regional hub airport. Since opening, the airport has launched flights to numerous domestic and international destinations including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Lijiang, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Osaka, Tokyo, and Bangkok. The airport also has a port visa endorsement point for Taiwanese residents, facilitating their travel to the Sunan region. By the end of 2013, the airport's passenger throughput was 3.5902 million, and cargo and mail throughput reached 87,600 tons, ranking 39th and 24th respectively in national civil aviation airport traffic volume. It was also the only profitable airport among Jiangsu's nine airports besides Nanjing Lukou International Airport. In the future, Sunan Shuofang International Airport will build a new T3 terminal and a second runway, with long-term goals to handle 25 million passengers and 1.5 million tons of cargo annually.

Additionally, on August 4, 2020, Wuxi Transportation Industry Group and Yunnan Jingcheng Group held a signing ceremony for the equity transfer framework agreement regarding Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd. In 2021, after Ruili Airlines completed its equity change, Wuxi Transportation Industry Group invested in the company. By the end of 2021, the company completed its business license change and renamed itself "Sunan Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd." In April 2022, the Yunnan Supervision Bureau completed the supplementary review for the change of Ruili Airlines' operating certificate, officially changing the company name from "Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd." to "Sunan Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd."

In May 2023, Wuxi Sunan Shuofang International Airport officially commenced expansion projects, including the construction of a new cargo terminal building and supporting taxiway works for part of the second runway. Furthermore, Wuxi Airport is planning the construction of a second runway.

On December 14, 2024, Shuofang Airport's annual passenger throughput exceeded 10 million for the first time, becoming the second airport in Jiangsu Province to achieve this milestone. Moreover, the revised master plan for Wuxi Shuofang Airport regarding the new second runway, extension of the first runway, construction of T3 terminal, and integrated transportation hub received approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

7.4 Water Transport

Wuxi's inland waterway transport originated from grain transport via canals. Currently, relying on existing water systems like the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Wushen Canal, and Taihu Lake, by the end of 2013, the total length of constructed waterways reached 1,577.97 kilometers, with 476.89 kilometers being graded waterways, navigable year-round.

As an inland port, Wuxi Port is one of China's 28 major inland ports, consisting of Wuxi (Jiangyin) Port and Wuxi Inland Port. Wuxi Inland Port is divided into five port areas: Chengjiao Port Area, Huishan Port Area, Xishan Port Area, Jiangyin Port Area, and Yixing Port Area. Jiangyin Port is the only sea access for the Wuxi region, a national Class I open port, located 38 kilometers from downtown Wuxi. Jiangyin Port jurisdiction includes approximately 35 kilometers of deep-water coastline along the Yangtze River. Currently, it has over 43 ten-thousand-ton berths, making it the fifth inland port in China to reach the 100-million-ton level and the fourth major port along the Yangtze River to achieve "one million TEUs." Jiangyin Port houses functional industrial parks such as the Port Logistics Park, Taiwan Logistics Park, and Yangtze River Port Comprehensive Logistics Park. Additionally, Jiangyin Huangtian Port is a major ferry terminal connecting to northern Jiangsu.### 7.5 Public Transportation

7.5.1 Urban Public Transit

In the past, Wuxi had a dense network of waterways, and the city lacked roads suitable for vehicles. Consequently, residents primarily relied on boats, sedan chairs, or rickshaws for travel. Therefore, road transport services in Wuxi emerged relatively late, with the first car rental company, the Yuan Shikai Carriage Firm, established in 1927. Subsequently, private bus companies emerged, offering services to destinations such as Meiyuan (Plum Garden), Liyuan (Li Garden), Jiangyin, and the Shanjuan Cave in Yixing. In 1951, to facilitate visitors during the "South Jiangsu Commodities Exchange Fair" held in Wuxi, the first urban public bus route was inaugurated. Starting in 1956, the Wuxi Public Bus Company was formally established. Currently, the main public transportation modes within Wuxi's urban area are buses and taxis.

Regarding bus operations, there are four independently operating bus companies in Wuxi's urban area: Wuxi Public Transport, Xihui Public Transport, New District Public Transport, and Mashan Public Transport. The city operates approximately over 200 bus routes with around 3,000 buses. The standard fare is predominantly 2 yuan for the full journey, with a small number of non-air-conditioned buses charging 1 yuan. The numbering convention for Wuxi's bus routes is roughly as follows: routes 1-600 are assigned to Wuxi Public Transport; routes 600-750 and those above 800 are assigned to Xihui Public Transport; and routes 750-799 are assigned to New District Public Transport. However, due to phonetic taboos, routes containing the number "4" are extremely rare in Wuxi.

There are 4,040 taxis, with a uniform flag-fall fare of 10 yuan for the first 3 kilometers, and 1.9 yuan per kilometer thereafter. Additional charges, such as waiting fees incurred during stops, are added during fare settlement. Furthermore, Wuxi's urban area also offers public bicycle services operated by two separate companies.

In Wuxi, all public transportation modes, including the metro, buses, taxis, and public bicycles, accept the Wuxi Citizen Card. The Wuxi Citizen Card comes in two main types: the Standard Card and the Derivative Card. The Standard Card is a registered card. Beyond public transportation, its applications include use as a debit card for savings, an annual park pass, and for purposes in areas like social security, medical insurance, and commercial consumption. The Derivative Card, also known as the Wuxi Taihu Transit Card, can be obtained by simply topping up funds. It is anonymous, non-replaceable if lost, and can only be used for payments on buses, taxis, the metro, and at some convenience stores. Using the Citizen Card for transportation offers certain discounts. For instance, on buses, it consistently provides a 40% discount off the original fare. When transferring to a second bus route within 60 minutes, a 50% discount is applied. The Wuxi Citizen Card can also be used for bus travel in 35 cities across China, including Shanghai, Suzhou, Changshu, Kunshan, Nantong, Tianjin, and Fuzhou. Notably, Wuxi and Shanghai have achieved full interoperability; besides buses, the cards can be used in each other's applicable transit card domains, such as metros and ferries. However, interoperability is one-way with some cities. For example, the Wuxi Citizen Card can be used on Suzhou buses, but the Suzhou Transit Card cannot be used in Wuxi.

7.5.2 Rail Transit

The Wuxi Metro currently operates Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and S1, with a total length of 145 km, forming a cross-shaped rail transit network skeleton oriented east-west and north-south. According to plans, Wuxi City will construct 9 urban metro lines and 2 regional rail transit lines, totaling an 11-line rail transit network.

By the end of 2023, Wuxi City had successively initiated the construction of the third phase of its rail transit lines. Construction has already commenced on Line S2, the second phase of Line 4, the first phase of Metro Line 5, and the first phase of Metro Line 6.

The currently operational lines are:

• Wuxi Metro Line 1: Line color red; 6-car Type B train formation; north-south orientation, running from Yanqiao in the north to Nanfangquan in the south. It reserves an interface at Yanqiao Station for the future Xicheng (Wuxi-Jiangyin) Regional Rail Transit Line.
• Wuxi Metro Line 2: Line color green; 6-car Type B train formation; east-west orientation, running from Meiyuan in the west to Wuxi East Railway Station in the east (Anzhen Station is temporarily not open). It reserves an interface at Meiyuan Station for the future Xiyi (Wuxi-Yixing) Regional Rail Transit Line.
• Wuxi Metro Line 3: Line color blue; 6-car Type B train formation; runs from Sumiao Station in the northwest Huishan District to Sunan Shuofang International Airport in the southeast. It reserves an interface at Wuxi Airport for a future Suzhou Rail Transit airport express line.
• Wuxi Metro Line 4: Line color purple; 6-car Type B train formation; entirely underground, with 18 stations crossing Huishan District, Liangxi District, Binhu District, and Taihu New City.
• Xicheng Intercity Line S1: The Wuxi to Jiangyin Intercity Rail Transit, also known as Wuxi Metro Line S1, is an intercity railway connecting Wuxi's urban area with Jiangyin City.

8. Education

The Jiangnan region has always been a place that values culture and emphasizes education. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was said that "the top scholars in the empire hail from Jiangnan." Wuxi, in particular, achieved remarkable success in the imperial examinations throughout history, with notable feats such as "nine jinshi (metropolitan graduates) in one list and six jieyuan (provincial examination top scorers) in three triennial examinations." In 1898, Yang Mo, deeply influenced by the ideas of the Self-Strengthening Movement, established the first modern primary school in Wuxi: the Aishi School. In August of the following year, Wu Zhihui, Yu Fu, and others founded the Sandeng School and compiled and published China's first set of primary school textbooks: the Mengxue Duben (Elementary Readers). Since then, modern education in Wuxi has continuously developed. After the establishment of the Republic of China, the Wuxi Sinology College, which left a significant mark in the field of Chinese classical studies, was born. Today's Wuxi Guozhuan is the predecessor of Soochow University.

As of 2021, the number of academicians from Wuxi serving in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering has reached 96.

8.1 Higher Education

• Jiangnan University: A key university directly under the Ministry of Education, part of the national "211 Project" and the "985 Project Innovation Platform for Advantageous Disciplines." Its predecessor was Wuxi University of Light Industry, which was established after 1949 through the reorganization of some departments from the former National Central University. In 2001, it merged with Jiangnan College and Wuxi Education College to form Jiangnan University. Jiangnan College was originally named Jiangnan University and was founded in August 1947 through investment by the prominent local Wuxi industrialist Rong Desheng. The master of Chinese classical studies, Qian Mu, once served as the dean of its College of Liberal Arts. Currently, Jiangnan University's food industry and light industry design programs enjoy global recognition.
• Wuxi University: A public regular undergraduate university approved by the Ministry of Education, managed by the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, established by the Wuxi Municipal People's Government, and supported by Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology.
• Southeast University Wuxi Campus: Established in April 1988, formerly known as the Southeast University Wuxi Branch, it was one of the first key university branches approved by the former State Education Commission and pioneered the exploration of China's outstanding engineer training model. The Southeast University Wuxi Campus is a high-level talent training base, high-level scientific research base, and high-tech achievement transformation base jointly built by Southeast University and the Wuxi local government. It features a distinct "government-industry-university-research-application" model and focuses on Southeast University's advantageous disciplines. It serves as a comprehensive platform for Southeast University to contribute to Wuxi's local economic construction and social development.
• Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Wuxi Campus (under planning/construction).
• Nanjing University of Science and Technology Jiangyin Campus.
• Wuxi Higher Normal School: Founded in 1911, its predecessor was Jiangsu Provincial Third Normal School. Notable alumni include Qian Songyan, Wu Guanzhong, and Chen Shouzhu.
• Peking University School of Software and Microelectronics: Established in March 2002, it is a school directly under Peking University. It is a "National Exemplary School of Software" approved by the former State Ministry of Education and State Development Planning Commission, and also a "National Integrated Circuit Talent Training Base" approved by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Additionally, Wuxi is home to numerous research bases such as the Supercomputing Center, the 702nd Research Institute, and the Microelectronics Research Institute, as well as many university research institutes including the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology Wuxi Research Institute, Fudan University Wuxi Research Institute, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuxi Research Institute.
• In terms of vocational education, Wuxi has vocational colleges such as Wuxi Institute of Technology, Wuxi Nanyang Vocational and Technical College, Jiangsu Vocational College of Information Technology, Wuxi Vocational College of Science and Technology, Wuxi Vocational College of Commerce, Wuxi Vocational College of Arts and Technology, and Wuxi City Vocational and Technical College.

8.2 Secondary Education (Partial List)

• Jiangsu Tianyi High School: Founded in 1946 by local elites such as Zhong Ying and Wang Zhongqing, who responded to the public expectation of nurturing local youth and benefiting their hometown, the school was initially named "Private Wuxi Tianyi High School." In 1978, it was designated as one of the first 16 key high schools in the province. In 1990, it was confirmed by the provincial education commission as one of the "First Batch of Qualified Key High Schools in Jiangsu."
• Wuxi No.1 High School: Founded in the third year of the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1911), it has undergone many changes to the present day. It is now a provincial key school and a national exemplary high school. It was once known as one of the "Five Golden Flowers" of Jiangsu education, alongside Changzhou High School, Suzhou High School, Yangzhou High School, and the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University.
• Wuxi Furen Senior High School: Originally a missionary school, it was first established in 1918 by Wuxi alumni of Shanghai's St. John's University. It was the most advanced school in Wuxi at the time, equipped with physics and chemistry laboratories and an auditorium. During the War of Resistance against Japan, it relocated to Shanghai. After 1949, it was renamed Wuxi No.2 High School. It resumed its original name in 2003 and is now a provincial key school and national exemplary high school.
• Jiangsu Meicun Senior High School: Founded in 1913 in Meicun (ancient Meili), the birthplace of Wu culture. In 1914, the brothers Qian Zhi and Qian Mu came to teach at the school. In 1991, it passed the inspection by the Jiangsu Provincial Education Commission and was confirmed as a "Qualified Key High School in Jiangsu." In 2004, it was rated as a "Four-Star Ordinary High School in Jiangsu."
• Wuxi No.3 Senior High School: In 1920, local resident Gao Yang sold all his family property to establish Private Wuxi High School. The classical studies master Tang Wenzhi, moved by Gao Yang's dedication, served as its principal for ten years without pay. In 2007, it merged with Wuxi Zhongshan High School (formerly Wuxi No.8 High School) to form Wuxi No.3 Senior High School.
• Wuxi No.1 Girls' High School: It originated from the merger of Private Jingzhi Girls' High School and County No.1 Girls' High School, founded in 1905 and 1912 respectively by Hou Hongjian, President of Shanghai Zhiyong University and Chairman of the Wuxi Education Association. After 1949, Wuxi No.1 Girls' High School merged with Shidong Junior High School and became the co-educational Wuxi No.11 High School. In 2000, it merged with Wuxi No.12 High School (the original Jingzhi Girls' High School) to form Donglin High School. In 2006, it resumed operation as a girls' school and regained its name as Wuxi No.1 Girls' High School, becoming the first secondary school in Jiangsu to restore single-sex education for girls after 1949.
• Wuxi Shibei Senior High School: Founded in 1934, initially named "Private Yuandao High School." It was rated as a provincial four-star high school in 2006.
• Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School: Founded in 1906 in eastern Wuxi by industrialist Kuang Zhongmou. After 1949, it was renamed Wuxi County High School. In 1996, it was renamed Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School, which remains its name today.
• Wuxi Gongyi High School: Founded in 1919 by the industrialist brothers Rong Zongjing and Rong Desheng. Its first principal was the renowned Wuxi educator Hu Yuren. After 1949, it was renamed Wuxi No.5 High School. During the Cultural Revolution, due to its suburban location near a military area, it became a preferred school for reassigned teachers and children of military families. It resumed the name Gongyi High School in 1983. It has now merged with Wuxi Automobile Engineering School to form the Transportation Technician School.
• Jiangsu Nanyang Senior High School: Its predecessor was the Jiangyin Nanyang Academy, established in 1882, which was the highest institution of learning and educational center for the entire Jiangsu province at the time. Notable figures such as Yu Chang, Niu Yongjian, and Wang Zengqi studied there.
• Jiangsu Yixing High School: Founded in 1928, it is a provincial key school and national exemplary high school. Notable alumni include Jiang Nanxiang and Yu Zhaozhong.
• Wuxi Daqiao Experimental School: Founded in August 1993, initially named "Wuxi Daqiao Experimental Middle School," it was the first private school approved by the Wuxi Municipal People's Government since the reform and opening-up. It was renamed Wuxi Daqiao Experimental School in 2012.

8.3 Primary Education (Partial List)

• Wuxi Lianyuanjie Primary School: Founded in 1898, it was the first modern higher primary school in Wuxi, initially named Aishi School. After the establishment of the Republic of China, it was renamed County Lianyuanjie Primary School based on its location. After 1949, it was temporarily renamed Dongfanghong (East is Red) Primary School. It resumed its original name in 1978 and is now a provincial and municipal key primary school.
• Wuxi Donglin Primary School: In August 1902, following an imperial decree, the Donglin Academy was converted into the modern Donglin School. After the founding of the Republic of China, it became County No.2 Primary School. From 1927 onwards, it was renamed Donglin Primary School. After 1949, it was temporarily renamed Hongweibing (Red Guard) Primary School. It resumed its original name in 1977. Many local luminaries such as Qian Jibo, Qian Zhongshu, and Xue Muqiao taught or studied there.
• Wuxi Normal University Affiliated Primary School: Founded in 1913 by Gu Zhuo, principal of Jiangsu Provincial Third Normal School and a renowned Wuxi educator. Having studied in Japan, Gu Zhuo modeled the school after the affiliated primary school of Tokyo Higher Normal School (now the University of Tsukuba). In 1915, the school established Wuxi's first primary school Boy Scout organization. On November 11, 1937, the original school building was destroyed by Japanese bombers, forcing the school to close. After the victory in the War of Resistance, it resumed operations by borrowing the Confucius Temple. After 1949, it served as a school for children of CCP cadres. In 1982, it was designated as a Jiangsu Provincial Experimental Primary School.
• Wuxi Jiyu Experimental School: Founded in 1901, it is the first "nine-year consistent" school (covering primary and junior high) in Wuxi's urban area.
• Wuxi Wu'ai Primary School: Its predecessors were the CCP Huainan Cadre Children's School, Xuefeng Cadre Children's School, and East China Cadre Children's School. After 1949, it merged with other cadre children's primary schools in Southern Jiangsu. In 1953, the CCP East China Bureau named it "Wu'ai" (Five Loves) Primary School, based on the principles of "love the motherland, love the people, love labor, love science, and care for public property."
• Wuxi Nanchangjie Primary School: Originally Dongwu No.8 Primary School founded by the Wuxi Christian Methodist Church in 1911, later known as Mingde Primary School. The school had a Jesus Auditorium, which was not demolished until 1984. After 1949, it became a public school and remains one of the hundred famous primary schools in Jiangsu.### 8.4 International Education (Partial)
• Wuxi South King International School: A K-12 international school jointly established by Dipont Education Group, Nanjing Foreign Language School, and King's College London. This school is a high-quality international education project actively introduced by the Wuxi Municipal Government.
• Wuxi International School: Wuxi International School, abbreviated as WIS, is a public international school. Founded in 2003, it provides an international educational environment for the children of compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign nationals working and living in Wuxi. It is directly managed by the Wuxi Municipal Education Bureau.
• Wuxi Xinwu District Sirui School for Children of Foreign Personnel: A non-profit organization that, since 1986, has offered excellent academic programs to meet the intellectual, physical, and emotional development needs of students.
• Wuxi Foreign Language School: Established in 1998, Wuxi Foreign Language School has developed into a 12-year consistent foreign language specialty school. It has been designated as a designated school for the enrollment of foreign students, students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and children of returning entrepreneurs in Wuxi.

9. Population

In 2023, the permanent resident population was 7.4908 million, and the registered population was 5.1901 million.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 7,462,135. Compared with the 6,374,399 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 1,087,736 people over the ten years, a growth of 17.06%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.59%. Among them, the male population was 3,848,880, accounting for 51.58% of the total population; the female population was 3,613,255, accounting for 48.42% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 106.52. The population aged 0–14 was 967,076, accounting for 12.96% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 5,021,239, accounting for 67.29% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 1,473,820, accounting for 19.75% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 1,093,557, accounting for 14.65% of the total population. The urban population was 6,178,208, accounting for 82.79% of the total population; the rural population was 1,283,927, accounting for 17.21% of the total population.

In terms of population structure, in 2022, the city's population aged 80 and above reached 143,800, an increase of 3.87% compared to the previous year, with the growth rate rising by 1 percentage point year-on-year. However, compared to the population structure proportions of other cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, Wuxi's overall population structure still maintains a very young and active growth trend.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 7,370,607, accounting for 98.77%; the population of various ethnic minorities was 91,528, accounting for 1.23%. Compared with the 2010 Sixth National Population Census, the Han ethnic group population increased by 1,047,019, a growth of 16.56%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 0.43 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 40,717, a growth of 80.13%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 0.43 percentage points.

10. Religion

Wuxi is an area where various religious activities, including Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestant Christianity, are practiced. Records indicate that Buddhist temples were first built in Wuxi during the Chiwu era of the Eastern Wu period in the Three Kingdoms. Taoism was introduced to Wuxi during the Tianjian era of Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasties. Catholicism, Islam, and Protestant Christianity were subsequently introduced to Wuxi in the 13th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, and in the 24th year of the Guangxu era, respectively. Following their introduction, each religion established numerous places of worship in Wuxi, accumulating a profound historical and cultural heritage of religion.

10.1 Notable Religious Sites

• Nanchan Temple, originally built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period.
• Xiangfu Chan Temple, located at the foot of the Lingshan Grand Buddha.
• Shuixian Taoist Temple, located on Nanchang Street.
• Sanliqiao St. Joseph's Church (Catholic).

10.2 Buddhism

• Chong'an Temple: Located in the center of Wuxi, it is said to have been converted from a residence donated by Wang Xizhi into a Chan temple during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It once held the reputation of being the "Leading Temple of Liangxi" and a "Scenic Spot of Wuhui." The temple was destroyed by fire in the late Qing Dynasty, and the vacant land gradually formed a natural marketplace, later becoming synonymous with Wuxi's commercial center.
• Huishan Temple: Originally built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it is one of the "Four Hundred and Eighty Temples of the Southern Dynasties." It is located at the foot of Huishan Mountain, beside the Second Spring Under Heaven. The temple houses numerous cultural relics, including nationally protected Tang and Song stone sutra pillars, the Jinlian Bridge built by the famous Song Dynasty anti-Jin chancellor Li Gang, the legendary "Listen-to-Pine Stone" (Yanren Immortal Stone) inscribed by Li Yangbing, and a ginkgo tree over 600 years old planted in front of the temple. Many scholars such as Lu Yu, Qin Guan, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, and Wen Zhengming have also left their calligraphy here. After the Xinhai Revolution, it was once used as a martyrs' shrine. After 1949, it served as the initial site of the Wuxi Museum. Religious activities have now been restored.
• Nanchan Temple: Originally built as the Huguo Temple during the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasties, it was later praised as the "Most Sublime Monastery in Jiangnan." During the Yongxi era of the Northern Song Dynasty, the seven-story Miaoguang Pagoda was added during renovations. The area around the temple has now developed into a traditional marketplace with Jiangnan characteristics.
• Xiangfu Chan Temple: When the monk Xuanzang returned from India and traveled to the southeast, he and General Hang Yun arrived at Maji Mountain in Wuxi. Seeing a landscape reminiscent of the sacred Vulture Peak in the West, he praised it as the "Little Vulture Peak of the East" and instructed his disciple Kuiji to build a temple here. In 1997, the world's tallest bronze statue, the 88-meter-high "Grand Buddha at Lingshan" (Eastern Lingshan Grand Buddha), was erected next to the ancient Xiangfu Chan Temple. It has since become a famous tourist attraction in Wuxi.
• Dajue Temple: Located in Yixing, it was originally built during the Xianchun era of the Southern Song Dynasty. It is the ancestral temple of the renowned master Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

10.3 Taoism

• Leizun Taoist Temple: Located in the center of Wuxi, it is one of the temples under the Dongxu Palace, originally built during the Datong era of the Liang Dynasty. Hua Yanjun (Blind Abing) once served as the host of this temple.
• Shuixian Taoist Temple: Also known as the Southern Shuixian Temple, located on Nanchang Street. It was built to commemorate Wang Qiqin, the county magistrate of Wuxi who led the people in resisting Japanese pirates during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty.

10.4 Islam

• Mosque: In 1919, Jiang Xingjie, a Hui Muslim from Nanjing, visited Wuxi and found no place for Islamic worship. He vowed to build a mosque, which is located near the West Gate and remains there to this day.

10.5 Catholicism

• Sanliqiao St. Joseph's Church: Originally built in 1640, it was later expanded and became the largest Catholic church in Jiangsu Province. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nanjing and serves as the seat of the deanery. Due to the large number of Catholics in the Wuxi area, accounting for about half of the entire Nanjing diocese, and the grand scale of St. Joseph's Church, many diocesan activities are held in Wuxi.

10.6 Protestant Christianity

• Wuxi Christian Church: Originally named the Holy Cross Church of the Anglican Church in Wuxi, it was rebuilt with funds from the American Episcopal Church in 1915 on the site of the "St. Andrew's Church of the Anglican Church," which was built in the 34th year of the Guangxu era and later burned down. The Episcopal Church established numerous educational and charitable institutions in Wuxi, such as Puren Hospital (now Wuxi Second People's Hospital), Furen Middle School, orphanages, and more.

11. Culture

Located in the heartland of Wu culture, Wuxi has, over millennia under its influence, developed a distinct urban character that permeates its local customs and traditions. Wuxi cuisine is a quintessential example of Jiangnan food known for its sweet and glutinous flavors, while the elegant tunes of Xiju opera reflect the astute and enterprising business culture. The city boasts classical gardens ideal for poetic contemplation alongside the ambition encapsulated in its nickname "Little Shanghai." These inherent cultural elements have long shaped the values and lifestyle of generations of Wuxi residents.

11.1 Public Culture

Public cultural venues in Wuxi originated during the Republic of China era. The Wuxi Library, founded in 1912, is one of China's earliest public libraries. In 1929, the Wuxi County Education Bureau established a history museum on the site of the Confucius Temple, marking Wuxi's first public museum. Unfortunately, the museum's artifacts were destroyed during the War of Resistance Against Japan, leaving only stone inscriptions. The site was later converted into the Wuxi City Stone Inscription Exhibition Hall. In 1958, based on artifacts unearthed at Huishan Temple, the Wuxi City Museum was established and later relocated. In 2007, the new Wuxi Museum was built, integrating the former Wuxi City Museum, Wuxi Revolutionary Exhibition Hall, and Wuxi Science Museum. It is the only prefecture-level city museum in Jiangsu Province besides the Nanjing Museum.

Additionally, Wuxi is home to several national-level museums, including the Helü City Ruins Museum, a landmark of Wu culture; the Hongshan Aristocratic Tombs Site Museum, once listed among China's top ten archaeological discoveries; and museums converted from industrial sites like the China National Industry and Commerce Museum and the China Silk Industry Museum. There are also numerous privately-run specialty museums such as the Blue Calico Museum and the Pinghu City Museum.

Recently, with the enrichment of life and entertainment, Wuxi has constructed many professional venues for fine arts, calligraphy, painting, and music. In 2014, the Wuxi Grand Theatre was listed by the UK's Daily Telegraph culture section as one of "the world's twelve most spectacular theatres." The Taihu Show Theater by Sunac also provides a leisure destination for Wuxi's cultural services.

11.2 Festivals

April 10 · China Wu Culture Festival: Established to promote Wu culture. During this time, members of the Wu clan from around the world gather at the Taibo Temple in Wuxi for sacrificial ceremonies. May 19 · China Tourism Day: In 1607, Xu Xiake departed from his hometown Jiangyin, traveling extensively across China's landscapes, earning recognition as one of the first travelers to traverse the country. In 2011, the State Council designated May 19, the opening date of the first chapter "Diary of a Journey to Tiantai Mountain" in The Travel Diaries of Xu Xiake, as China Tourism Day.

11.3 Performing Arts

11.3.1 Xiju Opera

The people of the Wu region have long had the custom of singing folk songs, an art form known as "Wu Yu" during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. After the mid-Ming Dynasty, Wu folk songs evolved into various folk performing arts such as popular tunes, Tanhuang, storytelling, and Xuanjuan. Xiju Opera originated from Tanhuang. It began with folk tunes from Dongxiang (now around Yangjian, Wuxi), taking shape in the late Qing and early Republic of China eras, initially called Wuxi Tanhuang. Around the time of the 1911 Revolution, it developed in Shanghai, gradually merging with operatic forms like Suju and Changzhou Tanhuang, which had similar singing styles. It was later collectively known as Changxi Wenxi, gaining great popularity in Shanghai for a time.

Xiju Opera is performed in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and other regions. Along with Yue Opera and Huangmei Opera, it is one of the three major operatic genres in East China. Ye Shengtao once inscribed for it: "A Plum Blossom of Taihu Lake."

11.3.2 Kunqu Opera and Qingqu

Kunqu Opera is one of China's oldest operatic forms, originating in Kunshan. After the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Wei Liangfu reformed southern tunes, giving rise to Kunqu Opera. Neighboring Wuxi thus became one of the earliest areas where Kunqu spread. In Wuxi, many masters of Qingqu (pure singing) emerged, forming the unique "Wuxi Singing Style" within Kunqu, which became an important branch in the transmission of Kunqu Qingqu. Ming Dynasty opera critic Pan Zhiheng wrote in his work Luanxiao Xiaopin: "In song, none can rival Wu's excellence! ... Thus in the commandery, it is the Wu style. Taicang and Shanghai both excel in Kun, yet Wuxi has its own distinct tune. ... I have evaluated it thus: Wuxi head, Kunshan tail, Wu as the belly; slow and fast, rising and falling, broken yet continuous." Qing Dynasty poet Kong Shangren also noted in The Peach Blossom Fan - Selecting Actors: "Huaiyang drums, Kunshan strings, Wuxi mouth, Suzhou beauties." The opera world further has sayings like: "The skill of singing began in Yufeng (Kunshan) and flourished in Liangxi (Wuxi)," and "Upon reaching Wuxi, do not open your mouth [to sing]."

The Tianyun Society is renowned among Wuxi's Kunqu societies. Established during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, it is considered the oldest Kunqu Qingqu singing group. After the Republic of China era, members of the Tianyun Society built the Tonggeng Hall within Wuxi Public Garden (now City Center Park) as a fixed performance venue open to the public, breaking from the previous limitation to private residences. In 1922, American violinist, composer, and conductor Henry Eichheim visited China with his wife and daughter and made a special trip to Wuxi to attend a concert organized by the Tianyun Society. After the performance, he highly praised it, stating it was "the finest music group encountered." After 1949, the Tianyun Society disbanded but was finally revived at the end of 2013.

11.3.3 Xiaorehun

"Xiaorehun," also known as "Xiaoluoshu" or "Selling Pear Syrup Candy," is a performing art that developed alongside street vendors selling pear syrup candy in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region. The name "Xiaorehun" originated from Zhao Afu, a pear syrup candy vendor in Suzhou during the late Qing Dynasty. Because his performances often satirized current affairs, to avoid trouble, Zhao Afu jokingly claimed he was "rehun" (feverishly delirious), meaning he was talking nonsense due to a feverish head and shouldn't be taken seriously, a term that has been used ever since. Wuxi's Xiaorehun was passed down from Zhou Fulin, a direct disciple of the reputed founder Du Baolin. Therefore, performers always carry a long bench, standing on it during performances to signify orthodoxy. To this day, the nearly nonagenarian couple You Shengmao (Xiao Xiaolin) and Zhou Rendi (Xiao Rendi), who studied under Zhou Fulin, still perform Xiaorehun in the Huishan area of Wuxi.

Besides Xiaorehun, Wuxi also historically had other street performing arts like Shuoyinguo (Wuxi Pingqu) and Xuanjuan.

11.3.4 Taoist Music

Taoist music, called "Chang Daoqing" in the Wuxi dialect, is a component used in Taoist ritual ceremonies. Taoism in Wuxi originated from the Zhengyi sect of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Its Taoist music is deeply influenced by folk music such as Jiangnan Sizhu, Wu songs, Kunqu Opera, and southern Jiangsu folk tunes, possessing a distinct secular and regional artistic style. Notable figures include Zhu Qinfu, known as the "Southern Drum King," and Hua Yanjun ("Blind Ah Bing"). The musician Yang Yinliu also learned Taoist music from Taoist priests in his childhood.

11.4 Cuisine

11.4.1 Xibang Cuisine

Xibang Cuisine is a major branch of Su Cuisine (also known as Huaiyang or Jiangzhe Cuisine), one of China's Four Great Cuisines. It is traditionally characterized by a sweet initial taste followed by saltiness, and by rich oils and dark soy sauce. Traditional Su-Xi cuisine emphasizes sweetness. Historically, southerners preferred salty flavors while northerners preferred sweet. After the Song Dynasty's southward migration, a large number of scholar-official families from the Central Plains moved south, bringing their culinary preferences with them. Thus, the sweetness of Su-Xi cuisine is an ancient legacy.

Signature dishes of Xibang Cuisine include braised spare ribs, Liangxi crispy eel, three-delicacy whitebait soup, pork braised in fermented tofu sauce, meat-stuffed wheat gluten, meat-stuffed gluten balls, cream crucian carp, and assorted vegetarian delights. Additionally, there is "Taihu Boat Cuisine," which primarily features the "Three Whites of Taihu Lake" (white fish, white shrimp, and whitebait).#### 11.4.2 Specialty Snacks

• Wuxi Xiaolongbao: Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are a traditional snack in the Jiangnan region. Compared to similar northern foods like baozi, Xiaolongbao are known for being "juicier and thinner-skinned." Among the various Xiaolongbao found across Jiangnan, Wuxi's version is distinguished by its "more filling and larger size." Wuxi locals are particularly fond of Xiaolongbao, humorously said to be "either eating Xiaolongbao or on their way to eat Xiaolongbao." Shanghainese people also have a special liking for Wuxi-style Xiaolongbao. Wuxi Xiaolongbao gained fame in the late Qing Dynasty when Yang Naiwu, after being exonerated and returning to his hometown, dined at the renowned Wuxi restaurant Gongbeilou Noodle House. He tasted Wuxi Xiaolongbao and praised them highly. The restaurant used this incident for promotion, making them widely known. Today, the most famous Xiaolongbao shop in Wuxi is Wangxingji, one of China's time-honored brands, with branches in places like Los Angeles, USA, and Kanagawa, Japan. Local residents, however, are more fond of famous neighborhood shops like Xishengyuan, Luzhuang Chaowangji, Xilongji, and Yiqinyuan.
• Hand-pushed Wontons: First appearing at the Wuxi Fulai Hand-pushed Wonton Shop during the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. Made by hand-pushing, the wonton wrappers are more chewy and thin, and the toppings require various ingredients like dried tofu shreds and egg skin shreds.
• Huishan Crispy Pastry: A specialty from the Huishan area of Wuxi, most famously made by the century-old shop Zhu Shunxing. Legend has it that after the fall of the Ming Dynasty, imperial descendant Zhu Shengyu took refuge in Wuxi. To make a living, he began making and selling former palace snacks. One of them, a heavily oiled baked cake, is today's Huishan Crispy Pastry. Because it resembles the belly button of the Buddha statue in Huishan Temple, it was also called "Vajra Belly Button" by the temple monks. Besides Huishan Crispy Pastry, other delicacies in Zhu Shunxing's shop include Youjingguo and Lashaopian, mostly traditional snacks with northern flavors rarely seen in Jiangnan, possibly supporting the claim of their origin from the Ming imperial family.
• Jizi Da (Du) Bing: A traditional street food in the Jiangnan region, also known as "Mianyi Bing" (coat cake). Similar to northern egg pancakes, the Wuxi version is more elaborate, requiring the addition of minced meat, pepper salt, etc., to the batter. In Wuxi dialect, it is customarily called "Du Bing" instead of "Da Bing," because "Du" means "big" in the Wu dialect.
• Yulan Bing: Originating from a Wuxi rice cake shop during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty. Its characteristic is using crushed Yulan (magnolia) petals mixed into the meat filling, wrapped in glutinous rice flour and deep-fried. It is crispy, glutinous, and sweet when eaten. Today, it is a staple snack in major Wuxi rice cake shops.
• Plum Blossom Cake, Begonia Cake: Created in the Qing Dynasty, named for their shapes resembling begonia and plum blossoms. Fillings include meat, sweet bean paste, etc. Originally, Plum Blossom and Begonia Cakes were specialty snacks only available during temple fairs in Suzhou and Wuxi, later spreading to Shanghai. Nowadays, Plum Blossom Cake can still be found with street vendors, but Begonia Cake is no longer available locally in Wuxi. Only in Shanghai's Qibao Ancient Town is there a shop specializing in Wuxi Begonia Cake.
• Radish Shred Cake: Radish Shred Cake originated in Wuxi and is a unique street snack in Jiangsu and Shanghai. Compared to versions from other places, the traditional Wuxi Radish Shred Cake is noticeably plump and solid, not flat and thin.
• Jiangyin Horseshoe Crisp: Jiangyin Horseshoe Crisp is said to commemorate the city-wide resistance against the Qing at the end of the Ming Dynasty in Jiangyin. It is exquisitely made, concave in the middle and high around the edges, resembling chrysanthemum petals in appearance.
• Yixing Heqiao Dried Tofu: Created in the late Qing Dynasty, historically recorded as a tribute item. Its characteristic is being flavored with dried shrimp, making it extremely delicious.
• Yixing Black Rice: Black Rice is a folk specialty snack in the Jianghuai region, with rich folk legends about its origin. In Yixing, every year on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Bathing Buddha Festival, the unique "Black Rice Grass" from Yixing mountains is picked to make Black Rice.

11.5 Local Specialties

11.5.1 Delicacies

• Wuxi Pork Spareribs: One of Wuxi's three traditional specialties, famous far and wide, also known as Wuxi Braised Spare Ribs or Wuxi Pork Bones. Made by slowly stewing pork ribs with a special sauce over low heat, it has a sweet and salty flavor. The versions made by the two century-old shops, Wuxi Sanfengqiao Rouzhuang (formerly Shenyu Rouzhuang) and Zhenzhen Lao Lu Gaojian, are considered the best. In terms of taste, Lu Gaojian's is more traditional and sweeter, while Sanfengqiao's has been改良 (improved/modified).
• Clear Water Oil Gluten: One of Wuxi's three traditional specialties, made from wheat bran, crispy on the outside and hollow inside. It is the preferred ingredient for making meat-stuffed gluten (lion's head meatballs) in the Jiangnan region. It can also be eaten without filling as an addition to soups or stir-fries.
• Three Fresh Delicacies of the Yangtze River: Namely pufferfish, reeves shad, and knife fish. They are traditional specialties of Jiangyin, long enjoyed by scholars and officials as delicacies. However, unlike other cities along the Yangtze, Jiangyin's "Three Fresh Delicacies" prominently features pufferfish. Because pufferfish organs contain toxins and improper handling can be life-threatening, there is a Jiangyin saying, "Risking death to eat pufferfish."
• Black Du Wine: A traditional specialty of Jiangyin,相传 (legend has it) made by the wine immortal Du Kang, with a traditional production process lasting up to two years. It has a mellow, sweet taste and can be used as a tonic for postpartum women.

11.5.2 Local Produce

• Yangshan Honey Peach: Grown in Yangshan, Wuxi. The peach variety was introduced from Fenghua by a local during the Republic of China era. Because Yangshan is an ancient volcano with fertile soil, it was highly successful once planted and is now renowned. The most delicious Yangshan Honey Peach is the Huijing variety in late July, extremely fragrant, with skin that falls off at a touch and abundant juice. However, there are many imitations both locally and elsewhere. Authentic ones are large, soft-fleshed, yellow in color, with very little red.
• Dafu Bayberry: Grown in Dafu Township, Wuxi. Dafu borders Taihu Lake, and residents have farmed and rested along the lake since ancient times. Dafu Bayberries are also irrigated with Taihu Lake water, making them juicy and sweet. Compared to bayberries from other places, they appear more robust.
• Wuxi Hao Tea: Wuxi has a long history of tea production. The painting "Brewing Tea by a Bamboo Stove" by the Ming Dynasty painter Wang Fu depicts a scene in Wuxi's Huishan Temple. Wuxi Hao Tea is the most famous among Wuxi's tea varieties and was designated as one of China's famous teas by the Ministry of Commerce as early as 1986.
• Taihu Cuizhu Tea: A locally created famous tea from Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. The tea leaves are flat like bamboo leaves, with a翠绿油润 (emerald green and glossy) color. The inner quality has a fresh and mellow taste, with a清高持久 (clear, lofty, and lasting) aroma. The汤色 (liquor) is清澈明亮 (clear and bright), and the叶底 (brewed leaves) are嫩绿匀整 (tender green and even). It has a unique style. When brewed in a cup, the tender green tea buds slowly unfurl, shaped like bamboo leaves, standing gracefully like a bamboo forest in the mountains, hence the name.
• Yixing Yangxian Tea: Grown on Tanggong Mountain in Yixing, renowned far and wide. A Tang poem says, "The Son of Heaven must taste Yangxian tea, / A hundred plants dare not bloom first" (Lu Tong, "In Response to Imperial Censor Meng's Gift of New Tea"). Ming Confucian Zhou Gaoqi praised Yangxian Tea in his monograph Dongshan Jie Tea Series, saying it is "色柔白如玉露 (color soft white like jade dew),味甘 (sweet in taste),芳香藏味中 (fragrance hidden within the flavor),空深永 (ethereal, deep, and enduring),啜之愈出 (the more you sip, the more emerges),致在有无之外 (its essence lies beyond presence and absence)."
• Yixing Lily: Yixing Lily has a long cultivation history. It is a traditional local specialty of the Yixing area and one of the few edible lily varieties. Yixing Lily has certain effects in regulating the spleen and stomach, therefore also called medicinal lily.

11.5.3 Handicrafts

• Huishan Clay Figurines: One of Wuxi's three traditional specialties, equally famous in the north and south as Tianjin's Clay Figurine Zhang. The soil in Wuxi's Huishan is black and sticky, a natural material for making clay figurines. Huishan Clay Figurines were formerly called "playthings," originally made by farmers during leisure time for entertainment. As early as the Ming Dynasty, there are records of locals making clay figurines. Later, because the caretakers of the ancestral hall complex at the foot of Huishan Mountain needed to supplement their household income, they widely made and sold them,从此 (from then on) the fame of Huishan Clay Figurines grew even stronger. Late Qing Dynasty Grand Secretariat Secretary Xu Ke recorded in his work Qing Bai Lei Chao, Volume 45 〈"Gongyi Lu, Niren Tiao" (Records of Crafts, Clay Figurine Entry)〉: "When Emperor Gaozong (Qianlong) made his southern tour, his carriage arrived at Huishan in Wuxi. At the foot of the mountain was Wang Chunlin, who owned a clay figurine shop. His work was exquisite, with myriad skills... They were presented to the Emperor, who greatly appreciated them and bestowed rich brocades. These items remained in the Foxiang Pavilion of the Summer Palace until the Guangxu period. During the Boxer Rebellion, they were taken away by Westerners." This shows Huishan Clay Figurines were already famous long ago. Qian Zhongshu also wrote in Guan Zhui Pian: "In recent times, the clay figurines from my hometown Huishan have enjoyed great fame. In my hometown dialect, clay dolls are called 'Mo Mo'... and自称曰倷伲 (refer to themselves as 'Nai Ni')." "Nai Ni Mo Mo" is the Wuxi dialect for Huishan Clay Figurines. Huishan Clay Figurines are divided into coarse goods and fine goods. Coarse goods are mass-produced using molds, while fine goods are completely handmade.
• Wuxi Embroidery: Refers to the exquisite embroidery within Suzhou embroidery, originating in the mid-Ming Dynasty. It became even more细腻典雅 (delicate and elegant) after Ding Pei established its standards in the late Qing. It flourished further after the Republic of China. At the Nanyang Industrial Exposition held in the early Republic period, Wuxi Embroidery won great acclaim. In the subsequently published Nanyang Industrial Exposition Research Report, contemporaries stated that Wuxi Embroidery "is actually superior to Xiang Embroidery and Su Embroidery." Wuxi Embroidery has complex stitching techniques, with over forty different stitch styles. Among them, the "Random Stitch Embroidery" innovated by Wuxi embroidery master Hua Qi is now an essential technique in modern Suzhou embroidery. Due to its高雅 (refined and elegant) characteristics, Wuxi Embroidery is less practical than Suzhou embroidery. Therefore, in today's rapidly commercialized world, almost no embroiderers continue this art.
• Yixing Zisha Teapots: Originating in the Song Dynasty, made from Yixing's unique purple clay, fired into diverse and artistic shapes. They also have the effect of purifying tea water and preserving tea fragrance. The poet Mei Yaochen once wrote, "Small stones, cold spring retain the early taste, / New purple clay vessels brim with spring splendor." Teapot enthusiasts playfully say, "What use are the world's jewels and gems? / Yixing purple clay is the most precious to obtain."

12. Sister Cities

Cities that have established sister city relationships with Wuxi

| Country | City | Date Established | |------------|----------------------|------------------| | Japan | Akashi City | August 29, 1981 | | Japan | Sagamihara City | October 6, 1985 | | South Korea | Gimhae City | October 24, 2006 | | Philippines | Puerto Princesa City | October 30, 2007 | | Austria | Amstetten City | July 29, 2009 | | South Korea | Tangshan City | January 20, 2014 | | Israel | Tiberias City | July 22, 2015 | | Portugal | Cascais City | September 14, 1993 | | Italy | Vicenza City | January 25, 2006 | | Germany | Leverkusen City | April 27, 2006 | | France | Nîmes City | April 5, 2007 | | Sweden | Nässjö and Gislaved City | October 8, 2007 | | Belgium | Kortrijk City | October 30, 2007 | | Denmark | Albertslund Municipality | August 22, 2008 | | United Kingdom | Chelmsford | November 19, 2009 | | United States | Chattanooga City | October 12, 1982 | | Canada | Fredericton City | November 22, 2010 | | United States | San Antonio City | February 16, 2012 | | Brazil | Sorocaba City | December 18, 2010 | | Mexico | Puebla City | December 25, 2014 | | New Zealand | Hamilton City | July 5, 1986 | | Australia | Frankston City | November 8, 2012 | | Morocco | Fez City | June 29, 2010 |

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Taihu New City

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Camphor tree

Azalea, Plum Blossom