Suzhou is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze Basin in China and rich in its natural and man resources. It has been praised as ‘a paradise on Earth’ since ancient time. It grew rapidly as a center of shipping and storage with the completion of the Grand Canal in 609 AD.

Marco Polo visited Suzhou in 1276, described it as ‘great’ and ‘noble’. By the 14th century, Suzhou was China’s leading silk producer. The wealthy inhabitants in this time built many gardens, of which over 100 survive. Many of them are already listed as a world cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
The elegant classical gardens, the old-fashioned houses and delicate bridges hanging over flowing waters in the drizzling rain, the numerous scenic spots and historic sites, the exquisite arts and crafts, and the notably soft dialect have made Suzhou a renowned historic and cultural city full of poetic charm. Famous local handicrafts include silk hand embroidery, silk double sided embroidery, silk brocade and sandal wood fans.

苏州原称吴，又称姑苏，素有“人间天堂”之美誉。地處長江下游，京杭大運河縱貫南北，沪寧鐵路和高速公路橫穿東西，擁有太倉、常熟、張家港等口岸港口。總面積8488平方公里，總人口583.86萬人，現轄5縣（市）7區。

蘇州是全國重要的歷史文化名城和重要的風景旅遊城市，也是長江三角洲重要的中心城市之一。公元前514年，吳王閩間建城，至今2500餘年城址未變，並保持著宋代“水陸平行、河街相鄰“的雙棋盤格局和”小橋、流水、人家“的古樸風貌。”蘇州園林甲天下“，現存古典園林60余個，拙政園和留園列全國四大名園之中。古典園林、蘇繡、繪畫、書法及昆曲、評彈、蘇劇等，構成吳文化的豐富內涵。