● Suzhou is the southernmost city in Jiangsu Province and sits in the center of the Yangtze River Delta. It borders Shanghai to the east, Wuxi to the west, and Zhejiang province to the south while the Yangtze River forms the northern border of the municipality. With a long history of more than 2,500 years, Suzhou is known as a historical city that attracts a large number of tourists.
● The city’s ancient part has a great number of small water canals. Old houses normally have a small lane at the forfront and a canal guarding the backyard.
● The classical gardens in the city is a perfect combination of architecture, landscaping, horticulture, sculpture, calligraphy and painting. The Humble Administator’s Garden and the Lingering Garden are two of the Four Most Famous Chinese Gardens. Altogether, the city has nine gardens listed by UNESCO as world cultural heritages, also including the Master-of-nets Garden, the Garden of Surging Wave Pavilion, the Lion Grove Garden.
● Suzhou’s economy boomed in the past twenty years. In year 2007, its actually utilized foreign capital reached USD 7.38 billion, the highest in the country. Its total industrial output was RMB 1,900 billion, the second best in China. Its total foreign trade volume was USD 213 billion, the third place in China. Its GDP amounted to a record RMB 570 billion. On the list of 200 Chinese cities, including Hong Kong, Macau, and cities from Taiwan region, Suzhou is rated the 8th place in terms of comprehensive competitiveness.
● Suzhou in the 21st century will become an area with fast-growing economy, advanced technologies and education, rich life and beautiful environment.