Suzhou is located in the center of the Yangtze Delta, in the south of Jiangsu Province, with Shanghai to the east, Zhejiang Province to the south, Wuxi City to the west and the Yangtze River to the north. 42% of the city is covered by water, including a vast number of ponds and streams, Suzhou is praised as the 'Oriental Venice'.
Suzhou used to be the capital of the Wu State during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). In 514 BC, by the command of ruler Helu of Wu, his senior minister Wu Zixu built the Great City, and its wall measured 23.5 km in circumstances with 8 pairs of land and water gates. The city began to take the name of Suzhou and Gusu City during the Sui Dynasty (581-618). Great changes have take place in Suzhou through its long history. Yet, despite of repeated devastation, the city is still seated exactly on the original site, as it was 2,500 years ago, which is indeed an instance rarely found in the world.
Reputed as the "Venice of Orient", the old town of Suzhou is still a city of canals, hump-backed bridges, and low, white washed houses. Over 100 surviving ancient gardens are scattered in the urban area. In 1997 the classical gardens including Humble Administrator's Garden, Garden of the Net Master, Pavilion of the Surging Wave, Lingering Garden and Lion Grove were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.