Basic Facts of Suzhou:
Location: east of China
Area: 8488.42 square kilometers
Population: 8.26 million
Suzhou, a world-famous tourist city, is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of the Taihu Lake, the long history of which has left behind many attractive scenic spots and historical sites with beautiful and interesting legends. The elegant classical gardens, the old-fashioned houses and delicate bridges hanging over flowing waters in the drizzling rain, the beautiful lakes with undulating hills in lush green, the numerous scenic spots and historical sites, and the exquisite arts and crafts, etc. have made Suzhou a renowned historical and cultural city full of eternal and poetic charm.
Having been the Capital of Wu in the Spring Period, the city still retains many ancient sites with Xishi (one of the four most beautiful ladies), Wuzixu (a prominent strategist and the founder of ancient city of Suzhou) and many other famous persons. Among the traces left by the ancients, the gardens in Suzhou are exceptionally good of the kind, a typical demonstration of simple elegance, with intriguing scenes found in every season and in all weathers, and beyond doubt, everybody will give praise after appreciating them, such as Humble Administrator's Garden, Lingering Garden and Master of Nets Garden. Are you hungry? Coming to Suzhou, do not forget enjoying the local dinning. Endowed with abundant native products, the rich and exquisite Suzhou cuisine sets a style of its own on this "land of plenty". The traditional performing arts of Suzhou are best represented by Kunqu Opera, Suzhou Opera and Pingtan (ballad singing), reputed both in China and overseas for their minute acting and harmonic melody. Suzhou city has formed a huge cubic and open transportation structure, which has many types of transportation and forms circles in the outskirts of a city. The land and water transportation is convenient and rapid. Today's Suzhou is an open city with developed economy and frequent exchanges with the outside world. It has been officially declared as part of the coastal economic open zone of the Yangtze River Delta. Comprehensive industrial system has taken shape.
Suzhou silk is sold as far as to global, attracted traveling trader of far and near, being known as "the countryside of silk". Surrounded by water, Zhouzhuang itself also abounds in interlaced rivers and lakes. The whole traffic was once mainly by means of boats. With a history of more than 900 years, Zhouzhuang has been known as “township and the island”, and Suzhou is also known as the "Venice of the East". The city is sandwiched between Taihu Lake and Grand Canal. Network of cannels, criss-crossed with hump-backed bridges, give Suzhou an image of City on the water.
Join the designed Suzhou tours offered by TOC to dig deeper of this charming, graceful, elegant modern city. Words are too plain to describe its vitality, so come and experience all by yourself!
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