Suzhou (苏州) is located in southern Jiangsu Province in the center of the Yangtze Delta. Shanghai lies to the east, Zhejiang Province to the south, Wuxi City to the west and the Yangtze River to the north. The city is divided by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south. Since 42% area of the city is covered by water, including a vast number of ponds and streams, it is praised as the 'Venice of the Orient'. Built in 514 BC, this is an ancient city with over 2,500 years of history and numerous points of interest. The unique characteristics of the past are still retained today. The double-chessboard layout of the city, with 'the streets and rivers going side by side while the water and land routes running in parallel', is preserved intact.
The mild climate makes the city a desirable destination all year round. Touring the wonderful ancient water towns in the vicinity or lingering in the exquisite classical gardens in the downtown area, you will truly know the charm of a 'paradise on earth'. As the saying goes - 'Gardens to the south of the Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them'. These gardens attain their high reputation not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction. At present more than 60 gardens are kept intact in the city, and some of them have been listed in the World Heritage List.
Here are some information for reference. https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/jiangsu/suzhou/getting-there.htm
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| Zhouzhuang Water Town | Tiger Hill | Suzhou Museum | Su Embroidery |
Sights
- Zhouzhuang Water Town 周庄
Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China, is situated in Kunshan City which is only 18 miles (30 kilometers) southeast of Suzhou. It is noted for its profound cultural background, the well-preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs.
- Tiger Hill 老虎山
A famous Song Dynasty (960-1279) poet, Su Shi said, 'It is a lifelong pity if having visited Suzhou you did not visit Tiger Hill.' This epitomises the general opinion of those who have seen this local beauty spot with its many attractions .Tiger Hill, known also as Surging Sea Hill, is a large hillock covering about 3.5 acres (14,100 square metres) and only 118 feet (36 metres) in height.
- Suzhou Museum 苏州博物馆
Suzhou Museum is located at No. 204 Dongbei Street in Gusu District, ancient city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It is adjacent to the Humble Administrator’s Garden. The museum was first founded in 1960 on the site of Prince Zhong’s Mansion. The new exhibition building was designed by the world-famous Chinese-American architect named I. M. Pei and opened to visitors in October 2006. This museum has abundant porcelains, relics of the revolution, most notably celadon, handicraft works, calligraphies and paintings of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911) which fully embody the history, art, and culture of Suzhou and Yangtze River Delta.
- Su Embroidery 苏绣
Su embroidery is one of the four major styles of Chinese Embroidery. Vivid depictions of animals, people, landscapes and flowers are popular themes of Su embroidery. Traditional embroidery is blended with fashionable contemporary elements, yielding a style of embroidery that is appreciated by both Chinese people and foreigners.