Suzhou was inhabited a long time ago, and became a flourishing place in the Qin (221BC-206BC) and Han (206BC-220AD) dynasties. In the Tang Dynasty (618AD-907AD), the government set up a prefecture in this area. Since then, Suzhou city has always been the capital of the prefecture. Located in the Huaibei Plain, the topography of Suzhou is low and flat, just like all the cities in northern Anhui Province. Suzhou City is located in the warm-temperate zone having a semi-humid monsoon climate. Its winter is chilly, usually lasting as long as four months, and the summer is hot. The rainy season ranges from mid-June to late September. When to Go: Spring and autumn are both favorable seasons for the best weather, moist air and moderate rainfall.