APSCVIR Annual Scientific Meeting

About Suzhou

Suzhou is the most populous prefecture-level city in Jiangsu province, China, and was the historic economic, cultural, and scholarly center of China from the Song to Qing dynasty. Suzhou is a major tourist destination and industrial hub of Eastern China, specializing in high-end manufacturing. Renowned as the cradle of Wu culture, Suzhou flourished as a hub of trade, arts, and intellectual life along the Grand Canal, helping shape China's economic and cultural development for centuries. The city is internationally famous for its classical gardens, which harmonize architecture, water, rocks, and plants into poetic expressions of nature. Long admired for its silk production, refined cuisine, and lyrical Kunqu opera, Suzhou has been praised in Chinese poetry, along with Hangzhou, as "paradise on earth," a reputation that endures today as the city blends its timeless canals, whitewashed lanes, and scholarly heritage with modern industries. Suzhou is part of the Yangtze Delta megalopolis.

Getting There

• Suzhou is easily accessible by air through Shanghai's major international airports, located approximately 100 kilometers away. From Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao International Airport, you can reach Suzhou via high-speed rail in under 30 minutes—a convenient and efficient option for most travelers. Alternatively, shuttle buses and airport transfer services operate regularly between Shanghai and Suzhou. Once in Suzhou, the city's public transportation network includes buses and metro lines that connect major areas. Taxis and ride-sharing apps are widely available for local travel. Plan your arrival with enough time to settle in before the meeting begins on June 11.