How did the Taiping Rebellion affect Suzhou?

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Jiangsu Qiling Pagoda, Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, China.

During the Taiping Rebellion, the city of Suzhou was occupied by the Taiping leader Li Xiucheng from 1860 to 1863. While this period was notable as one of the few instances where Taiping reform policies were effectively implemented, the city itself suffered significant destruction. Although Suzhou was restored in the late 19th century, the conflict contributed to a decline in its status, as its long-standing commercial supremacy was subsequently challenged by the rise of nearby Shanghai.1