Regarded by some as the “Athens of the Orient” on account of its profound historical heritage and numerous historical sites, Xuzhou is today an important communications hub and a node city in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
徐州因其深厚的历史遗产和众多的历史遗迹被一些人视为“东方的雅典”，如今是中国“一带一路”倡议的重要交通枢纽和节点城市。
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Xuzhou is the oldest city in Jiangsu, dating back 6,000 years as a civilisation and over 2,600 years as a city. Also long regarded as a strategic military location, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal passes through Xuzhou, in its far northwest location where meet the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong. Henan Province is also just a proverbial stone’s throw away.
徐州三面环山，是江苏最古老的城市，文明史可以追溯到6000年，城市历史超过2600年。 长期以来，京杭大运河也被认为是一个战略军事地点，穿过徐州，在其遥远的西北位置，与江苏、安徽和山东等省份交合。 河南省也只有传说中的一箭之遥。
On the nature front, Xuzhou’s long history makes it a fitting home for forests of ginkgo. In the city’s east, the “golden tunnel” of Pizhou is a 3-kilometre-long village road, where gingko trees each autumn weave a golden sky, while the many layers of fallen leaves make for a golden carpet on which to walk. Hence the local saying, “If you want to appreciate ginkgo in Jiangsu, you have to go to Xuzhou; if you want to appreciate ginkgo in Xuzhou, you can’t miss Pizhou”.
在自然方面，徐州的悠久历史使其成为银杏林的合适家园。 在城市的东部，皮州的“金隧道”是一条3公里长的村路，每年秋天，那里的梧桐树编织着金色的天空，而许多层落叶构成了一条可以行走的金色地毯。 因此，当地有句谚语：“如果你想在江苏欣赏银杏，你必须去徐州；如果你想在徐州欣赏银杏，你不能错过皮州”。
For many others, the stone reliefs of Xuzhou perhaps best characterise that profound historical heritage. Mainly embossed on tombs and temples, Xuzhou stone relief emerged with the culture of lavish funerals. This was when rich merchants and officials replaced painted wooden coffins with carvings on stone. Later, rubbing techniques were developed that created a unique artistic effect, preceding woodcuts as the earliest form of printing.
对许多人来说，徐州的石雕也许是深厚的历史遗产的最好特征。 徐州石浮雕主要浮雕在坟墓和寺庙上，以奢华的葬礼文化出现。 就在那时，富有的商人和官员用石头上的雕刻取代了彩绘的木棺。 后来，摩擦技术被开发出来，创造了独特的艺术效果，在木刻之前是最早的印刷形式。
Many are also surprised to learn that Xuzhou is home to a terracotta army. But unlike the famed site in Xi’an, in Xuzhou can be found the only Han Dynasty terracotta army in all of China. Historical records tell us the Han Dynasty mandated a 2-year period of conscription for citizens aged between 18 and 55. Consequently, the army features both young and old soldier figures.
许多人也惊讶地得知徐州是兵马俑的所在地。 但与西安的著名遗址不同，徐州是全中国唯一的汉代兵马俑。 历史记录告诉我们，汉朝规定18至55岁的公民有2年的征兵期。 因此，军队既有年轻又有年老的士兵形象。
Elsewhere, tourists and locals alike also come to play around Yunlong Lake, situated in the centre of the city. Becoming a National 5A Tourist Attraction in 2016, the Lake features the Yunlong Lake Water World that is one of Asia’s largest freshwater aquariums.
在其他地方，游客和当地人也来到位于市中心的云龙湖周围玩耍。 2016年成为国家5A旅游景点，该湖以云龙湖水世界为特色，是亚洲最大的淡水水族馆之一。
To do so, incomers will likely alight a train at the enormous Xuzhou East Railway Station which is a principal stop on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail line, the route that is home to the fastest train service in the world.
为此，收入者可能会在巨大的徐州东站下火车，这是京沪高铁线的主要站点，是世界上最快的火车服务的所在地。
On the economic front, as of the end of 2021, Xuzhou has 17 economic development zones and high-tech zones at or above provincial level, ranking the city third in Jiangsu Province.
在经济方面，截至2021年底，徐州有17个省级以上的经济开发区和高新技术区，在江苏省排名第三。
As the economic powerhouse of far northern Jiangsu, Xuzhou’s 2021 Gross Domestic Product was ¥811.74 billion, not far behind that of Changzhou in the prosperous south of the Yangtze. That said, the city’s large population dictates that the average Xuzhounese brings home just ¥7,492 each month, third from bottom in Jiangsu as a whole.
作为江苏最北端的经济强国，徐州2021年的国内生产总值为8117.4亿日元，远远落后于长江南部繁荣的常州。 也就是说，该市人口众多，徐州人平均每月只收入7492元，在整个江苏排名第三。
Central authorities once positioned Xuzhou as a region of coal mining and heavy industry. Today, its dominant sectors are energy, food production and machinery, with heavy construction equipment manufacturer, XCMG, being Xuzhou’s biggest company, the largest provider of construction machinery in China and the third largest in the world.
中央当局曾经将徐州定位为煤炭开采和重工业地区。 如今，其主导领域是能源、食品生产和机械，重型建筑设备制造商XCMG是徐州最大的公司，是中国最大的建筑机械供应商，也是世界第三大。
Xuzhou is 1.25 hours by high-speed train from Nanjing and less than 3 hours from Beijing. The city is also served by Xuzhou Guanyin International Airport.
徐州从南京乘坐高铁需要1.25小时，从北京乘坐不到3小时。 徐州观音国际机场也为这座城市提供服务。