As the north gate of Anhui Province, Suzhou City adjoins Jiangsu, Shandong and Henan Provinces. It is a core city of the Huaihai Economic Cooperation Zone with an area of 9,939 square kilometers and a permanent population of about 5.3 million.

With a long history, Suzhou is an important birthplace of Chu-Han culture and Huaihe River culture. Suzhou is a crucial water, land and air transportation hub in eastern China and three high-speed railway stations were built there. It takes one hour to reach Nanjing, two hours to Shanghai, and three hours to Beijing from this city.

Suzhou is a notable commodity grain and cotton production base, a major fruit production area, and a high-quality animal husbandry area in China and it also boasts abundant coal resources. The old course of the Yellow River in Xiaoxian County and Dangshan County is the largest fruit production area in China. Pears from Dangshan, grapes from Xiaoxian, Fuliji roast chicken and Jiagou rice are all well-known local products.

(Photo/Cheng Zhao)