Suzhou: Each Household Lies by the River
摘要
Suzhou is an ancient city with a history of over 2500 years, dating back to the founding by King Helv of Wu in 514 BC with the help of the rebel general Wu Zixu of Chu. Though it was the capital of the ancient state of Wu and officially called “Wu City”, it was commonly known as “Helv City”. Later, in the ninth year of the Sui Kaihuang era (589 AD), when the Sui Dynasty destroyed the Chen Dynasty and abolished the state of Wu, the city was renamed “Suzhou” after the nearby Gusu Mountain. Suzhou was an early built city on a large scale and underwent small changes over time. It has advanced water and land transportation. What is interesting about the city is that the ancient city still stands on its original site, a rare case both at home and abroad.