On October 24 and 25, Luzhi Town welcomed a research team composed of experts from the provincial, municipal, and district levels, led by Zhang Wei, Deputy Director of the Township and Village Division of the Provincial Department of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, to conduct a comprehensive assessment and field investigation of Luzhi Town’s efforts to become a Jiangsu Provincial Garden‑Style Small Town. Lu Zhenhua, Secretary of the Luzhi Town Party Committee; Gu Hongjian, Town Mayor; Ju Hairong, Member of the Town Party Committee; and Wang Zonglin, Deputy Secretary of the Town Discipline Inspection Commission, accompanied the assessment team.

On the afternoon of the 24th, the assessment and research team conducted an on-site inspection along the main thoroughfares, visiting the ancient town’s quaint bridges and flowing streams, the Jiangnan Cultural Park, the Fucheng Road scenic corridor, and several small leisure parks. They expressed their recognition of Luzhi Town’s achievements in developing itself into a provincial-level garden‑style small town.

At the briefing held on the 25th, the assessment and research team viewed video materials documenting Luzhi Town’s efforts to become a Jiangsu Provincial Garden‑Style Small Town. Town Mayor Gu Hongjian then presented a detailed report, outlining the town’s general profile, the rationale behind its initiative, and the specific measures undertaken. The expert members of the assessment team offered their observations based on the on-site inspection, noting that Luzhi Town has established a well‑structured organizational framework, conducted data collection with rigorous precision, and advanced its initiatives in a manner that has fostered a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere throughout the community. Moreover, during the process, Luzhi Town has emphasized the harmonious integration of its historic and newly developed areas, seamlessly blending modern urban development with the distinctive character of its ancient town—aligning with Suzhou’s status and identity as a garden city and meeting the criteria for a provincial garden‑style small town. Zhang Wei, Deputy Director of the Township and Village Division of the Provincial Department of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, described the assessment as “well worth the trip,” praising Luzhi as truly deserving of its reputation as “China’s premier water‑town.” He commended the town’s Party committee and government for their strong commitment, precise goal setting, effective resource integration, and coordinated implementation, which have successfully combined the garden‑town initiative with village‑improvement efforts. In light of Luzhi’s unique heritage as a renowned historical and cultural town and the challenges identified during the assessment, the expert panel put forward numerous constructive recommendations. They also urged Luzhi to build on its achievements in becoming a provincial garden‑style small town by elevating its standards further, striving toward national‑level recognition as a garden‑style small town.

Finally, Secretary Lu Zhenhua of the Town Party Committee expressed his gratitude for the special visit of the assessment and research team, provided additional details on the town’s development efforts as well as its urban and industrial growth, and affirmed that the town would earnestly heed the expert panel’s recommendations to address shortcomings and further refine its initiatives, proactively striving to achieve the designation of a higher‑level national garden‑style small town.