Sister Cities: Suzhou City, Wuzhong District, China

This is the final in this month's series on Rotorua's sister cities.  Suzhou City, Wuzhong District, China is a major city located in the south-eastern Province of Jiangsu, by the lower Yangtze River. The city’s emphasis is on Trade and commerce. It is a prefecture-level city with a population of over 5 million and a popular tourist attraction. The city is over 2,000 years old and the centre of Wu culture. It is known for its traditional craft such as painting, calligraphy, carving and embroidery.

Silk Embroidery Art Piece presented to Rotorua City

from the Wuzhong District, Suzhou City.
Photo by Ani Sharland 

Talks started in 1990’s and the relationship between Rotorua City and Suzhou City, Wuzhong District, China was established on 18 February 2000. Since then, delegations of officials from both cities have visited to strengthen that relationship. With this relationship comes a better understanding of the culture of both cities.

Rotorua Daily Post, 27 May 2010.

Silk Scroll presented to  Rotorua City

from the Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, May 2010

Photo by Ani Sharland

This painting was presented to Rotorua City by

Mr Zhang Atu - Vice President of Wuzhong District

of Suzhou City on 15 November 2002

Photo by Ben Manley

This post was written by Ani Sharland with thanks to Rotorua Lakes Council for loaning two of the pieces photographed here.