A picturesque ancient canal in the city of Suzhou, the “Venice of China,” appears on the current cover. Located 85 km west of Shanghai in southern Jiangsu Province, the historically and culturally renowned city was founded in the 6th century BC. The Grand Canal links the lower reaches of the Yangtze River with Lake Taihu, just south and west of Suzhou proper. Emitting a sense of tranquil elegance, the city's streets and narrow alleys extend side by side with a myriad of canals, small bridges and flowing waters, all entwined among rows of quaint, tile-roofed houses. Concerning commerce, Suzhou's silk industry, established in the 12th century, is a major part of the economy along with tourism due to a mild climate and intriguing natural beauty. Talking about Suzhou, local people often quote an old Chinese saying: “Paradise in Heaven, Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth.”
Many are mindful of the mysteries and legends of Asia where the imaginative visitor is presented with a dazzling array of ancient cultures, folklore, religions, languages, and ethnic diversity. The region abounds with testaments of man's great achievements, nature's most violent eruptions, and scenes of wondrous beauty and charm. In depicting Suzhou, China on the cover of this issue—the twenty-seventh in our “Scenes from Asia” series—the Asian Annals intends to draw the attention of the reader to the landmarks and geographical vastness of Asia, to its legends, history, and ongoing contributions to civilization. We expect these images will provoke in you a desire to gain a more focused insight into Asia and lead you to read about advancements in Asian cardiovascular medicine through the pages of our journal. The “Regional News” section was designed to chronicle events, highlight important meetings, and the latest technology, allowing you to explore the diverse components which contribute to the impressive and still underdocumented progress in Asian healthcare. We encourage you to send us news of your program in cardiovascular medicine and/or important events to:
Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals
Business/Manuscript Office
541 Orchard Road • #11-01 Liat Towers
Singapore 238881 • Republic of Singapore
Fax: (65) 736 1149 • email: asiapex@pacific.net.sg
www.asianannals.com.sg
