Suzhou

Synopsis

Suzhou, historically known as Gusu, was founded in 514 BC and has long been praised as "Paradise above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Nine of its classical gardens were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites between 1997 and 2000, and the Suzhou Museum was designed by I. M. Pei. Suzhou is the birthplace of Wu culture, and Suzhou embroidery is considered the foremost of China’s four major embroidery styles. It is only a 25-minute high-speed train ride away from Shanghai.

Overview

Suzhou, historically known as Gusu, is located in the southeastern part of Jiangsu Province, on the shores of Taihu Lake. It was founded in 514 BC (when King Helü of Wu ordered Wu Zixu to build the city of Helü). Suzhou has long enjoyed the reputation of "In heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou," and was called the "Venice of the East" by Marco Polo. Suzhou is the birthplace and core city of Wu culture, with a history of over 2,500 years.

Suzhou is most famous for its classical gardens. In 1997 and 2000, nine of Suzhou's classical gardens were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in two batches, representing the pinnacle of Chinese garden art. Suzhou currently has at least 69 well-preserved classical gardens, with over 200 private gardens at its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Additionally, the Suzhou Museum, designed by the world-renowned architect I. M. Pei and opened in 2006, is a perfect example of the fusion of modern architecture and traditional garden design.

Suzhou is only about 75 kilometers from Shanghai, with the fastest high-speed train taking just 21 minutes, making it one of China's most conveniently accessible tourist cities. In 2020, its permanent population was approximately 12.75 million, with a GDP of about 2.77 trillion yuan, ranking it among China's most economically developed prefecture-level cities.

Must-Visit Attractions

UNESCO World Heritage – Suzhou Classical Gardens

Nine classical gardens in Suzhou were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 and 2000 in two batches (ID 813):

The Humble Administrator's Garden is the largest and most famous private garden in Suzhou. It was built in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty by Wang Xianchen, a retired imperial censor. The garden's name is derived from a line in the "Ode to Idleness" by Pan Yue of the Jin Dynasty, expressing the sentiment of retreating to a pastoral life for carefree enjoyment.

Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill is a landmark attraction in Suzhou. The great Song Dynasty literary figure Su Shi once said, "It is a great pity to come to Suzhou without visiting Tiger Hill." The core attraction of Tiger Hill is the Yunyan Temple Pagoda, built in 961 AD. It stands 47 meters tall and leans about 3 degrees, earning it the nickname "The Leaning Tower of China." Legend has it that the tomb of King Helü of Wu (496 BC) lies beneath Tiger Hill, making it one of the most famous unexcavated ancient tombs in Chinese history.

Suzhou Silk & Suzhou Embroidery

Suzhou has a silk production history of over 2,500 years. During the Ming Dynasty, Suzhou silk was praised as "clothing the world." Suzhou Song Brocade is one of China's three famous brocades (alongside Nanjing Yunjin and Sichuan Shujin).

Suzhou Embroidery (Su Xiu) is the foremost of China's Four Great Embroideries (Su Xiu, Yue Xiu, Shu Xiu, Xiang Xiu). It originated during the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD), boasting a history of about 1,800 years. Suzhou Embroidery is renowned for its fineness. Embroiderers can split a single silk thread as fine as a hair into 2 to 16 even finer strands. Completing a piece of Suzhou Embroidery can take 3–5 months for a small item and 2–3 years for a large piece. In 2006, Suzhou Embroidery was inscribed on China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Suzhou is home to the China Embroidery Art Museum (established 1986), which displays over 200 exquisite embroidery pieces from the Han Dynasty to the present.

Suzhou Cuisine

Suzhou cuisine (Su Bang Cai) is an important branch of Jiangsu cuisine, known for its slightly sweet flavor, emphasis on seasonal ingredients, and exquisite knife skills:

Songhelou Restaurant, founded in 1737 (Qing Dynasty), is famous for its Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish and is Suzhou's most renowned century-old restaurant.

Travel Information

References

1. UNESCO – Classical Gardens of Suzhou: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/813
2. Wikipedia – Suzhou: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/苏州
3. Wikipedia – Suzhou embroidery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou_embroidery