Suzhou has been world-renowned for silk since ancient times.
Tips
usage
On its own 绸 is rarely used in modern speech — it appears in compounds: 丝绸 (sīchóu, silk), 丝绸之路 (Sīchóu Zhī Lù, the Silk Road), 绸缎 (chóuduàn, silks and satins). 绸 specifically means lighter plain-weave silk, while 缎 (duàn) is heavier satin.
history
Silk is one of China's oldest exports — the 丝绸之路 (Silk Road), opened in the Han dynasty by 张骞 (Zhang Qian), carried Chinese 绸 west to Rome, where it commanded prices equal to gold.
