Huzhou, city in eastern China, located in northern Zhejiang Province on the southern shore of Tai Hu (Lake T'ai). The city's name means “region of the lake” in Chinese. Rich agricultural resources in the region have earned Huzhou a reputation as the “land of fish and rice” in China. Huzhou has been an important center of silk production since ancient times. The city also produces numerous handicrafts, including brushes for calligraphy and art, and handheld fans made of feathers. Huzhou is the site of a number of well-known classical Chinese gardens and the Feiying Pagoda, built in 1154. The first settlement at the site is said to have been established in 248 BC; Chinese records first made reference to the site during the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC). The settlement gained the name Huzhou during the Sui dynasty (AD 581-618). Population (1991) 218,071.
