The City of Classical Gardens

Located in the southeastern part of Jiangsu Province, Suzhou lies in the central area of the Yangtze River Delta and Taihu Plain. It is a well-known fertile land of fish and rice, a significant economic powerhouse and a famous city with long history and rich culture. It has shared with Hangzhou the reputation of “paradise in heaven; Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth” since ancient times.

Suzhou, with a history of over 2,500 years, is one of the oldest cities in China. It is one of the birthplaces of the Wu Culture of Jiangnan. During Ming and Qing dynasties, Suzhou became one of the key national economic and cultural centers. At that time, Suzhou and Yangzhou of the same province and Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, were the three major industrial and commercial cities in China with developed economy.

Today, Suzhou is the most important economic center in the northern wing of the Yangtze River Delta Economic Circle. It is also the most developed city in Jiangsu Province and serves as its center of economy, industry and commerce, foreign trade and logistics, as well as an important hub of finance, culture, science education and transportation in the province.