Suzhou Cuisine

As part of Huaiyang Cuisine, the Suzhou style cooking is closely related to the local culture and characterized by natural flavour, beautiful presentation, light and palatable taste, and seasonal varieties.
The selection of materials has much to do with the water country. Dishes and pastries traditionally served aboard of pleasure boats remain the proincipal form. Ingredients for seasonal foods are fishes, shrimps, crabs, water mallows, gorgon fruits and other aquatic products. The visitor is sure to be impressed by the refined taste of Suzhou cuisine.

 

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Suzhou Special Products

Handicrafts and silk are the most outstanding native produce of Suzhou. Suzhou's arts & crafts represent a unique cultural style and workmanshop developed over a thousand years under the influence of the Wu Cultrure and the skills of generations of artisans. Most representative of Suzhou style are embroidery, fans, national musical instruments, scroll mounting, lanterns, mahogany furniture, jade carving, silk tapestry, traditional painting pigments of Jiangsixutang Studio, THE New Year's wood-block prints of Taohuawu Studio, etc. Marked by exquisite craftmanship and elegant colour, all the products are warmly acclaimed in China
and overseas.By inheriting the workmanship and elegant designs of the traditional handicrafts, the silk industry of Suzhou has developed a modern mass production scale and become the mainstay of China's silk export with superior quality and output. It is also the most notable item in tourist shopping.

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Suzhou Traditional Arts

As integral part of the 4000 years' Chinese civilization, the unique culture of the Wu Region south of the refined temperament and feminine beauty instead of the masculine and robust.
Such cultural characteristics are shown in the rich, clean rhythm of the Wu poetry, the sweet, mellow tone of the Wu dialect, the slow-paced and lingering melody of Kunqu Opera, the crisp and delightful trne of ballad singing, the quaint and lively calligraphy, the delicate and elegant landscape painting, the simplistic and cursive engraving of seals, the merry and vivid New Year's pictures of Taowu wood-block printing, etc.
An artistic manifestation of the age-old philosophy, the Wu Culture seeks the informal and the natural. The mild and soft lines, the enduring impression and implicit sense of beauty.
Apart from the ancient architecture and folklore, the fine elements of Suzhou's art and culture can best be seen in the various museums, notably, the Municipal Museum, the Theatrical Museum, the Museum of Folklore, the Museum of Engraved Stone Tablets, the Museum of Suzhou Embroidery Art, the Silk Museum, etc.

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Suzhou Brief.

Location: situated in the south of Jiangsu Province, in the middle of the Yangtze Delta; in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake, bordering on Shanghai in the east, Zhejiang Province in the south , Taihu Lake in the west and the Yangtze River in the north; between north latitude 3047' - 3202', east longitude 11955' - 12120'.

Neighboring Areas: Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong Provinces and Shanghai Municipality

Physical Features: 10 percent is cultivated fields, 30 percent hills, and the rest covered with water, low and smooth terrain with altitude of 4 meters above sea level

Population: 5.71 million
Urban Population: 1.05 million
Area: 8,488 sq km

Nationalities: Han, Hui, and Manchu

History: also known as "Gusu city", having the fame of "Oriental Venice", Suzhou was set up in BC 514; being a city with history of more than 2500 years, it was named Suzhou in A.D.581, Sui dynasty.

Climatic Features: in the north edge of subtropical zone, monsoon maritime climate; mild and humid; with enough sunshine

Average Temperature: annual average temperature 15.7C

Mountains: Mt. Lingyan, Mt. Tianping; Tiger Hill; Mt.Yushan

Rivers: the Yangtze River, Yangcheng Lake, Chenghu Lake; Jinghang cana

Local Highlights: Kunqu Opera, Suzhou Opera and Ballad-sing; silk; handicrafts such as: Suzhou Embroidery, Fans, national musical instruments, scroll mounting, lanterns, mahogany furniture, jade carving, silk tapestry, traditional painting pigments of Jiangenxutang Studio, the New Year's wood-block prints of Taohuamu Studio, etc; Yangcheng Lake huge crab


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Introduction of Suzhou.

Suzhou is a well - known historical and cultural city, as well as a key scenic tourist one, and a coastal economic opening area. The long history of the city has left behind many attractive scenic spots and historical sites with beautiful and interesting legends. The elegant classical gardens, the old - fashioned houses and delicate bridges hanging over flowing waters in the drizzling rain, the beautiful lakes with undulating hills in lush green, the numerous scenic spots

and historical sites, and the exquisite arts and crafts, etc. have made Suzhou a renowned historical and cultural city full of eternal and poetic charm.

Suzhou was the capital of the Wu State during the Spring and Autumn Period. In 514 BC, by the command of King He Lu of Wu, his senior minister Wu Zixu built the Great City of He Lu, and its wall measured 23.5 kilometres in circumsference with 8 pairs of land - and - water gates. The city began to take the name of Suzhou and Gusu City during the Sui Dynasty. Numerous changes have taken place in Suzhou through its vast history. Yet, in spite of

repeated devastation, the city is still seated exactly on the original site as it was 2500 years ago, which is indeed an instance rarely found in the world.

Situated at longtitude 120 ��掳 36'E and latitude 31 ��掳 19'N, Suzhou falls into subtropical zone, with annual average tempreture 16 ��掳 C, annual average rainfall 1200mm, and sunshine over 2000 hours. The mild climate, enough sunshine and sufficent water resources make Suzhou a land abundant in produce.

Suzhou, the ancient city, rich in its natural and man resources, has been praised as "a paradise on earth" since ancient times. It becomes more and more attractive. As the policy of reform and opening to the outside goes further, the unprecedented changes in economy and society have taken place, and the unique advantages in economy and great potential of Suzhou are showing clearly. It has become an opening city with a fairly developed economy, prosperous business, easy communications and internationally closed relations. It is also a great investment place with favorable conditions. >>Suzhou Info Center