Location: Kunshan is located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province, about 265 km (165 miles) from Nanjing City.Only 50 kilometers (31.1 miles) west of Shanghai, Kunshan is a charming water city lying on the south of the Yangtze River. As a satellite city in the greater Suzhou region, Kunshan is administratively at the county-level in southeast Jiangsu Province. It is like a glittering pearl between Shanghai and Suzhou. As the east gate of Jiangsu Province, Kunshan has an area of 927.7 square kilometers (358.2 square miles) and a population of 1.5 million (2006). It administers 10 towns and 2 national level development zones namely Kunshan Development zone and Export Processing Zone. Kunshan currently ranks as the most economically successful county-level administration in China.
History
Kunshan boasts long history. It is culturally significant as the origin of Kunshan diao, the melody which ultimately evolved into Kunqu, which was presented in the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2008. Kunshan is also the birth place of Gu Yanwu, a renowned thinker and educator. Within the city, there is a town called Zhouzhuang famously known as 'the best water town in China', with a history over 1,000 years.
Topography
Kunshan is crisscrossed by numerous bodies of water, totally 62 rivers and 41 lakes. The total water surface area occupies about 30 percent of its land and the freshwater resources are traditional treasures for locals. Two major freshwater lakes, Dingshan and Yangcheng, sandwiches the city's southern portion from both sides.
Climate
On the northern subtropical belt, Kunshan is influence by a maritime monsoon climate, a mild and humid climate with distinct four seasons. There are frequent 'plum rains' between spring and summer, and it lasts for about three to four weeks. The annual average temperature is 16 - 17 degrees Celsius (60.8 - 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit) around and the rain precipitation is between 800 - 1,000 millimeters (31.5 - 39.4 inches) annually. The sunshine time is close 2,000 hours and frost-free period is 240 days yearly.
Tourist Resources
Kunshan enjoys a long history and well-developed culture, abundant in tourist resources. There are numerous tourist attractions including historical sites, parks and temples. The most attractive tourist destinations of Kunshan are its water towns. Another tourist attraction needed to be mentioned is a Chinese snowball viburnum, a special and rare flower tree species that has only been found in Kunshan as well as in Yangzhou. The tree blooms during April to May and its elegant and beautiful flowers are so attractive that draw thousands people coming to watch during blooming.
As a new industrial and commercial city with modern civilization, Kunshan of today is not only the open vigorous city in China, but also a beautiful cultural and tourist city.
What to see: Jinxi Ancient Town
