Changshu
Encyclopedia
Changshu 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 comprises 12 towns and two provincial economy and technology development districts. As a historically and culturally famous city, Changshu is known for its long history, beautiful scenery and prosperity. It is one of the most well developed counties in China: its GDP
reached 97.2 billion yuan in 2007, and GDP per capita reached 91,846 yuan (ca. US$12,000), ranking among the top 10 counties within China
.
. 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 Japan
ese 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
.
of 15–20 percent for the last 20 years. In 2007, Changshu had a GDP of RMB97.6 billion, an increase of 18 percent from 2006. Of this, only 1.8 percent comes from the primary industry, whereas 59.18 percent is derived from the secondary industry and the tertiary industry makes up the remaining 39 percent.
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.
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
. Changshu’s import and export rate has also increased in recent years with imports going up by 88.4 percent to US$3.89 billion and exports rising 60.4 percent to US$6.74 billion in 2007.
Yantai
-Nantong
-Changshu-Shanghai
, Sujiahang Expressway and Suzhou
-Jiaxing
-Hangzhou
all pass through Changshu. A major new road is planned alongside the Yangtze River
from Shanghai
to Nanjing
, which will also pass through Changshu. This is due to open in October 2008, as will the Su Tong Bridge, which will connect Changshu with Nantong
. Set to be the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge when it opens in 2008, the total length will be 32.4 kilometers.
Changshu harbor is ranked sixth out of China’s inland river ports and supports both the Shanghai port and the Suzhou Industrial Park
. It currently has 12 docks, with another nine being constructed, operating to 212 ports worldwide.
Burnaby, British Columbia
, Canada
Ayabe, Kyoto
, Japan
Satsumasendai, Kagoshima
, Japan Townsville, Australia
At least four famous painters came from Changshu:
County-level city
A county-level city is a county-level administrative division of mainland China. County-level cities are usually governed by prefecture-level divisions, but a few are governed directly by province-level divisions....
under the jurisdiction of Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, and is located in the south-eastern part of eastern-China’s Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
Province as well as the Yangtze River Delta
Yangtze River Delta
The Yangtze River Delta, Yangtze Delta or YRD, also called Yangzi, or Chang Jiang Delta, Rive Chang Delta Tai Lake Region or the Golden Triangle of the Yangtze, generally comprises the triangular-shaped territory of Wu-speaking Shanghai, southern Jiangsu province and northern Zhejiang province of...
. Due to the mild climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
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
Taicang
Taicang is a coastal city in Jiangsu Province of People's Republic of China. It is approximately to the northwest of Shanghai, and to the east of Suzhou. It is a county level city under jurisdiction of Suzhou prefecture level city. In 2008, the registered population was at 466,300, and total GDP...
which means “Greatest Granary”.
Changshu comprises 12 towns and two provincial economy and technology development districts. As a historically and culturally famous city, Changshu is known for its long history, beautiful scenery and prosperity. It is one of the most well developed counties in China: its GDP
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
reached 97.2 billion yuan in 2007, and GDP per capita reached 91,846 yuan (ca. US$12,000), ranking among the top 10 counties within China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
History
Changshu first became an independent county in 540 AD, but in 581 was made subordinate to SuzhouSuzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
. It was promoted to seat of a full prefecture
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
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 Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese pirates.
Changshu has traditionally been a market town for locally-produced rice, corn, wheat, tea, and mulberry
Mulberry
Morus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae. The 10–16 species of deciduous trees it contains are commonly known as Mulberries....
leaves, and since the 13th century has been a major cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
-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
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
near Changshu to service Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
and Wuxi
Wuxi
Wuxi is an old city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Split in half by Lake Tai, Wuxi borders Changzhou to the west and Suzhou to the east. The northern half looks across to Taizhou across the Yangtze River, while the southern half also borders the province of Zhejiang to the south...
.
Economy
Changsu has experienced economic growthEconomic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
of 15–20 percent for the last 20 years. In 2007, Changshu had a GDP of RMB97.6 billion, an increase of 18 percent from 2006. Of this, only 1.8 percent comes from the primary industry, whereas 59.18 percent is derived from the secondary industry and the tertiary industry makes up the remaining 39 percent.
The city’s major industries include textiles, paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
-making, fine chemicals
Fine chemicals
Fine chemicals are pure, single chemical substances that are commercially produced with chemical reactions for highly specialized applications. Fine chemicals produced can be categorized into active pharmaceutical ingredients and their intermediates, biocides, and specialty chemicals for technical...
, machinery, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
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.
More than 2,000 foreign enterprises have invested in Changshu including big names such as Sharp
Sharp Corporation
is a Japanese multinational corporation that designs and manufactures electronic products. Headquartered in Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan, Sharp employs more than 55,580 people worldwide as of June 2011. The company was founded in September 1912 and takes its name from one of its founder's first...
and Dunlop
Dunlop (brands)
Dunlop was originally a brand of tyre produced by the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company at the end of the 19th century, taking its name from John Dunlop. The brand is now used for many other products either derived from rubber or with a looser connection to rubber.Ownership of the brand has become...
. Of the contracted investment at least one-third has come from Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
– 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
Fine paper
Fine papers are printing and writing paper grades based mainly on chemical pulps. Normally the content of mechanical pulps are below 10% and the amount of fillers in the range 5–25%.-Production:...
. Changshu’s import and export rate has also increased in recent years with imports going up by 88.4 percent to US$3.89 billion and exports rising 60.4 percent to US$6.74 billion in 2007.
Development Zones and Ports
- Changshu Port
- Changshu Southeast Development Zone
- Jiangsu New and High Tech Industrial Park
Administrative divisions
Changshu is divided into 12 towns, one forest farm, two provincial development districts and a clothing and fabric market.12 Towns
- MeiliMeiliIn Norse mythology, Meili is a god, son of the god Odin and brother of the god Thor. Meili is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson...
(梅李) - BixiBIXIBixi is a public bicycle sharing system developed by the Public Bike System Company , which itself was set up by the parking authority of Montréal to create a modular bicycle sharing system for Montréal....
(碧溪) - Xushi (徐市)
- HeshiHeshi-References:*...
(何市) - Dongbang (董浜)
- Renyang (任阳)
- Zhitang (支塘)
- BaimaoBaimaoBaimao is a township-level division situated in Anqing, Anhui, China....
(白茆) - GuliGuliGuli is a town in Barisal Division, Bangladesh. It is located at 22°41'60N 90°40'60E at an altitude of 1 metre .-References:...
(古里) - Tangshi (唐市)
- ShajiabangShajiabangShajiabang is a Chinese tourist village located adjacent to Yangcheng Lake in Jiangsu Province, China. There is a scenic area in the town named Shajiabang Resort.-Tourism attractions:Shajiabang Resort covers an area of...
(沙家浜) - Yushanzhen (虞山)
- Haiyu (海虞)
- XieqiaoXieqiaoXieqiao is a township-level division situated in Fuyang, Anhui, China....
(谢桥) - DayiDayiDayi may refer to:*Dayi method, a computer input method*South Dayi District, Volta Region, Ghana*North Dayi, one of the constituencies represented by the Parliament of Ghana*Dayi language, spoken by the Indigenous people of the Arnhem Land, Australia...
(大义) - Mochen (莫城)
- XinzhuangXinzhuangXinzhuang is a town located in Minhang District, Shanghai, China.-Transport:The Xinzhuang Station is located in the centre of Xinzhuang providing access to Metro lines 1 and 5. To the north and south of the station are 2 squares...
(辛庄) - WangzhuangWangzhuangWangzhuang is a township-level division situated in Bengbu, Anhui, China....
(王庄) - Yetang (冶塘)
- Liantang (练塘)
- Yangyuan (杨园)
- Zhangqiao (张桥)
Infrastructure
The China National Highway 204China National Highway 204
China National Highway 204 runs from Yantai in Shandong Province to Shanghai. It is 1,031 kilometres in length and runs south from Yantai, going via Shangdong and Jiangsu Province, and ends in Shanghai.- Route and distance:...
Yantai
Yantai
Yantai is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. Located on the southern coast of the Bohai Sea and the eastern coast of the Laizhou Bay, Yantai borders the cities of Qingdao and Weihai to the southwest and east respectively.The largest fishing...
-Nantong
Nantong
Nantong is a prefecture-level city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, near the river mouth, Nantong is a vital river port bordering Yancheng to the north, Taizhou to the west, Suzhou and Shanghai to the south across the river, and...
-Changshu-Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Sujiahang Expressway and Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
-Jiaxing
Jiaxing
Jiaxing is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Lying on the Grand Canal of China, Jiaxing borders Hangzhou to the southwest, Huzhou to the west, Shanghai to the northeast, and the province of Jiangsu to the north....
-Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
all pass through Changshu. A major new road is planned alongside the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
from Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
to Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, which will also pass through Changshu. This is due to open in October 2008, as will the Su Tong Bridge, which will connect Changshu with Nantong
Nantong
Nantong is a prefecture-level city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, near the river mouth, Nantong is a vital river port bordering Yancheng to the north, Taizhou to the west, Suzhou and Shanghai to the south across the river, and...
. Set to be the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge when it opens in 2008, the total length will be 32.4 kilometers.
Changshu harbor is ranked sixth out of China’s inland river ports and supports both the Shanghai port and the Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou Industrial Park
The China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park is an industrial park built in Suzhou, China with significant Singaporean input. In the late 1990s, the heavy losses incurred by the park caused a minor scandal in Singapore.-Background:...
. It currently has 12 docks, with another nine being constructed, operating to 212 ports worldwide.
College and universities
- Changshu Institute of TechnologyChangshu Institute of TechnologyThe Changshu Institute of Technology ' is a provincial public university, which is characterized by polytechnic, application technology and teacher education....
(常熟理工学院) - Changshu Radio & TV University (常熟广播电视大学)
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)
- Meili High School of Changshu City Jiangsu Province (江苏省常熟市梅李中学)
Vocation schools
- Changshu Farm & Side-line Vocation School
- Changshu Industrial Vocation School
Social Welfare Institute
Changshu Social Welfare Institute (No. 39, Bei Men Da Jie, Changshu City)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）
Hills
- Yushan Hill (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 (言子墓)
Transportation
- Railroad: the Yangtse Riverine Railway (planning)
- Highways: the Yangtse Riverine Expressway, the Suzhou-Jiaxing-Hangzhou Expressway
Sister and friend cities
Whittier, CaliforniaWhittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
Burnaby, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Ayabe, Kyoto
Ayabe, Kyoto
is a city located in Kyoto, Japan., the city has an estimated population of 36,814. The total area is 347.11 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1950....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Satsumasendai, Kagoshima
Satsumasendai, Kagoshima
is a city located in Kagoshima, Japan. It was established on October 12, 2004 with the merger of the city of Sendai, Kagoshima, the towns of Hiwaki, Iriki, Kedōin and Tōgō, and Koshikijima Islands , all from Satsuma District.As of January 1, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 100,730 in...
, Japan Townsville, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Famous people
- Weng TongheWeng TongheWeng Tonghe was a Chinese Confucian scholar and imperial tutor during the Qing dynasty. In 1856, he was awarded the highest degree in the imperial examinations and he subsequently became a member of the prestigious Hanlin Academy...
(1830–1904), Confucian scholar and imperial tutor of two emperors during the Qing dynasty
At least four famous painters came from Changshu:
- Huang GongwangHuang GongwangHuáng Gōngwàng was a painter born during the late Song Dynasty in Changshu, Jiangsu. He is the oldest of the "four great masters of the Yuan." After serving as an official he acted as a Taoist priest. He spent his last years in the Fu-ch'un mountains near Hangzhou devoting himself to Taoism. It...
(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 MingMing DynastyThe Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and early QingQing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
dynasties - Wu LiWu LiWú Lì ; ca. 1632-1718 was a Chinese landscape painter and poet during the Qing Dynasty ....
(1632–1718), one of the orthodox school of "literati painting" (wenrenhua) in the early Qing dynastyQing DynastyThe Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.... - Jiang TingxiJiang TingxiJiang Tingxi , courtesy name Yangsun , was a Chinese painter, and an editor of the encyclopedia Gujin Tushu Jicheng .Jiang was born in Changshu, Jiangsu...
(1669–1732), official painter and grand secretary to the Imperial Court. - Wang Ganchang (1907–1999), an outstanding nuclear physical scientist
External links
- http://www.changshu.gov.cn/ - official Changshu City website
- Changshu City English guide (Jiangsu Network)
- Wikitravel's Changshu page - Travel information