Located at 120°48′21″-121°09′04″ east longitude and 31°06′ 34 ″-31°32′36″ north latitude, Kunshan experiences a southern monsoon climate of the north subtropical zone. Throughout the year, the average temperature is 17.6℃
Covering an area of 931 sq km, Kunshan has a total population of 1.65 million, including a registered population of 787 thousand. Under Kunshan's jurisdiction there are 2 national-level development zones, 2 provincial-level development zones and 8 townships.
With a long civilized history, Kunshan is endowed with rich culture and natural resources. It is the birthplace of many ancient and modern prominent figures, including thinker Gu Yanwu (1613-1682), educator Zhu Bailu (1627-1698), writer Gui Youguang (1507-1571), computer inventor An Wang and astronaut Fei Junlong. Ancient mathematician Zu Chongzhi once served as magistrate of the city. Kunshan is the origin of Kunqu Opera, which is the source of many other Chinese opera genres. Home to China's most beautiful water town, Zhouzhuang, Kunshan is also widely known for a local specialty, Yangcheng Lake Crabs.
Kunshan is situated between Shanghai and Suzhou in the southeast of Jiangsu Province. To its north and northeast, it is bordered by Changshu and Taicang; to its south and southeast, it is bordered by two districts of Shanghai, Jiading and Qingpu; to its west, it is bordered by Wujiang and Suzhou. The city has five expressways running through it, including the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway. By car, it is only 40 minutes away from the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. In addition to the Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway, the Shanghai-Nanjing High-speed Railway also runs through the city, with three stations: South Kunshan, Yangcheng Lake and Huaqiao. Connection with Shanghai is strengthened by the extension of Line 11 of the Shanghai metro system to the Huaqiao International Service Business Park, which also has three stops in Kunshan.
Committed to creating a cultural and livable city, Kunshan values the harmony between humans and nature and strives to create a better place to live and work. In 2010, Kunshan won the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honor Award; in 2015, it passed the re-evaluation for the National Health City.
In 2016, Kunshan's GDP grew to RMB 316 billion and reported RMB 31.89 billion in general public budget revenue; RMB 909 billion in industrial output; RMB 75.8 billion in fixed assets investment; RMB 80.5 billion in retail sales; USD 71.5 billion in imports and exports; and RMB 54,400 and 28,370 in per-capita disposable income in urban and rural area. Kunshan has taken the top spot on Forbes' list of the Best Business Cities in the Mainland of China for seven consecutive years. Moreover, Kunshan has ranked number one among China's 100 small and medium-sized cities and 100 county-level cities in terms of overall competitiveness and business environment for many consecutive years.