Suzhou

Suzhou is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Jiangsu province, China, situated in the Yangtze River Delta near Shanghai and at the southern end of Lake Tai. It is renowned for its historic gardens, canals and silk industry, and has long served as a commercial and cultural hub.

The Classical Gardens of Suzhou were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Notable examples include the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Master of the Nets Garden and the Lion Grove Garden. These garden complexes illustrate classical Chinese landscape design, architecture, and the concept of borrowing scenery from the surrounding environment.

Suzhou's extensive water networks and canals have earned it the nickname Venice of the East. The city contains historic streets and districts such as Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street, as well as the Panmen Gate, reflecting a long tradition of canal-based urban life. Tiger Hill, with its leaning Yunyan Pagoda, is another prominent site.

Economically, Suzhou has long been associated with silk production and weaving, a craft still important in the region. In modern times it has developed into a manufacturing and high-tech center, with textiles, electronics and information industries contributing to a large urban economy.

Culturally, Suzhou is a center for Wu-speaking communities and traditional arts, including silk embroidery, lacquerware and stone carving. The city is home to the Suzhou Museum designed by I. M. Pei and to other institutions preserving its heritage.