As an open, inclusive, modern and internationalized industrial park, SIP has attached equal importance to economic growth and cultural development since the very beginning of its development. A number of cultural landmarks have been set up to enrich the spiritual life of local people.
Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre is a typical project. Designed by French modernist architect Paul Andreu, it comprises the Grand Theatre, Dadao Comedy Theatre, art gallery, music hall, cultural center and cinema, and is the place where Suzhou Ballet Theatre and Suzhou Symphony Orchestra are located.
The project was upgraded in late 2022, when the Suyi Show Zone was formed, with eight spaces offering diverse performances including opera, stage plays, magic shows, children’s dramas and so on. The number of performances staged here has increased from 32 in 2007 to 1,973 in 2023.
The number of art galleries and art spaces in SIP has been increasing, too. Currently, there are over 20 facilities of such kinds across SIP, offering more than 120 exhibitions each year. On the right bank of Jinji Lake, the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, a project with an investment of about RMB1.5 billion, has taken the initial shape.
Another cultural landmark is the Archaeological Site Park of Caoxieshan, a place to trace the over 6,000-year civilization in the region south of the Yangtze River.
The park was opened to the public in June 2022. Its online and onsite publicity activities have attracted over 1 million people, and the digital space of Caoxieshan Site, the Caoxieshan Culture Festival and the Caoxieshan Culture Lectures have offered many people the opportunities to understand archaeology and ancient culture.
November 27, 2024
