中國歷史名城（簡體書）

蘇州評彈起源于蘇州的一種江南地方曲藝，是評話和彈詞的總稱，采用雙檔（兩人）、單檔或三個檔（三人）的形式演出，使用三弦、琵琶等樂器伴奏。蘇州評彈的表演不像戲曲演出那樣有布景、化妝、臉譜的襯托，全靠演員的藝術功底，演出時使用吳地方言。蘇州物產豐富，有“魚米之鄉、絲綢之鄉”的美譽。蘇州的刺繡在中國四大名繡（蘇繡、湘繡、蜀繡、粵繡）中位列榜首。蘇繡發源于蘇州吳縣一帶，這里土地肥沃，氣候溫和，蠶桑發達，為蘇繡的發展創造了有利的條件。蘇繡歷史悠久，宋代時蘇州就出現了繡衣坊、繡花弄等集中生產刺繡的場所；明代已逐步形成自己獨特的風格，影響較廣；清代時蘇州有“繡市”之稱，當時的皇室繡品多出自蘇繡藝人之手，民間刺繡更是豐富多彩。蘇繡中的“雙面繡”技法一次制成正反兩面圖案清晰的繡品，沒有任何瑕疵，令人稱奇。
Suzhou is called "a land withabundant rice, fish and silk". Thefamous Suzhou embroidery tops thelist of the four major styles in China,which are Suzhou style, Hunan Style,Sichuan Style and Guangdong Style.Suzhou embroidery was born in itsWuxian County, where soil was fertile,weather mild and silkworm breedingand mulberry growing highly developed.These favorable conditions made itsembroidery trade progress fast. Suzhouembroidery has a long history. Backto the Song Dynasty, embroideryworkshops appeared and by the MingDynasty, Suzhou style had been formed.In the Qing Dynasty, Suzhou alreadyhad a market exclusive to embroideryproducts. Most embroidery productsroyal family used came from Suzhou.The products for common people werein more varieties. The most unique isthe "double-face embroider", finished atone go with patterns equally beautifuland clear on both sides.