A short drive from Shanghai, Suzhou is one of China’s most renowned silk-producing cities, attracting textile professionals and tourists alike. Its long-established reputation for high-quality silk makes a visit to the No. 1 Silk Factory a must. The factory tour, which takes about four hours, guides visitors through every step of silk production: from silkworms and their cocoons to the finished fabric. Each silkworm spins a cocoon made from a single continuous strand that can extend up to several thousand feet. At the factory, workers and machines soften the cocoons in hot water and combine the fine strands—usually twisting together fibers from multiple cocoons—to create durable silk thread. The careful process of locating the nearly invisible end of each filament and transforming it into usable yarn is a remarkable example of traditional craft and modern technique. Visitors can purchase silk items in the factory shop and explore further examples of Suzhou’s textile artistry at the Suzhou Embroidery Research Institute.
In addition to its silk industry, Suzhou is celebrated for its classical gardens. The city is home to more than 60 historic gardens, some with roots stretching back centuries. Among them, the Master of Nets Garden, established in 1140, is Suzhou’s smallest but often considered its most elegant and evocative garden, offering a compact yet exquisite example of classical Chinese landscaping.