Suzhou city – located in the middle of Yangtze River Delta and in the southeast of East China's Jiangsu province – borders Shanghai in the east, Zhejiang province in the south, Taihu Lake in the west and Yangtze River in the north, with a total area of 8,657 square kilometers.
The total area of rivers, lakes and tidal flats is estimated to account for 36.6 percent of the city's total territory, making it a famous water town in the south of the Yangtze River.
It also boasts distinct seasons, a mild climate, abundant rainfall, fertile soil, rich products and pristine natural conditions.
Founded in 514 BC, Suzhou has a recorded history of more than 2,500 years and is one of the first 24 famous historical and cultural cities in China. There are 870 items under cultural relic protection in the city, including 61 national-level and 127 provincial-level ones.
Suzhou is a national key tourist city. Its Pingjiang Historic Block and Shantang Historic Block were named as leading historical and cultural streets in China and are among the most popular tourist historical and cultural streets in China.
There are more than 60 well-preserved gardens there. Nine are classical gardens – including the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden – which have been listed in the World Cultural Heritage List by the United Nations.
Other famous scenic spots include Tiger Hill, Lingyan Mountain, Tianping Mountain and Yushan Mountain, while most of the scenic spots along Taihu Lake are located in the city.