Changshu

Changshu (Template:Lang-zh; Suzhounese: /d͡ʐan¹³ ʐoʔ²³/)<ref>Spelling variants in older written sources might be Chansu (e.g. Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911) or Chanzu (e.g. The New Larned History for Ready Reference, 1922).</ref> is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and is part of the Yangtze River Delta.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It borders the prefecture-level city of Nantong to the northeast across the Yangtze River. Due to the mild climate and terrain there, it has enjoyed a high level of agricultural civilization since ancient times, and is named after this, for the first character of its name (Template:Linktext) means "always, often", while the second (Template:Linktext) means "ripe". The name of the adjacent county-level city of Taicang means "great granary".

History

Template:Unreferenced section 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 14th century, 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.

Economy

The city's major industries include textiles, paper-making, fine chemicals, machinery, steel and forestry products. The city has more than 4,000 textile and apparel companies with combined annual sales of RMB50 billion. The paper-making industry has attracted more the US$15 billion of FDI. By the end of 2007, this industry exceeded 2.4 million tons.<ref name="china-briefing.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

More than 2,000 foreign enterprises have invested in Changshu including big names such as Sharp and Dunlop. Of the contracted investment at least one-third has come from Taiwan – more than 500 Taiwan enterprises have invested more than US$100 million in the city.Template:Citation needed UPM-Kymmene from Finland has been running a paper mill in the city since 1999 and now has an annual capacity of 200,000 tons of coated and 600,000 tons of uncoated fine paper.Template:Citation needed

Administrative divisions

Changshu is divided into 2 subdistricts and 9 towns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2 Subdistricts

• Bixi (Template:Lang)
• Dongnan (Template:Lang)

9 Towns

Yushan (Template:Lang) Haiyu (Template:Lang) Meili (Template:Lang) Xinzhuang (Template:Lang) Guli (Template:Lang)

Zhitang (Template:Lang) Dongbang (Template:Lang) Shajiabang (Template:Lang) Shanghu (Template:Lang)

Discontinued/Merged towns

Xushi (Template:Lang) Heshi (Template:Lang) Renyang (Template:Lang) Baimao (Template:Lang) Tangshi (Template:Lang) Xieqiao (Template:Lang) Dayi (Template:Lang)

Mocheng (Template:Lang) Wangzhuang (Template:Lang) Yetang (Template:Lang) Liantang (Template:Lang) Yangyuan (Template:Lang) Zhangqiao (Template:Lang)

Infrastructure

The China National Highway 204 Yantai-Nantong-Changshu-Shanghai, Sujiahang Expressway and Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou all pass through Changshu. Changshu has one Yangtze River crossing, the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge, one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world.<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite web</ref>

Education facilities

College and universities

• Changshu Institute of Technology (Template:Lang)
• UWC Changshu China (Template:Lang)

High schools

• Changshu High School of Jiangsu Province (Template:Lang)
• High School of Changshu City (Template:Lang)
• Changshu Foreign Language School (Template:Lang)
• United World College of Changshu China

Tourism

Gardens and parks

• Fangta Tower Park (Template:Lang)
• Yushan Park (Template:Lang)
• Shanghu Lake Park (Template:Lang)
• The Zengs' Garden (Template:Lang)
• The Zhaos' Garden (Template:Lang)
• The Yan Garden (Template:Lang)

Hills

• Yushan (Template:Lang)
• Fushan Hills (Template:Lang)
• Tongguan Hill (Template:Lang)
• Dianshan Hill (Template:Lang)
• Xishan Hill (Template:Lang)

Archaeological sites

• Xingfu Temple (Template:Lang)
• Zhongyong's Tomb (Template:Lang)
• Yanzi's Tomb

Religion

Local people generally believe in Buddhism, Taoism, Protestantism and Catholicism. Changshu Christian Church is a Protestant church in the city.

Transportation

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

Notable people

• Huang Gongwang (1269–1354), one of the Four Masters of the Yüan dynasty
• Pu Xuefeng (1900–1997), academic and administrator
• Shiwu (1272–1352), a Chan poet and hermit who lived during the Yuan 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
• Weng Tonghe (1830–1904), Confucian scholar and imperial tutor of two emperors during the Qing dynasty
• Wang Ganchang (1907–1998), nuclear physics scientist
• Zhang Guangdou (1911–2013), hydrologist

See also

• List of twin towns and sister cities in China

External links

• http://www.changshu.gov.cn/ - official Changshu City website
• Changshu City English guide (Jiangsu Network)
• Changshu City Guide & Culture Introduction - Mild China