Changshu

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Jiangsu Province Changshu City
Area 1264km²
Population 1,047,700(2005)
Administrative Rank County-level city
Postal code 215500
Phone Area Code 0512
CPC Changshu Committee Secretary Yang Shenghua

Changshu (simplified Chinese: 常熟; traditional Chinese: 常熟; pinyin: Chángshú; Wade-Giles: Ch'ang-shu; lit. “a place of all time harvest”) is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Suzhou, and is located in the south-eastern part of eastern-China’s Jiangsu Province as well as the Yangtze River Delta. Due to the mild climate and terrain there, it has enjoyed a high level of agriculture civilization since ancient times, and is named after this, for in Chinese Chang (常) means “always, often” and Shu (熟) has the meaning of “crop harvest”. Not surprisingly, there is a town nearby called Taicang which means “Greatest Granary”.

Changshu is comprised of 12 towns and two provincial economy and technology development districts. As a famous city of history and culture, it is known for its long history of humanity, beautiful scenery and prosperity. Changshu is one of the most well developed counties in China: its GDP is frequently ranked among top-10 counties within China.

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[edit] History

Changshu first became an independent county in 540 AD, but in 581 was made subordinate to Suzhou. It was promoted to seat of a full prefecture in 1295, was rebuilt and fortified in the 1300s, but in 1370 was reduced again to the level of a county. In the 15th and 16th centuries Changshu was several times attacked by Japanese pirates.

Changshu has traditionally been a market town for locally-produced rice, corn, wheat, tea, and mulberry leaves, and since the 13th century has been a major cotton-producing district. Although administratively still a subordinate city to Suzhou, it is a provincial base of foreign trade. Currently a harbour is being developed on the Yangtze River near Changshu to service Suzhou and Wuxi.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Changshu is divided into 12 towns, one forest farm, two provincial development districts and a clothing and fabric market.

[edit] 12 Towns

  • Meili (梅李)
  • Xingang (新港)
  • Dongzhang (东张)
  • Xushi (徐市)
  • Heshi (何市)
  • Dongbang (董浜)
  • Renyang (任阳)
  • Zhitang (支塘)
  • Baimao (白茆)
  • Guli (古里)
  • Tangshi (唐市)
  • Shajiabang (沙家浜)
  • Yushanzhen (虞山)
  • Haiyu (海虞)
  • Xieqiao (谢桥)
  • Dayi (大义)
  • Mochen (莫城)
  • Xinzhuang (辛庄)
  • Wangzhuang (王庄)
  • Yetang (冶塘)
  • Liantang (练塘)
  • Yangyuan (杨园)
  • Zhangqiao (张桥)

[edit] Forest Farm

  • Yushan Forest Farm (虞山林场)

[edit] Clothing and Fabric Market

  • Zhaoshangcheng (招商城)

[edit] Education facilities

[edit] College and universities

  • Changshu Institute of Technology (常熟理工学院)
  • Changshu Radio & TV University (常熟广播电视大学)

[edit] High schools

  • Changshu High School of Jiangsu Province (江苏省常熟中学)
  • High School of Changshu City (常熟市中学)
  • Changshu High School of Foreign Languages (常熟市外国语学校)
  • Meili High School of Changshu City Jiangsu Province (江苏省常熟市梅李中学)

[edit] Vocation schools

  • Changshu Fram & Side-line Vocation School
  • Changshu Industrial Vocation School

[edit] Social Welfare Institute

Changshu Social Welfare Institute

Address: No. 39, Bei Men Da Jie, Changshu City, Jiangsu Province, China 215500

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Gardens and parks

  • Fangta Tower Park (方塔园)
  • Yushan Hill Park (虞山公园)
  • Shanghu Lake Park (尚湖公园)
  • The Zengs' Garden (曾园)
  • The Zhaos' Garden (赵园)
  • The Yan Garden (燕园）

[edit] Hills

  • Yushan Hill (虞山)
  • Fushan Hills (福山诸丘)
  • Tongguan Hill (铜官山)
  • Dianshan Hill (殿山)
  • Xishan Hill (西山)

[edit] Humanity remains

  • Xingfu Temple (兴福寺)
  • Zhongyong's Tomb (仲雍墓)
  • Yanzi's Tomb (言子墓)

[edit] Transportation

  • Railroad: the Yangtse Riverine Railway (planning)
  • Highways: the Yangtse Riverine Expressway, the Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou Expressway

[edit] Famous people

  • Weng Tonghe (1830-1904), Confucian scholar and imperial tutor of two emperors during the Qing dynasty

At least four famous painters came from Changshu:

  • Huang Gongwang (1269-1354), one of the Four Masters of the Yüan dynasty
  • Wang Hui (1632-1717), one of the "Four Wangs" representing the orthodox school of painting during the Ming and early Qing dynasties
  • Wu Li (1632-1718), one of the orthodox school of "literati painting" (wenrenhua) in the early Qing dynasty
  • Jiang Tingxi (1669-1732), official painter and grand secretary to the Imperial Court in Kyoto.
  • Wang Gangchang(1907-1999), an outstanding nuclear physical scientist

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 31°39′N, 120°44′E