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History of Suzhou |
Suzhou is located in the center of the Yangtze Delta, in the south of Jiangsu Province, with Shanghai to the east, Zhejiang Province to the south, Wuxi City to the west and the Yangtze River to the north. Built in 514 BC, Suzhou is an ancient city with a history of more than 2,500 years. Since 42% area of the city is covered by water, including a vast number of ponds and streams, Suzhou is praised as the 'Oriental Venice'. The city is cut by the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south. Together with its mild climate, making it an available destination all year round, fertile landscape and abundance of produce. It is no wonder that Suzhou is called 'paradise on earth'.
The unique characteristics of the past are still retained in present-day Suzhou. The double-chessboard layout of Suzhou, with 'the streets and rivers go side by side while the water and land routes run in parallel', are preserved basically intact. And its unique landscape of "small bridge, flowing water, white wall, black tile, cultural relics and classic gardens" are well preserved. Strolling the streets, you can feel the unique lingering charm of this landscape left by its long history.
As the saying goes"Gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them". These gardens enjoy a high reputation at home and abroad not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction. At present over 60 classical gardens are well preserved and 9 of them have been listed in the World Heritage List, including the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Garden of Master of Nets and the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty, Garden of Couple's Retreat, Garden of Retreat and Reflection.
In addition, thousand-year-old towns like Zhou Zhuang, Tongli and Luzhi feature the waterside sceneries in the Yangtze River Delta. They should not be missed by any visitor. In any water township of Suzhou, a number of Ming and Qing dynasty preserved buildings can be found. The natural sights and human landscape enhance each other's beauty, which is a great attraction to visitors who linger there. In 1998 Suzhou was awarded "Excellent Tourist City of China".
As one of the famous tourist cities in China, Suzhou has made a great improvement to its basic facilities and tourist functions. Suzhou is accessible by plane, train and bus. Star-rated hotels with good services and reasonable guesthouses and hostels provide a range of lodging. Of course, tasting local delicacies should not be forgotten in your journey. When night falls, Suzhou City is quiet and peaceful. You can enjoy it while sipping a cup of tea in any teahouse., |
| Author/Editor By : HCT |
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