1. 苏州 Suzhou

2. S UZHOU IS LOCATED IN CHINA 31°18′N 120°36′E Built in 514 BC Suzhou is an ancient city with 2500 years history located in the center of Yangtze Delta.

3. S UZHOU – GENERAL INFORMATION Suzhou is in china The province in which it resides is Jiangsu Suzhou was established in 512 BC Suzhou’s sister city is Portland, Victoria, Australia Government - Type Prefecture-level city - CPC Suzhou Secretary Jiang Hongkun ( 蒋宏坤 ) - Mayor Yan Li ( 阎立 ) Area - Prefecture-level city 8,488.42 km 2 (3,277.4 sq mi) - Urban 1,649.72 km 2 (637 sq mi) Population (2009) - Prefecture-level city 6,332,900 Density 746.1/km 2 (1,932.3/sq mi) Urban 2,402,100 Urban density 1,456.1/km 2 (3,771.2/sq mi) Time zone Beijing Time (UTC+8) Postal code 215000 Area code(s) 512 Website http://www.suzhou.gov.cn/

4. S UZHOU – H ISTORY AND CULTURE The Wu is a region in the Jiangnan area (south of Yangtze River). The two largest cities in the Wu region today is Shanghai and Hangzhou. The city of Suzhou (also called Wu) has traditionally been the capital of the Wu nations. The dialect spoken in Suzhou is usually regarded as the standard Wu language. Written historical records indicate that Suzhou has a history of over 4000 years, which entitles the city one of “24 Cultural and Historic Cities ” approved as the first group of its kind by the State Council. For thousands of years Suzhou has given birth to many remarkable politicians, philosophers, strategists, scientists and artists, represented by Sun Wu, Fan Zhongyan, Shen Kuo, Tang Ying, Gu Yanwu, Kuai Xiang. Suzhou’s painting, calligraphy, seal cutting, opera, medicine and architecture all have different schools and achievements. Built in 514 B. C. with a history of more then 2,500 years, the city still stands at its original location in the spring and autumn period.

5. L ANDMARKS Suzhou is home to many famous landmarks, of which include the classical Suzhou gardens: the lingering garden, humble administrator’s garden, great wave pavilion, Lion Grove Garden. Suzhou is a very cultural place, you can find a lot of temples around Suzhou. Suzhou is one of the most beautiful cities of China. It is all so where a lot of Chinas silk is made and has one of the oldest traditional forms of Chinese opera. Its gardens appeared 2500 years ago and are still the best place to come to and enjoy the world as it is seen by Chinese poets, artists and men of wisdom. But for this they have to arrive there in advance, before crowds of people deprive the gardens of their calm charm. The city had about 250 gardens during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Nowadays there are about a hundred of them left, and only a few are opened for visitors.