(1) Spring & Autumn and Warring States Period (770 BC - 476 BC)
* the first Suzhou city, strategically-oriented city after topographic and climatic investigations
* city walls + city gates (highlight: Panmen Gate, the only land-and-water city gate in China)
* strategist Sunwu
* war between Wu and Yue, two states during the Spring & Autumn and Warring States Period
* beauty Xi Shi, Mt. Lingyan
* Mausoleum of King of Wu
(2) Qin (221 BC - 207 BC) and Han (206 BC - 220 AD) Dynasty Period
* economic development resulting from the national unification
* goods distributing center
(3) Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280)
* social stability and economic development in Suzhou
* general Sun Quan: North Temple Pagoda, Auspicious Light Pagoda
(4) Sui Dynasty (581 — 618), Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) and the Five Dynasties
Period (907 - 960)
* recovery from war chaos
* Grand Canal: luxurious enjoyment
* official Wang Zhongshu: Jade Belt Bridge
* the famous saying: “Up above there is a heaven, down here Suzhou and Hangzhou”
* Suzhou becomes a hub of romantic scholars
(5) Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) Dynasty Period
* sericulture, silk and dyeing
* Suzhou becomes the ideal place for those who want to withdraw from the officialdom
* classical gardens mushroomed