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The Humble Administrator's Garden |
In
the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of the Taihu Lake lies
the 2500-year-old city of Suzhou, the cradle of Wu culture. It takes up an area
of 8,488 square kilometers with a population of 5.75 million people.
The name "Wu" is often applied to refer to
Suzhou, derived from the local tribes who named themselves "Gou Wu" in the late
Shang Dynasty about 11th century BC. Later, King Helu of Wu State in 514BC built
his capital here known as the "Great City of Helu" and since then the city's
site and scale have remained virtually unchanged, making Suzhou a rare city of
historical and cultural renown in the world.
Bordering on Shanghai in the east, Zhejiang
Province in the south, the Taihu Lake in the west and the Yangtze River in the
north, Suzhou enjoys a mild and humid climate, with an annual temperature of 15
to 17¡æ
and an annual rainfall of 1076.2mm. It is easily accessible by water, land and
air communications.
Talking about Suzhou, people would mention
the old saying: "Paradise in Heaven, Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth." The style of
Suzhou lies in "Softness", like the tone of Wu dialect, which also sums up the
character in feminine beauty, tenderness, serenity, subtlety and
elegance.
The natural scenery of hills and waters in
Suzhou is as charming as a delicate beauty. Of the whole area, 10% is cultivated
fields, 30% hills, and the rest covered with water. Streets and alleys in Suzhou
extend side by side with canals. Small bridges and flowing waters, white walls
and dark gray roof tiles match one another in tranquil elegance. As a poem
describes, "On arriving in Suzhou you behold: Houses are all pillowed on water's
edge." The gentle waters make the prominent urban scenery.
The poetic and picturesque Suzhou gardens
are a typical demonstration of simple elegance, with intriguing scenes found in
every season and in all weathers. The Humble Administrator's Garden and the
Lingering Garden in the city are listed in China's Four Most Famous Gardens and
exert great influence on China's and even the world's garden architecture.
Endowed with abundant native products, the rich and exquisite Suzhou cuisine
sets a style of its own on this "land of plenty". The traditional performing
arts of Suzhou are best represented by Kunqu Opera, Suzhou Opera and Pingtan
(ballad singing), reputed both in China and overseas for their minute acting and
harmonic melody. The folks here are honest, good-natured, friendly and
hospitable.
A metropolis of industry and commerce along
the southeastern coast of China since ancient times, Suzhou has always been a
hub for merchants, which, as the Tang (618-907) poet Bai Juyi described over a
thousand years ago, "...has a population greater than Yangzhou Prefecture and
more than half of the shops in Chang'an, the capital". The Italian traveler
Marco Polo praised Suzhou as a "noble and great city" 600 years ago.
Today's Suzhou is an open city with
developed economy and frequent exchanges with the outside world. It has been
officially declared as part of the coastal economic open zone of the Yangtze
River Delta. Comprehensive industrial system has taken shape, and Suzhou has
seen tremendous expansion in foreign trade and international economic
co-operation, establishing friendship with cities in Italy, Canada, Japan and
the United States.