China

Suzhou

Suzhou is a city of nearly 6 million people. It is a famous centre for silk production and is a popular tourist destination. There are many beautiful gardens in the city and older style houses are built alongside canals and other waterways.

Cloud Rock Pagoda (leaning pagoda) on Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill is one of the sights of Suzhou.
The hill and the tower are here in honour of He Lu, the founder of the city who died in the 6th century. It is said that He Lu was buried with 3000 swords but his tomb has never been discovered. All the workers who slaved to build the hill and the tower were murdered when the work was finished to stop them telling the location of the tomb. It is said that the hill is guarded by a white tiger.

The pagoda began sinking on one side about 400 years ago. It is thought to be stable now.

This may be the site of He Lu's tomb.

History

Suzhou is one of the oldest towns in this part of China. It was established about 2500 years ago. The city was walled and had a moat around it.

Because it was on the Grand Canal, an 1800 kilometre waterway, which linked many Chinese cities, Suzhou was a centre for trade and a place where many famous Chinese artists and scholars chose to live and work.

You can read more about Suzhou here
http://www.suzhou.gov.cn/English/

Acknowledge this page in your bibliography like this:
Thomas, Ron. & Sydenham, Shirley. China [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2009)

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