Suzhou

During the Zhou dynasty, a settlement known as Gusu after nearby Mount Gusu (Chinese: 姑苏山; pinyin: Gūsūshān) became the capital of the state of Wu. From this role, it also came to be called Wu as well. In 514 BC, King Helü of Wu established a new capital nearby at Helü City and this grew into the modern city. During the Warring States period, Helü City continued to serve as the local seat of government. From the areas it administered, it became known as Wuxian (lit. "Wu County") and Wujun ("Wu Commandery"). Under the Qin, it was known as Kuaiji after its greatly enlarged commandery, which was named for the reputed resting place of Yu the Great near modern Shaoxing in Zhejiang. The name "Suzhou" was first officially used for the city in AD 589 during the Sui dynasty. Su (蘇 or 苏) in its name is a contraction of the old name Gusu. It refers to "Satisfied place" in the Old Yue language. …

Suzhou, the cradle of Wu culture, is one of the oldest towns in the Yangtze Basin. By the Spring and Autumn period of the Zhou, local Baiyue tribes named the Gou Wu are recorded living in the area which would become the modern city of Suzhou. These tribes formed villages on the edges of the hills above the wetlands surrounding Lake Tai. Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian records traditional accounts that the Zhou lord Taibo established the state of Wu at nearby Wuxi during the 11th century BC, civilizing the local people and improving their agriculture and mastery of irrigation. The Wu court later moved to Gusu within the area of modern Suzhou. In 514 BC, King Helü of Wu relocated his court nearby and called the settlement Helü City after himself. His minister Wu Zixu was closely involved with its planning and it was this site that grew into present-day Suzhou. …

Suzhou (coordinates: 31°18′6.1″N 120°34′51.9″E) is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Jiangsu Province, China, situated within the Yangtze River Delta—one of the world's most economically dynamic regions. The city lies on the Lake Tai Plain, a fertile alluvial basin bordered by Lake Tai (Taihu) to the southwest, China's third-largest freshwater lake (2,578 km2), and the Yangtze River to the north. Suzhou covers a total area of 8,657.32 square kilometers. The terrain is predominantly low-lying and flat, crossed by numerous rivers and lakes. The majority of Lake Tai (Taihu)'s surface area lies within Suzhou's boundaries. Rivers, lakes, and mudflats collectively account for 36.6% of the city's total land area, solidifying its reputation as a Jiangnan water town (a region south of the Yangtze River renowned for its aquatic landscapes). …