Wuxi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wuxi 无锡市 Wusih, Wuhsi
Prefecture-level city
SanYang Plaza TaiLake New City Tai Lake YuanTouZhu Jichang Royal Garden Qingming Bridge Cultural Block Downtown Wuxi
Motto(s):  Wuxi is full of warmth and water
Location in Jiangsu
Wuxi Location in Jiangsu Show map of Jiangsu Wuxi Location in Eastern China Show map of Eastern China Wuxi Location in China Show map of China
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Jiangsu
County-level divisions	9
Township-level divisions	73
Municipal seat	Binhu District
Area
• Prefecture-level city	4,628 km2 (1,787 sq mi)
Population  (2020 census)
• Prefecture-level city	7,462,135
• Density	1,612.39/km2 (4,176.1/sq mi)
• Urban	4,396,835
• Metro	4,396,835
GDP
• Prefecture-level city	CN¥ 1.486 trillion US$ 209.5 billion
• Per capita	CN¥ 198,400 US$ 26,831
Time zone	UTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code	Urban center: 214000 Other Area: 214200, 214400
Area code(s)	510
ISO 3166 code	CN-JS-02
License plate prefixes	苏B
HDI	0.902 - very high
Local Dialect	Wu: Wuxi dialect
Website

Wuxi
"Wuxi" in Simplified (top) and Traditional (bottom) Chinese characters
Simplified Chinese	无锡
Traditional Chinese	無錫
Hanyu Pinyin	PRC Standard Mandarin: Wúxī ROC Standard Mandarin: Wúxí
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin PRC Standard Mandarin: Wúxī ROC Standard Mandarin: Wúxí Bopomofo PRC: ㄨˊ   ㄒㄧ ROC: ㄨˊ   ㄒㄧˊ Gwoyeu Romatzyh PRC: Wushi ROC: Wushyi Wade–Giles PRC: Wu2-hsi1 ROC: Wu2-hsi2 Tongyong Pinyin PRC: Wúsi ROC: Wúsí Yale Romanization PRC: Wúsyī ROC: Wúsyí MPS2 PRC: Wúshī ROC: Wúshí IPA PRC: [ǔ.ɕí] ROC: [ǔ.ɕǐ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Mòuhsik IPA [mȍu.sēk̚] Jyutping Mou4sik3 Southern Min Hokkien POJ Bû-sek

Wuxi (Chinese: 无锡, WOO-shee) is a large city in eastern China. It is located in the southern part of Jiangsu province. In 2020, over 7.4 million people lived there. Wuxi is found on the Yangtze River Delta and right by Lake Tai. It's often called the "Pearl of Taihu Lake" because of its beautiful scenery.

Wuxi is an important city in the Yangtze River Delta area. It is close to Shanghai and borders Zhejiang Province. This makes it a key transportation hub. The city is known for its long history and culture. It is considered the birthplace of Wu culture. Wuxi has been recognized as a major economic and tourist city in China.

The Name of Wuxi

The name "Wuxi" has an interesting story. The second Chinese character, 锡 (xī), means "tin". For a long time, people thought the city was named because tin mines in the area ran out.

However, many modern experts believe the name comes from an old local language. This language was spoken by people who lived in the area long ago. So, the name might not be about tin at all!

A Look at Wuxi's Past

Wuxi has a very long and rich history. It dates back to the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC). It was once the ancient capital of the Wu State during the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE). The founders of the Wu State, Taibo and Zhongyong, settled here. They made Wuxi their first capital, which lasted for 600 years.

Wuxi became an official district in 202 BCE during the Han dynasty. It was named "Wuxi" at that time. Later, during the Yuan dynasty (1206–1368), it became an independent area. Wuxi and Changzhou are seen as the starting points for modern industry in China.

Growth and Trade

During the early Tang dynasty, farming and silk making grew strong in Wuxi. The opening of the Grand Canal in 609 made Wuxi a major trading spot. It became famous as one of China's biggest markets for rice.

The Donglin Academy was a special place in Wuxi. It was first built during the Song dynasty (960–1279). It was rebuilt in 1604 and became a public meeting place. People there discussed Confucianism and good behavior. Many of its members were retired government officials.

Challenges and Changes

In the 1800s, Wuxi faced a terrible event called the Taiping Rebellion. This conflict caused a huge loss of life. Nearly two-thirds of the population were killed.

During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), cotton and silk production boomed. Trade increased when ports opened in Shanghai (1842) and Zhenjiang and Nanjing (1858). Wuxi became a key center for the textile industry in China. Factories for textiles and silk were built. Railways opened in 1908, further boosting trade.

After World War II, Wuxi's role as a top economic center changed. However, it remained an important manufacturing hub. Tourism also started to grow. In 1953, Wuxi became a provincial city when Jiangsu Province was formed. Today, it is a central city in the Shanghai and Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou metropolitan areas.

Wuxi during the Qing dynasty

Wuxi's Weather

Wuxi has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cool and damp. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.

City Layout and Districts

Wuxi is a prefecture-level city. It is divided into seven main areas. These include five districts and two county-level cities. The city's government is located in Binhu District.

These main areas are further divided into smaller parts. There are 73 township-level divisions. This includes 59 towns and 24 subdistricts.

Map
Lake Tai Ge Lake Xishan Huishan Binhu Liangxi Xinwu Jiangyin (city) Yixing (city)
Subdivision	Chinese	Hanyu Pinyin	Population (2020)	Area (km2)	Density (/km2)
City Proper
Liangxi District	梁溪区	Liángxī Qū	985,465	73.29	13,446
Suburban
Xishan District	锡山区	Xīshān Qū	882,387	395.9	2,229
Huishan District	惠山区	Huìshān Qū	893,675	321.5	2,780
Binhu District	滨湖区	Bīnhú Qū	915,093	620.4	1,475
Xinwu District	新吴区	Xīnwú Qū	720,215	209.9	3,431
Satellite cities (County-level cities)
Jiangyin City	江阴市	Jiāngyīn Shì	1,779,515	987.4	1,802
Yixing City	宜兴市	Yíxīng Shì	1,285,785	2,010	639.7
Total			7,462,135	4,618	1,616
Defunct: Chong'an District, Nanchang District, & Beitang District

Wuxi's Economy

Wuxi has always had a strong economy. In 1895, the first Chinese-owned factory, Yeqin Cotton Mill, was started here. After that, many businesses grew quickly, especially in textiles, silk, and food processing. Wuxi became a key place for China's early industries.

Wuxi Ethnic Industry and Commerce Museum

Many famous business families, like the Rong and Tang families, came from Wuxi. After China opened up to the world, private businesses in Wuxi grew a lot. This was part of the "southern Jiangsu model" of development. Wuxi companies also became important on the stock market.

Wuxi is now a major economic center in eastern China. It is known as a very active business city. In 2013, it was named one of China's "new first-tier cities". This shows its strong overall economic power.

Lake Tai New City（under construction）

In 2022, Wuxi's economy reached new heights. Its total economic output was about 1.485 trillion yuan. This means the average person's income was very high, ranking second in China. The city is focusing on modern industries like the Internet of Things, integrated circuits, and biomedicine.

Business and Shopping

Wuxi is an important business hub in East China. Its location and history have helped its trade grow. The city has been a center for silk, tea, and rice since ancient times. Today, Wuxi's economy includes many service industries and high-tech businesses.

Center 66

Center 66

The city government works to make Wuxi a good place for businesses. This has brought many investors from China and other countries. Wuxi is now a regional business center with large industrial parks. These parks focus on new industries like electric motors and solar technology.

Wuxi's main shopping area is along Zhongshan Road in Liangxi District. You can find many large department stores and shopping malls there. Traditional markets like Chong'an Temple and Nanchan Temple are also popular.

Great Eastern Department Store

Center 66

Wuxi was one of the first cities in Jiangsu to have major foreign retail stores. This has made it a very important shopping destination. Many big international brands have stores here.

Sanyang Plaza

Taihu Square

Getting Around Wuxi

Wuxi has a very good transportation system. This makes it easy to travel within the city and to other parts of China.

Trains and Metro

• Wuxi Railway Station is on the Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway. This railway connects Wuxi to major cities like Nanjing and Shanghai.
• Wuxi Metro is the city's subway system. It started running in 2014. As of early 2024, it has 5 lines and 97 stations. More lines are being built. The metro is very popular, with over 1.4 million passengers on record days.

Wuxi Metro

Wuxi Railway Station

Buses and Roads

• Wuxi has a large public bus system. It started in 1927. In 2020, there were 297 bus lines and over 3,000 buses.
• Major highways pass through Wuxi. China National Highway 312 connects it to central China. The Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway links Wuxi to Shanghai and other cities in Jiangsu.

Air and Water Travel

• Sunan Shuofang International Airport is located near the city center. It opened in 2004. You can fly directly to cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and even Singapore and Osaka.

Sunan Shuofang International Airport

• Jiangyin Port is a major port in Wuxi. It has many berths for ships. It handles a lot of cargo, including metal ore and coal. The port also has shipping routes to places like the Middle East and South Korea.

Jiangyin

Learning and Research in Wuxi

Wuxi is a city that values education and research. It is known for its scientific discoveries.

Universities and Colleges

• Jiangnan University is a very important national university. It was first founded in 1902. It is a center for scientific research.

Jiangnan University

• Wuxi also has other universities like Wuxi University and the Wuxi Campus of Southeast University.
• There are many vocational and technical colleges. These schools help students get ready for jobs.

High Schools

Wuxi has many excellent high schools. Some of them have a long history:

• Tianyi Middle School in Jiangsu Province (founded 1946)
• Wuxi No. 1 Middle School (founded 1911)
• Wuxi Furen High School (founded 1918)
• Meicun High School in Jiangsu Province (founded 1913)
• Wuxi No. 3 High School (founded 1920)
• Wuxi Public Welfare Middle School (founded 1919)

Elementary Schools

The city also has historic elementary schools:

• Lianyuan Street Primary School in Wuxi City (founded 1898)
• Donglin Primary School in Wuxi City (founded 1902)
• Primary School Affiliated to Wuxi Normal School (founded 1913)

International Education

Wuxi offers international schools for students from different countries:

• Wuxi Nanwai Kings International School
• Wuxi International School
• Siying School for Children of Foreigners in Xinyu District
• Wuxi Foreign Language School

Healthcare in Wuxi

Wuxi has a long history of medicine. In ancient times, many famous doctors came from Wuxi. Some even worked for the royal family. There were also rare female doctors like Tan Yunxian.

Modern hospitals in Wuxi started in 1908. Today, Wuxi has a medical school and many hospitals. There are fourteen "tertiary hospitals," which are large, high-level hospitals.

Wuxi No. 1 People's Hospital

• Wuxi No. 1 People's Hospital
• Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital

Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital

• Jiangnan University Affiliated Hospital
• Wuxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
• Wuxi Children's Hospital

Sports in Wuxi

Wuxi is a city that loves sports. It has modern sports facilities.

• Wuxi Sports Center opened in 1994. It can hold 30,000 people. It has hosted big snooker events.
• Wuxi City Sports Park Stadium hosted the 2017 ITTF Asian-Championships (Ping Pong). It also hosted the 2019 World Cup in snooker.
• Major League Baseball has a special center in Wuxi. It helps find and train the best baseball players in China.

A new Wuxi Olympic Sports Center is being built. It will have a stadium for 60,000 people, a gym, and a swimming pool. This center will be able to host large national sports events.

Famous Places in Wuxi

Wuxi is a beautiful city with many places to visit. It is located on Lake Tai, which is China's third-largest freshwater lake. The lake has many islands and is great for boat trips.

Grand Buddha at Ling Shan

Jade Phenix Source of Wuxi City Emblem

Parks and Gardens

Wuxi has many lovely parks and gardens.

• Lihu Park was built in 1927. It has a long path with willow trees and small bridges.
• Changguangxi Wetland Park is a long canal connecting two lakes. It has a lotus pond.
• Wuxi Zoo and Taihu Lake Amusement Park is a big park with over 1,000 animals. You can see Asian elephants, leopards, and even giant pandas there.
• The Mt. Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area is home to the Grand Buddha at Ling Shan. This is the world's largest bronze Buddha statue, standing 88 meters tall. The area also has other Buddhist sites like the Brahma Palace.

The dome made of lights of the Holy Altar in the Brahma Palace, near the Grand Buddha at Ling Shan

• Xihui Park has the beautiful Jichang Garden and the Dragon Light Pagoda.

Museums and Historical Sites

Wuxi has several museums and historical places to explore.

• Wuxi Museum is the city's largest public cultural building. It opened in 2008 and has many exhibitions. It also manages other museums like the Chinese National Industry and Commerce Museum.

Wuxi Museum

Wuxi Grand Theater

Wuxi Sunac Taihu Show Project

• Hongshan Archaeological Museum shows artifacts from the ancient Wu culture. These items were found at the Hongshan Tomb Complex.
• The Helv City Ruins are very important. This was the capital of King Helu of Wu, built over 2,500 years ago. It is now a national archaeological site.
• The Former Residence of Xue Fucheng is open to the public. It was the home of a famous diplomat from the Qing dynasty.
• Wuxi also has the modern Wuxi Grand Theater and Sunac Taihu Show.

Wuxi Spareribs Sauce

Famous People from Wuxi

Many talented people have come from Wuxi, including:

• Ni Zan, a famous painter (1301–1374)
• Xue Fucheng, a diplomat (1838–1894)
• Hua Yanjun, a musician (1893–1950)
• Liu Tianhua, a folk musician (1895–1932)
• Qian Zhongshu, a well-known writer (1910–1998)
• Marie Lu, a novelist (born 1984), author of the Legend series

Sister Cities

Wuxi has "sister city" relationships with many cities around the world. These partnerships help build friendships and cultural exchange.

Asia  

• Akashi, Hyogo, Japan (1981)
• Sagamihara City, Japan (1985)
• Gimhae, South Korea (2006)
• Puerto Princesa City, Philippines (2007)
• Sihanoukville, Cambodia (2009)
• Ulsan, South Korea (2014)
• Tiberias, Israel (2015)

Europe  

• Cascais, Portugal (1993)
• Vicenza, Italy (2006)  
• Leverkusen, Germany (2006)
• Nimes, France (2007)
• Sodertalje, Sweden (2007)
• Kortrijk, Belgium (2007)
• Beiserkellen, Denmark (2008)
• Chelmsford, United Kingdom (2009)
• 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (2010)
• Lahti, Finland (2011)
• Patras, Greece (2012)
• Zielona Góra, Poland (2014)

America  

• Chattanooga, United States (1982)
• Fredericton, Canada (2010)
• Sorocaba, Brazil (2010)
• San Antonio, United States (2012)
• Puebla, Mexico (2014)

Oceania  

• Hamilton, New Zealand (1986)
• Frankston, Australia (2012)

Africa  

• Fez, Morocco (2010)

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