Suzhou in the center of the Yangtze River Delta - one of the nation's most economically developed regions - has for centuries been among the most attractive cities in China for both living and leisure.

It has been praised for its myriad canals and waterways, lush rolling hills, spectacular temples, pavilions, classic gardens and most importantly, Taihu Lake.

Covering 8,488 sq km in Jiangsu province, Suzhou is a famous historical and cultural city as well as an important tourism city, neighboring Shanghai, the internationally famed metropolis.

Known down through history as Wu, the ancestral city was already settled 2,500 years ago. The Wu Kingdom played an important part in the development of Chinese culture.

Renowned politicians, military strategists, scientists and artists such as Wu Zixu, Sun Wu, Fan Zhongyan, Shen Kuo, Tang Yin, Gu Yanwu and Kuai Xiang were born and raised on its lands.

Suzhou now still stands on the site of a settlement founded in 514 BC and contains historic sites from the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC), the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), terraces of the Han Dynasty (206BC- AD220), temples of the Jin Dynasty (265-420), bridges of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), pagodas of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), tablets of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and guildhalls of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Suzhou encompasses 15 key historical monuments under state protection, 419 under provincial or city administration and 200 ancient buildings under city or district protection. The strong feel of traditional Chinese culture is everywhere.

Also intact in Suzhou is the original chessboard layout of canals and streets in the form of a grid. The landscape of small bridges, flowing water, white walls, black-tiled roofs, classic gardens and time-honored towns earned the city its "Heaven on Earth" label.

As an outstanding example of the art of gardening, Suzhou has nurtured a number of exquisite classical gardens - as an old saying goes: "south China has the best gardens on earth, and Suzhou has the best gardens in south China".

The city has more than 60 well-preserved gardens, nine of which are listed as world cultural heritage sites by UNESCO, including the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering-in Garden, reflecting the pursuit by Suzhou's natives of an ideal living environment that achieves harmony between humans and nature.

Suzhou's people are also good at making exquisite products. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, all the goods with a character "su" had a good market. Since ancient times, the people of Suzhou have had the reputation as intelligent and deft. Of the 24 major categories of Chinese arts and crafts, Suzhou has 22, including Song brocade, kesi fabric, silk, embroidery, opera costumes, Taohuawu wood block New Year pictures, Suzhou fans and lanterns, jade and wood carvings, polished lacquer paintings, painted eggshells, micro sculptures, rosewood furniture, Suzhou musical instruments, writing brushes, and gold and silver objects, all showing high craftsmanship.

Local people also excel at making a wide variety of delicate, tasty and healthy foods, such as local dishes prepared with seasonal vegetables, pot-stewed meat and fowl, refreshments, snacks, preserved fruits. Suzhou delicacies, which are closely related to the local culture, are characterized by natural flavors, beautiful presentation, slightly sweet and palatable taste, and seasonal varieties.

"Boat Dishes" particular to the Taihu Lake are well received and popular for their fresh ingredients and the high-level of culinary skill required to make them.

Waterside scene

As a famous waterside city by Taihu Lake - the third-largest fresh-water lake in the nation - Suzhou features many lakes scattered throughout the city and is crisscrossed by rivers, with the Grand Canal flowing through it. Fully 42.5 percent of the city is covered with water.

Small rivers flow between venerable homes that have whitewashed walls and black tile roofs, forming many distinctive, deep and serene water lanes crossed by bridges of various design.

Clustered around the city, ancient towns such as Zhouzhuang, Tongli and Yongzhi rise beside the rivers and lakes. Their simple and peaceful streets are representative of "water cities" in the Yangtze River Delta.

Hanshan Temple

According to Buddhist legend, each layman has 108 types of annoyance each year, and each tolling bell can help people dispel one. Listening to 108 tolls of a bell on New Year's Eve is said to bring good luck and happiness in the coming year.

Hanshan Temple, 5 km west of Suzhou, was built during 502 to 519. One of the most famous temples in the city, it has the most worshippers, with Chinese people from other parts of the country, and foreigners making pilgrimages to pray for good luck.

On December 31 every year, thousands of tourists gather at the temple to listen to the requited 108 bell tolls.

The scene was described in a poem written during the Tang Dynasty: "Beyond the walls of Suzhou, Hanshan Temple rings bells, which reach my boat, breaking the midnight still."

In addition, tourists can appreciate lion dances, Pingtan storytelling, ballads and acrobatics, and taste delicious Suzhou snacks.