Street View of Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province

Gusu District is an important birthplace of Wu culture. It is home to the only ancient city in China that has remained in the same location for over 2,500 years. The district has largely retained the unique features of the Song Dynasty's "Pingjiang Map," with its "parallel roads and rivers, adjacent streets and rivers" layout, and its "small bridges and flowing water, white walls and black tiles, and ancient sites and famous gardens." Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street have been recognized as "National Historic and Cultural Streets," while eight gardens, including Canglang Pavilion and Lion Grove Garden, and five core sections of the Grand Canal have been listed as World Cultural Heritage sites. The district is home to 184 cultural relic protection units at various levels, including 24 at the national level and 37 at the provincial level, as well as 254 protected buildings and 865 ancient structures. Gusu District was established in September 2012 through the merger of the former Pingjiang District, Canglang District, and Jinchang District, along with the establishment of the Suzhou National Historic and Cultural City Protection Zone. Gusu District is the first and only district in China to establish a protection zone within a "National Historic and Cultural City," taking on the pioneering role in the protection of ancient cities.