Changshu
Changshu (Chinese: 常熟; pinyin: Chángshú; Wade–Giles: Ch'ang-shu'; lit. 'evergrow'; Suzhounese: /d͡ʐan¹³ ʐoʔ²³/)[2] is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and is part of the Yangtze River Delta. 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 agriculture civilization since ancient times, and is named after this, for the first character of its name (常) means "always, often", while the second (熟) means "ripe". The name of the adjacent county-level city of Taicang means "great granary".
Changshu
常熟市 | |
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  Changshu Location in Jiangsu | |
| Coordinates (Changshu government): 31°39′22″N 120°45′11″E | |
| Country | People's Republic of China |
| Province | Jiangsu |
| Prefecture-level city | Suzhou |
| Government | |
| • CPC Changshu Committee Secretary | Wang Xiang |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,264 km2 (488 sq mi) |
| Population (2018) | |
| • Total | 1,515,900 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard) |
| Postal code | 215500 |
| Area code(s) | 0512 |
| Website | changshu |
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 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.[3]
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. 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.
Administrative divisions
Changshu is divided into 2 subdistricts and 9 towns.[4]
2 Subdistricts
- Bixi (碧溪新区)
- Dongnan (东南街道)
9 Towns
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Discontinued/Merged towns
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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.[5]
Education facilities
College and universities
- Changshu Institute of Technology (常熟理工学院)
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 Foreign Language School (常熟市外国语学校)
- United World College of Changshu China
Tourism
Gardens and parks
- Fangta Tower Park (方塔园)
- Yushan 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)
Hills
- Yushan (虞山)
- Fushan Hills (福山诸丘)
- Tongguan Hill (铜官山)
- Dianshan Hill (殿山)
- Xishan Hill (西山)
Archaeological sites
- Xingfu Temple (兴福寺)
- Zhongyong's Tomb (仲雍墓)
- 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 Yangtse Riverine Railway (planning)
- Highways: the Yangtse Riverine Expressway, the Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou Expressway
Notable people
- Weng Tonghe (1830–1904), Confucian scholar and imperial tutor of two emperors during the Qing dynasty
- Shiwu (1272–1352), a Chan poet and hermit who lived during the Yuan Dynasty
- 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
- Wang Ganchang (1907–1999), nuclear physics scientist
References
- "Table showing land area and population". Suzhou People's Government. 2003. Archived from the original on 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
- 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).
- China Briefing Business Guide: Changshu Economy
- 中国常熟-信息公开 (in Chinese). Changshu People's Government. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- China Briefing Business Guide: Changshu Infrastructure
External links
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Changshu. |
- http://www.changshu.gov.cn/ - official Changshu City website
- Changshu City English guide (Jiangsu Network)
- Changshu City Guide & Culture Introduction - Mild China
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