Suzhou New District invested 3.4 billion yuan ($ 541 million) for the construction of the 28.2-hectare Silk Show Town. It is located in Zhenhu sub-district, the western ecological tourist resort of Suzhou city.
The town was listed as one of the provincial characteristic towns in Jiangsu province in May 2017 and was selected as the pilot of a Chinese cultural tourism integration experimental zone a month later.
China Embroidery Art Museum is the largest embroidery museum in China. [Photo/jstsxz.com]
Silk Show Town insists on integrating production, daily life and ecology in its planning and design and has built the China Embroidery Art Museum, the largest of its kind in China, which plays an all-round role in developing new embroidery techniques, carrying out academic exchanges and promoting the time-honored culture to a wider range of people.
The museum consists of exhibition halls on embroidery history, famous embroiderers, craftsmanship and boutiques, putting on displays of precious embroidery relics and contemporary masterpieces.
The embroidery street was designed as a pedestrian street, relieving problems resulting from spontaneous construction such as uneven landscapes levels and insufficient supporting businesses. Water from Taihu Lake was introduced into the embroidery street, creating a waterfront-view belt. Additionally, the embroidery street regularly establishes exhibitions and industrial incubations to preserve the Su embroidery culture and promote industrial agglomeration. The south end of the embroidery street is a drawing room of the Silk Show Town for displays, business, public exposure and meetings.
Lu Fuying, a Su embroidery master, showcases her artistic creations at the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center on Feb 25, 2018. [Photo/VCG]
The north part of the town is a production area, while the south part, relying on Taihu Wetland Park, has an "ecology" function. Continuation of protective development of the wetland resources is underway, as is provision of business, leisure and entertainment areas to attract new arrivals to settle down in the town.
The area running through the south and the north is dotted with a series of infrastructures and recreation facilities, forming a complete living community.
The planning of the Silk Show Town, with the cores of tradition, regeneration and a focus on the future, will create an industrial integrated development belt and realize high-end industrial agglomeration.
