Suzhou

Suzhou, which became one of China's coastal open cities in 1985, is situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River about 100 kilometres to Shanghai. A city known for its resplendent gardens and beautiful scenery, encompassing 5,838 square kilometres with a population of 6.35 million Suzhou's history dates back more than 2,5000 years.
       Suzhou, reputed as the "Venice of the Orient," has a well-established silk industry and served as a special district during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when the production of woven and embroidered silk for the imperial household was strictly supervised. The old part of town is still a city of canals, humpbacked bridges, and low, white washed houses. Above all Suzhou is famous for its exquisite gardens, over 100 of which survive. The Garden of the Master-of-the-Net (part of which has been reproduced in the metropolitan Museum in New York, U.S.A.), the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden are some fine examples. The city is also notable for its silk production, silk embroidery and other handicrafts such as sandalwood fans.
      One of China's oldest art forms. embroidery (known in China as "xiuhua" or "zhahua," meaning "making ornamental designs on cloth with a needle") has several styles that very depending on the region in which they are produced. Suzhou is one of China's four major embroidery centres (the others being Hunan, Guangdong and Sichuan), with works that are noted for their flat surfaces, neat edge, delicacy, and close, even stitches. Suzhou's Wuzhong and Xiangcheng districts alone have more than 100,000 craftspeople skilled in embroidery.
      The city is also the "museum of cultural relics." Pagodas and ancient bridges are scattered around the city. According to the Pingjiang Map in the Song Dynasty (960-1279)
314 bridges were built, of which 161 bridges remain in the city. The city is the "metropolis of arts." Suzhou embroidery, which first appeared in the Song Dynasty, is illustrious for its rich stitch varieties and exquisite craftsmanship. The embroidery is one of the four famous embroidery schools in China. Kittens and goldfish are common motifs. With 48 embroidery techniques and silk threads in over 5,000 different colours, the institute turns out unique needlework, of which double-faced embroidery is the most outstanding. Suzhou is home to various schools of literature, painting and music, including Kunqu Opera (listed as one of the UNESCO's first batch 19 masterpieces of oral and intangible cultural heritage in 2001) and Suzhou Ballad Singing, making an important part of Chinese art and culture. Today's Suzhou is on the track of development and prosperity. Taking a panoramic view of Suzhou new district, skyscrapers and modern residential areas are visible everywhere.
      The long history of the city has left behind many attractive scenic sports and historical sites with beautiful and delightful legends. The elegant and classical gardens, old fashioned houses, and delicate bridges hanging over flowing waters in the drizzling rain, the beautiful lakes with undulating hills in lush greenery, the numerous scenic spots and historical and cultural city full of eternal and poetic charming.