《Jiading： Centuries of History， Decades of Change》：
　　In the years before the Southern Song Dynasty （1127-1279）， Jiading was a marketingcenter called Lianqi under the jurisdiction of Suzhou. One of the prosperousmarket towns of the Yangzi River Delta， Jiading established itself as a distinct centerof commerce and culture in 1218. This period was called the "Jiading Time" of theSouthern Song Dynasty， and the new district changed its named to this imperial inspiredmoniker. （Jiading Time 1208-1224 was the "era name" or "slogan" of EmperorNingzong.）
　　Like most other towns in the delta region， cotton was the major trading commodity，and merchants utilized the interconnecting canals and rivers for transportinggoods. Success in the merchant trade brought great wealth and all its trappings to thearea. A development of the scholarly class yielded the art of bamboo carving duringthe Ming Dynasty. The establishment of the Jiading Confucius Temple in 1219confirmed the city's status as a symbol of enlightenment and sophistication. Jiadinghas a legacy of taking pride in the many scholars and famous people it has nurturedover hundreds of years. The region has also been recognized for its exceptional grassweaving products.The Zhouqiao Bridge （also called Denglong Bridge， meaning "Ascending Dragon"Bridge） was built in 1245 and crosses the Lianqi River. This area is the very center ofold Jiading or Zhouqiao. The pagoda is just a little south of the bridge.
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