Suzhou is the hometown of silk, so it is worthwhile and meaningful to visit Suzhou Silk Factory, or Suzhou No. 1 Silk Factory. As the first state-owned factory in Suzhou, Suzhou Silk Factory is a witness to the development of China’s silk industry.
Today’s Suzhou Silk Factory is not only a silk enterprise, but a comprehensive enterprise integrating silk reeling, weaving, garment production, tourism shopping malls, and hotels. Visitors in Suzhou Silk Factory can not only see the whole production process from hand-peeling cocoon to drawing silk quilt, but also experience the whole process personally.
Suzhou Silk Factory Facts
- Location: No.94, Nanmen Road, Suzhou City
- Opening Time: 8:30-17:30
- Ticket Price: Free of charge
- Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
What to See and Do in Suzhou Silk Factory
Watch and Experience the Production Process of Silk Quilts
Cocoon selection: It is the first step of production. Workers need to carefully select white, good gloss, uniform thickness of the cocoon. Only quality cocoons that meet these standards can be used for reeling. Even now the automation process has been developed, this step can only rely on manual operation. In addition, yellow and green colored cocoons should be removed to avoid uneven silk color.
Boiling cocoons: This step includes dipping, osmosis, and boiling, in order to properly expand and dissolve the sericin surrounding the cocoon. In this way, the adhesive force between cocoon silk will be weakened, which is conducive to reeling. By boiling the cocoon, the cocoon silk can be separated continuously during the reeling process.
Silk reeling: This step pulls the silk out of the cocoons. Workers need to sort the boiled cocoons by hand and categorize them according to different sizes. Finally, the cocoons are combined to make raw silk or tussah silk.
Silk quilt making: First cut one side of the organized silkworm silk with scissors, and then four people pull each side, to pull the silk together to spread on the board. Repeat this process until the amount of silk needed for a quilt is complete. Finally, the silk core is covered with a quilt cover and sewn by hand. If the last step is made by machinery, the toughness of the silk will be damaged.
Previous Site of Japanese Consulate
After the Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government signed the humiliating Treaty of Shimonoseki with the Japanese government in 1895. Suzhou was therefore forced to become a treaty port, and the following year the Japanese opened a Japanese concession in Qingyangdi, Suzhou.
The consulate covers an area of about 939 square meters and is a Western-style building with a mixed structure of brick and wood. The three villas, which consist of red tiles, spires and Roman columns, are well preserved. The east is a two-story small building, the middle house is a bungalow, and the west is a three-story building with a western-style fireplace. These three buildings form a “凹” shape. Today it is a place for tourists to take photos in Suzhou Silk Factory.
How to Get to Suzhou Silk Factory
By bus: You can take the bus No. 70/513/94/27/308/933/101 from different stops to get to Suzhou Silk Factory.
By metro: First, you need to take line 4 to Renminqiao South Station, then exit the subway station at exit 2b. After that, you can walk around 600 meters to Suzhou Silk Factory.
Attractions nearby Suzhou Silk Factory
Humble Administrator’s Garden: Known as the mother of Chinese gardens, it is famous for its ingenious spatial layout, rich vegetation and exquisite architecture.
Tiger Hill: It has a long history of more than 2500 years and is hailed as the No.1 attraction in Suzhou city. It is a must-see spot for Chinese history lovers.
Zhouzhuang Water Town: It is renowned as China’s No.1 water town, featuring winding water lanes, quaint bridges and ancient buildings.
