Suzhou

views updated May 17 2018

Suzhou (Soochow, Su-chow) City on the Grand Canal, Jiangsu province, e central China. Capital of the Wu kingdom in the 5th century bc, its famous silk industry developed under the Sung dynasty in the 12th century. Since 100 bc, it has been noted for its many gardens, temples, and canals. Industries: silk, cotton, embroidery, chemicals. Pop. (1994) 776,000.