Suzhou is located in the southern part of Jiangsu Province 83km west of Shanghai just across the border from Zhejiang province. Since ancient times, the city has been referred to as "Land of Abundant Landscapes", "World of Gardens", and "Venice of the East". The 2,500-year-old city, a byword for beauty and refinement, sits in the lower reaches of the booming Yangtze Delta, and is an economic dynamo of the new China even as visitors flock to see the treasures of the old that it contains.

In 514 BC, King Helu of Wu State built his capital here and it became known as the "Great City of Helu". Its position on the Grand Canal installed it as a strategically and economically important city as early as the Sui dynasty, and by the 14th century, its fame as a silk producer sealed its reputation as a place of elegance and refinement.

Today, the city's broadly based strategic industries of telecommunications equipment and electronics, textiles, chemicals and metallurgy feed its prosperity, but it is the tourism industry that gives the city its fame. In the 12th century, the basic layout of the city was established, and it has retained this today, even though many of the old features have been lost, giving Suzhou unique scenic appeal. The old city was enclosed by rectangular walls protected by moats and pierced by six gates. There were twenty canals running through the town from north to south or east to west, and some of these remain (even though the walls are gone), giving the city, with its delicate bridges and sublime water views, an unforgettable aura of languid elegance.

Among Suzhou's most popular scenic spots are its beautiful formal gardens. Most were laid out originally between the 12th and 15th centuries by private individuals such as officials or scholars. Today, they are preserved as public examples of the unique Chinese genius for miniature landscape, a million miles removed from the formal gardens of Europe. Among the most-visited is the Humble Administrator's Garden, which is considered to be second in quality only to the Garden of the Master of Nets. There are also a number of Buddhist and Taoist shrines and temples, among the most visited being Hanshan Temple and the Temple of Mystery. A little further away from Suzhou – but accessible in an easy half-day excursion – is Zhouzhuang, one of China's most famous water townships. Among the Suzhou museums that are well worth visiting is the fascinating Suzhou Silk Museum, which tells you much that you never knew about Suzhou's star product.

Suzhou's history as a place of culture and learning has bequeathed to it important cultural traditions, including a strong history in the performing arts. The Suzhou region is the birthplace of Kun Opera, a very influential form of classical musical theater, and if you are lucky you will get to see a performance in one of Suzhou's well-appointed theaters. The city offers a vibrant nightlife as well, with a range of bars and clubs, and of course any number of restaurants serving Chinese and Western cuisine. The local cooking is famed for its delicate soups and its wonderful recipes for freshwater fish, among the most colorfully-named of which is Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish.

As you would expect, Suzhou has wonderful shopping opportunities, and although silk is by far the most popular choice, there are plenty of other local products that will have you reaching for your purse, including handcrafted fans, Suzhou tea and decorative writing brushes.

Suzhou's mild climate means that a visit at any time is rewarding, although the best period is during the warmer months between April and October. This is when Suzhou's famous flowers are in bloom: check the calendar to see if you can time your visit to one of the city's festivals, three of which have a floral theme.

Transport to and from Suzhou is extremely convenient. The city is well-served by rail, especially as it is on the ultra-modern high-speed line to Shanghai, which puts that city just 40 minutes away. Air travelers usually fly to Shanghai and connect to Suzhou by rail or bus.

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