Suzhou Overview

Suzhou Travel Overview introduces Suzhou fast facts including the Basic Information, Population, Climate, Geography, Culture, History, Economy, Natural Resources, landmarks, Administrative Diversions.

Basic Information

Geography

Dubbed "East Venice of the World”, Suzhou is crisscrossed by rivers and lakes. Yangtze River, the most spectacular river in the region, flows through the city’s north boundary but the Grand Canal runs down from north to south. The city has the jurisdiction over the Lake Taihu, being equal to about 2/3 of the proportion of the lake, nestling in its southwest territory. Yangcheng Lake, located in Changsu, attracts hundreds of thousands of travelers, coming each year to enjoy its beauty and aquatic food.

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Climate

Suzhou is located in the northern subtropical humid monsoon climate zone. It is warm, humid and rainy, with a clear monsoon, four distinct seasons, long winter and summer, and short spring and autumn. The frost-free period can reach up 233 days per year. Due to differences in topography and latitude in the territory, various unique microclimates are formed. Solar radiation, sunshine, and temperature are centered around Taihu Lake, and areas along the river are low values. The distribution of precipitation has the same pattern. Suzhou has mild and moist weather with four distinct seasons. The annual temperature of Suzhou averages 15°C (60°F), and 90% of the rainfall occurs in the period during mid-June to July. Suzhou is a city full of flowers, because the weather of the city is suitable, and flowers are even in full bloom until June. The summer in Suzhou is hot and humid, while the winter is cold and dry. North-westerly winds blow from Siberia during winter, and can cause temperatures to fall below freezing at night, while southerly or south-westerly winds luring the summer can push temperatures above 35°C(95°F).

Best Time to Visit Suzhou

Spring(March-May) is the golden season for visiting Suzhou, and it is also the season with the most beautiful sceneries in Suzhou. Suzhou in the blue sky and clear water is blooming enthusiastically. Spring, when you come to Suzhou, you can experience the unique charm of Suzhou. The flowing water in Suzhou is bright and charming. At the turn of spring and summer, there is more rain, and typhoons in late summer and early autumn. Suzhou is most suitable for having an outing in spring. In summer, you can taste the fresh food. The maple red season in autumn is best for outing; in winter, you can go to Hanshan Temple to hear the bells of New Year's Eve, and experience the meaning "In the suburban city of Suzhou,the doleful and silent Hanshan Temple lies, and, at midnight, passing over from the temple to my passenger boat, are the bongs".

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Administrative Divisions

As of December 2017, there are 5 municipal districts in Suzhou City, namely, Gusu District(姑苏区), Huqiu District(虎丘区), Wuzhong District(吴中区), Xiangcheng District(相城区), Wujiang District(吴江区). Suzhou escrows 4 county-level cities, namely, Changshu CITY(常熟市), Zhangjiagang City(张家港市), Kunshan City(昆山市), Taicang City(太仓市). There is a county-level unit, namely, Suzhou Industrial Park(苏州工业园区).

History

Dating back some 2500 years, Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in the Yangzi Basin. With the completion of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal during the Sui dynasty, Suzhou began to flourish as a center of shipping and grain storage, bustling with merchants and artisans. By the 14th century Suzhou had become China’s leading silk-producing city. Aristocrats, pleasure seekers, famous scholars, actors and painters arrived, constructing villas and garden retreats.

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Culture

With a long-lasting legacy linking it to society and culture, Suzhou still buzzes with excitement and energy. Take in both the time-honored operas and the contemporary delights of this modern-day metropolis. Suzhou’s influence on Chinese culture spans back 10,000 years and the remnants of its intellectual pursuits are apparent today. Not just through its traditional gardens and water townships, but also through the melodies of its classical art forms such as Kunqu Opera and Pingtan, as well as the native Jiangsu cuisine. Each of them mirrors the exquisite character of the local history – smart, straightforward and elegant.

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Transportation

Suzhou, is an important economic city in South Eastern China in Jiangsu Province. Suzhou doesn’t have its own airport, so the easiest way to reach this city by air is via the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport or Pudong International Airport and then take the train direct to Suzhou. Sunan Shuofang International Airport is the closest airport to Suzhou. It is very convenient to get to Suzhou by train or long-distance bus from nearby cities, such as Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, etc.

Things to Do

hen come to Suzhou, confused what to see, do and experience in Suzhou? Known as the "City of Gardens", "Silk of Land", Suzhou has several kinds of attractions listed below to show you all the highlights. The top attractions in Suzhou are the must-see for visitors.

Economy

Suzhou is located in China' s economic epicenter. Due to this proximity, Suzhou is a city full of market opportunities for foreign investors coming to China and remains one of the nation's key economic focal points. Suzhou has the largest local economy in Jiangsu, accounting for 19.6% of the Province' s total GDP. In 2016, Suzhou achieved a regional GDP of 1.54 trillion yuan, an increase of more than 7.5% over the previous year on a calculable basis. The GDP per capita (calculated based on the resident population) was 14.5 million, which reached US $ 22,000 at the average annual exchange rate. The service industry accounted for more than 50% for the first time.

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Natural Resources

Water Resources

Suzhou is cut crisscross with rivers, lakes and canals which altogether form a dense network of waterways. Suzhou City is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake. The territory is flat, the water network is dense, and the rivers are crisscross. There are more than 20,000 river channels at all levels. The total water area is 3609.4Km2, accounting for 42.5% of the city's total area of 8848.42 Km2.

Mineral Resources

Coal, oil and natural gas are the main energy resources, while sulphur, phosphor, sodium salt, crystal, cyanite, sapphire, diamond, kaolin, limestone, quartzose sand, marble and pottery clay are among the non-metal resources and iron, copper, lead, zinc, silver, gold, strontium and manganese among the metal resources.

Biological Resources

The river network in Suzhou is densely covered, and it is surrounded by the country's famous high-yield rice-growing areas, with well-developed agriculture. It is known as the "land flooded with water", "the world's grain silos", and "the hometown of fish and rice". It mainly grows rice, wheat, and rapeseed, and produces cotton, sericulture. Local products include Biluochun tea, Yangtze saury, Taihu silverfish, and Yangcheng lake hairy crabs.

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