former name of Suchow (also Xuzhou), an ancient Chinese city, located 160 miles (257.4 km) northwest of
Nanking, and known for its gardens, canals and
pagodas. The city has long been a strategic
point in
China's military
history and was the site of two
major battles in 1938 and 1948. It is also a
major transportation
area and is situated in a
rich coal-mining region.