Suzhou,formerly romanizedasSoochow, is a major city located in southeasternJiangsu ProvinceofEast China, about 100km (62mi) northwest ofShanghai. It is a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce, and the second largest city in the province after its capitalNanjing. The city is situated on the lower reaches of theYangtze Riverand the shores ofLake Taiand belongs to theYangtze River Deltaregion.
Founded in 514 BC, Suzhou has over 2,500 years of history, with an abundant display of relics and sites of historical interest. At around 100 AD, during theEastern Han Dynasty, it became one of the ten largest cities in the world mostly due to emigration fromNorthern China.Since the 10th-centurySong Dynasty, it has been an important commercial center of China. During theMingandQing Dynasty, Suzhou was a national economic, cultural, and commercialcenter, as well as the largest non-capital cityin the world, until the 1860Taiping Rebellion.
The city's canals, stone bridges,pagodas, and meticulously designedgardenshave contributed to its status as one of the top tourist attractions in China. TheClassical Gardens of Suzhouwere added to the list of theUNESCOWorld Heritage Sitesin 1997 and 2000. Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China".