Jiangsu Province 江 苏 省 简 介 - Suzhou 苏州市

Suzhou, which became one of China’s coastal open cities in 1985, is situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River about 100 kilometers to Shanghai. A city known for its resplendent gardens and beautiful scenery, encompassing 5,838 square kilometers with a population of 6.35 million Suzhou’s history dates back more than 2,500 years.

Suzhou, reputed as the “Venice of the Orient,” has a well-established silk industry and served as a special district during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when the production of woven and embroidered silk for the imperial household was strictly supervised. The old part of town is still a city of canals, hump-backed bridges, and low, white washed houses. Above all Suzhou is famous for its exquisite gardens, over 100 of which survive. The Garden of the Master-of-the-Net (part of which has been reproduced in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, U.S.A.), the Humble Administrator’s Garden and the Lingering Garden are some fine examples. The city is also notable for its silk production, silk embroidery and other handicrafts such as sandalwood fans.

One of China’s oldest art forms, embroidery (known in China as “xiuhua” or “zhahua,” meaning “making ornamental designs on cloth with a needle”) has several styles that vary depending on the region in which they are produced. Suzhou is one of China’s four major embroidery centers (the others being Hunan, Guangdong and Sichuan), with works that are noted for their flat surfaces, neat edge, delicacy, and close, even stitches. Suzhou’s Wuzhoung and Xiangcheng districts alone have more than 100,000 craftspeople skilled in embroidery.

The city is also the “museum of cultural relics.” Pagodas and ancient bridges are scattered around the city. According to the Pingjiang Map in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), 314 bridges were built, of which 161 bridges remain in the city. The city is the “metropolis of arts.” Suzhou embroidery, which first appeared in the Song Dynasty, is illustrious for its rich stitch varieties and exquisite craftsmanship. The embroidery is one of the four famous embroidery schools in China. Kittens and goldfish are common motifs. With 48 embroidery techniques and silk threads in over 5,000 different colours, the institute turns out unique needlework, of which double-faced embroidery is the most outstanding. Suzhou is home to various schools of literature, painting and music, including Kunqu Opera (listed as one of the UNESCO’s first batch 19 masterpieces of oral and intangible cultural hertage in 2001) and Suzhou Ballad Singing, making an important part of Chinese art and culture. Today’s Suzhou is on the track of development and prosperity. Taking a panoramic view of Suzhou new district, skyscrapers and modern residential areas are visible everywhere.

The long history of the city has left behind many attractive scenic spots and historical sites with beautiful and delightful legends. The elegant and classical gaerdens, old fashioned houses, and delicate bridges hanging over flowing waters in the drizzling rain, the beautiful lakes with undulating hills in lush greenery, the numerous scenic spots and historical sites, and the exquisite arts and crafts, have made Suzhou a world famous historical and cultural city full of eternal and poetic charming.

Suzhou used to be the capital of the Wu State during the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC). In 514 BC, by the command of King He Lü of Wu his senior minister Wu Zixu伍子胥 (?-484 BC) built the Great City of He Lü, and its wall measured 23.5 kilometers in circumference with 8 pairs of land and water gates. The city began to take the name of Suzhou and Gusu City during the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Great changes have taken place in Suzhou through its vast history. Yet, despite of repeated devastation, the city is still seated exactly on the original site, as it was 2,500 years ago, which is indeed an instance rarely found in the world.

Situated at longitude 120°25′E and latitude 31°19′N , Suzhou falls into subtropical zone, with an annual average temperature 15.8℃ , annual average rainfall 1,076㎜ , sunshine over 2,000 hours and its elevation being only 5 meters. The mild climate, enough sunshine, and sufficient water resources make Suzhou a land of aboudance in produce.

With favourable natural conditions and fertile soil, Suzhou has long been known as the “home of silk,” and a “land of fish and rice,” reflected in the saying “Good harvest in Suzhou and Huzhou suffices to feed all under heaven.” Well developed in agriculture with abundant produce and stable and high yields, Suzhou has always been regarded through the ages as a “granary” in further development of Suzhou’s economy, and made Suzhou an important industrial city in China.

Suzhou is one of China’s oldest continuously inhabited towns and is , by Chinese criteria, among the country’s most beautiful cities. Although tall apartment buildings now far outnumbered Suzhou’s seven pagodas, the old city has retained its traditional appearance as well as its economic focus on fine handicrafts.

The city of Suzhou has remained on the same site for more than 2,500 years, mainly because of these alleys, The alleys extend parallel with the city’s canals, laying the old city out regularly like a chessboard. Only three ancient Chinese cities boast this chessboard design, the other two being Beijing and Xi’an.

Cuisine 烹饪

Suzhou is also distinguished for delicious dishes, which go back to the “boat dishes,” mentioned as early as the Tang Dynasty. At that time, most rich people liked to hold banquets on boats so they could enjoy the beautiful scene and food at the same time. Since the kitchens on boats were small, the foods featured delicacy instead of large quantities. Today, the food of Suzhou follows this tradition, and is sweet, light in taste, uses high-quality ingredients and exquisite cooking. Its vegetable and aquatic dishes are especially famous. The two restaurants enjoying the highest reputation are Songhelou and Deyuelou. Other new restaurants such as Tianzhu, Xiangyuan, Runji, Qinghua and Nankai also provide high quality food and good services. You receive the finest of quality, prepared with care and expertise. The restaurant attendants who really care cater you with quality service. You’ll want to return.

Songhelou 松鹤楼

Established during the reign of the Qing Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795), this restaurant offers Suzhou-style cuisine, including “squirrel-shaped mandarin fish,” and “Gusu Marinated Duck.” Songhelou covers an area of 4,800 square meters with seven large-and small-size dining rooms and 12 private rooms. A banquet for over 1,000 persons can be held here.

Deyuelou 得月楼

Founded during the Ming Dynasty, this restaurant has been treating its patrons with Suzhou-style dishes and snacks for more than 400 years. Deyuelou is comprised of three different restaurants, one of which specializes in snack foods. Overlooking the beautiful and tranquil Suzhou gardens, gourmets can enjoy more than 300 dishes, which attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from home and abroad each year. The chef’s Biluo shelled shrimp is the most appetizing.

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