Located at the lower reach of Yangtze River, and neighboring with Tai Lake, Suzhou of Jiangsu Province is only about 100 km to Shanghai. The city is well known for its resplendent gardens and beautiful scenery, covering an area of 5,838 square kilometers with a population of 6.35 million. Suzhou has also been an important silk industry since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and continues to hold that prominent position today.