Wuxi History, China

Tracing back the history of Wuxi will lead you to several dynasties from Zhou Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Let’s take a tour on the past of Wuxi to fully understand its history.

Wuxi (Liangxi) has been in existence for about 3000 years when 11th century was about to end. It started during the time of the Zhou Dynasty when prince Taibo and younger brother Zhongyong settled in the place now called Meicun in Wuxi. Their settlement was made after Taibo gave the throne in Zhou, Northern China to his brother Jili. The two princes from Zhou developed the waterways and agriculture that lead to the progress of the place.

When Taibo died, the emperor of Zhou made the place a part of his kingdom he called Gowu and named one of his descendants as king of the kingdom “Wu”. Wu became stronger in the Spring and Autumn Period and even belonged to the top five strongest kingdoms during that time. During the Warring States Period, the Yue (currently Fujian and Zhejiang) defeated Wu, then Chu also defeated the Yue taking Wu and included it in the kingdom of Chu. When the first emperor Yinzheng ordered the union of China, the Wu or Wuxi was returned to Suzhou. Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty made Wuxi a county. Wuxi continued to prosper and the construction of the great canal has lead to the prosperity of the silk industry and agriculture in Wu especially in Wuxi.

The developments of the industry and agriculture continued until the dawn of the 20th century. From 1900 to 1940 Wuxi became China’s center for textile industry and rice markets. Wuxi became a city in 1949 and historians believed that its name was derived from wuxi meaning “no tin” due to the scarcity of tin in the Tin Hill during that time. The importance of Wuxi as a county and city in China has soared into a higher level. The light and heavy industries in Wuxi have contributed to the city’s growing importance in China. The city of Wuxi has placed third in the most important cities of Jiangsu province.

From a simple agricultural area, the city has grown to become a highly industrialized city. Wuxi is now considered as the transportation hub of the region. Wuxi has all the available means of transportation such as air routes, waterways, railways, and highways.

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