Historically one of China’s wealthiest cities, Suzhou is located near Lake Tai in Jiangsu province. The ancient city was characterised by eye-catching, low-rise, whitewashed cottages with grey slate roofs set within a network of canals and bridges. Today, Suzhou has a total population of around 6.1 million people.

Suzhou is one of China’s most cherished tourism cities, the primary attraction is its portfolio of nine UNESCO-protected traditional Chinese water gardens. In 2007, it received 47 million domestic and two million overseas tourists.

Lake Tai is a rich source of freshwater pearls, which are sold across Suzhou. The lake is also home to Taihu Mercury Club & Marina, recognised as one of China’s finest yacht and leisure boat marinas.

Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, the man who grafted a glass pyramid onto the Louvre in Paris and created Hong Kong’s iconic Bank of China tower, designed the Suzhou Museum. As a child, Guangzhou-born Pei spent summers at the family’s ancestral Suzhou home. Opened in 2006, the Suzhou Museum is only his second work in mainland China, after the Fragrant Hills resort in Beijing.

In October, Hong Kong’s Wharf Properties paid RMB3 billion for a 1.25 sq. m parcel of land in the Suzhou Industrial Park.  As part of the development, it is seeking permission to build a 420 metre-high skytower, featuring a luxury hotel.

Since China launched its new CRH (China Railways High-Speed) bullet trains, modelled on Japan’s iconic speedsters, in 2007, Suzhou is just 30-40 minutes by rail from Shanghai.

In 2006, the UK’s Liverpool University opened a new university on the shores of Lake Dushu, in partnership with Xi'an Jiaotong University. Last year, Dulwich College opened its third school in China (after Shanghai and Beijing) in Suzhou.

Suzhou is currently building a new RMB2.5m railway station, and has begun construction of a four-line metro system.

Last October, the Suzhou Science and Cultural Arts Centre became the new home for the annual Golden Rooster Awards, nicknamed the ‘Chinese Oscars.’

Suzhou is experiencing a hotel opening boom, both in the old city and around Jinji Lake in the Suzhou Industrial Park. Recent openings include Sofitel, Shilla, Kempinski, Shangri-La, Garden Hotel, Grand Metropark, Howard Johnson and the Regalia resort. A new Crowne Plaza is currently being constructed and Hyatt Regency is slated to open early next year.