Transcript Chapter Fifteen Culture and Life

Highlights of Chinese Civilization and
Local Culture
中国地方文化英语导读
00041010
School of Foreign Languages
Suzhou University
Chapter Twelve
Gateway to
Suzhou
教学大纲
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1、教学内容
主要了解苏州这一历史文化古城的地理、历史、经济、文化
等概况。
讲授内容：
(1). 苏州的历史简介
(2). 苏州农业、商业、工业及金融概况
(3). 苏州传统经济以及改革开放后的经济特征及其发展趋势
(4). 苏州的经济开发区和卫星城
2、教学要点
重点掌握苏州作为一座著名的历史文化城市其在历史上以及
改革开放过程中的经济文化特征和未来发展前景。
“Up in heaven there is paradise,
down below, Suzhou and Hangzhou”
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Suzhou, one of the key cities in the Yangtze
River Delta, is a renowned cultural, historic
and tourist city. The city is located in the
southeast of Jiangsu Province, bordering
Shanghai on the east, Zhejiang Province on
the south, the Taihu Lake in the west and
the Yangtze River in the north.
Overview of Suzhou
I. Historical Briefing
1. A history of nearly 2,500 years.
 2. The early Kingdom of Wu.
 3. Changes of its name.
 4. The Pingjiang Map.
 5. A city of zhuangyuan.
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Pingjiang Map
II. Achievement
1. Agriculture
 2. Commerce
 3. Business
 4. Finance and Trade
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1. Agriculture
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The original complex Chinese character “su” is
comprised of the characters for fish and rice,
which stands for a famous land of fish and rice.
Suzhou is one of the first rice plantation areas in
China, and its history of rice plantation can be
dated back to 6,000 years ago.
2. Commerce
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After the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the
economic center moved to the southern regions
along the Yangtze River and the Huai River.
The construction of the Grand Canal solved the
problem of the separation between political center
and economic center.
Excellent traffic avenues of both water and land
made Suzhou a major traffic hub connecting to the
north the Yangtze River and Huai River and south
to Jiaxing and Hangzhou.
3. Business
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Rice importation boomed due to the short of grain and food
in Suzhou in Qing Dynasty.
Area around the Maple Bridge, seven li west of
Changemen Gate, there emerged the most famous rice
and bean collection and distribution center in the southern
region of the Yangtze River.
The boom of rice trade around the Maple Bridge area not
only helped the growth of Suzhou, but was indicative of the
adaptation of agriculture to the economy in Suzhou.
During the periods of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties, silk
weaving industry developed rapidly, bringing about
commercial prosperity.
4. Finance and Trade
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1. One of the biggest industrial and commercial
cities in the southeast of China
2. Suzhou’s pawn trade took the leading position
in southeast China
3. A major warehousing city, rivaling Canton and
Wuhan.
III. Economy
1. Industry
 2. Commerce
 3. Open Economy
 4. Development Zone and Satellite City
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1. Industry
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Being on the sea coast, Suzhou commenced its
sea communication in very early times.
Traditionally, Suzhou has long been a centre of
major textile industries, including silk and cotton
production, as well as embroidery, paper and
handicraft production.
The investment plan for Suzhou has largely been
facilitated through the creation of two large
industrial parks, Suzhou Industrial Park in the east
and Suzhou New District in the west.
2. Commerce
Over the years three main commercial
districts have gradually been formed in
Suzhou proper.
 1. Guanqianjie Commercial District
 2. Stone Road situated outside the gate to
Changmen--- a traditional prosperous
market.
 3. Nanmen District
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Guanqian Street
3. Open Economy
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A metropolis of industry and commerce in the
south-eastern coast of China since ancient times.
Today an open city with developing economies
and frequent exchanges with the outside world.
Traditionally the nation’s important suppliers of
goods for export.
The introduction of considerable foreign funds
boost advanced technology and managerial
expertise.
A series of preferential policies.
4. Development Zone and
Satellite City
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1. The construction of development zones.
2. The satellite cities under the jurisdiction of
Suzhou.
3. The first development zone in Suzhou--Kunshan Economic and Technological
Development Zone
4. Zhangjiagang, Wujiang and Taicang
New Development Zone
Assignment
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观看《名城三十年印迹》、Picture of a Flourishing
Suzhou City in 18th Century（《18世纪苏州繁华
图》）
推 荐 阅 读 The Gateway to Suzhou （ 《 走 进 苏
州》），思考并讨论苏州的经济文化特征和发展前
景。