In the lower reaches of the Yangtze and on the shores of Lake Taihu lies the 2500-year-old city of Suzhou, the cradle of Wu Culture. The name 'Wu' often applied to refer to Suzhou, derived from the local tribes who named themselves 'Gou Wu' in the late Shang Dynasty about 11th century BC. Later King Helu of Wu State in 514 BC built his capital here known as the 'Great City of Helu' and since then the city's site and scale have remained virtually unchanged, making Suzhou a rare city of historical and cultural renown in the world. The natural scenery of hills and water in Suzhou is as charming as a delicate beauty. Of the whole area, 10 per cent is cultivated fields, 30 per cent hills, and the rest covered with water. Streets and alleys in Suzhou extend side by side with canals. Small bridges and flowing waters, white walls and dark grey roof tiles match one another in tranquil elegance. Endowed with abundant native produce, the rich and exquisite Suzhou cuisine sets a style of its own on this 'land of plenty'.

Humble Administrator's Garden(Zhuozhengyuan) located in the northeastern part of Suzhou city, with a total area of 51,950 square miles, is the largest private garden in Suzhou, as well as one of the four most famous classic gardens in China. Around 1513, during the Ming Dynasty, the imperial inspector Wang Xianchen returned to Suzhou after retiring from public life and built his garden. The essay "To cultivate my garden and sell my vegetable crop is the policy of humble man" inspired the name 'Humble Administrator's Garden'.

Tiger Hill (Huqiu) was originally called Haiyong Hill. Tiger Hill was formed about 150,000,000 years ago; it is 36 meters high and 630 meters in perimeter with a total area of 20 hectare (200,000 sq. meters). Tiger Hill's history is entwined with that of the ancient city of Suzhou, and both can be traced back 2,500 years. How it received its name is an interesting story. It was recorded in 496 BC, during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C-476 BC). Wu King Helu died in a war between the Wu Kingdom and the Yue Kingdom, and was buried by his son under what we now call Tiger Hill along with all of his swords, which were of exceptional quality and beauty. According to the Historian, three days after the burial of Wu King Helu, people found a white tiger squatting on the tomb, hence the name 'Tiger Hill'.