Tongli Ancient Town
Tongli is a town in Wujiang County, outside Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Known for a highly developed canal system, it has received the nickname "Venice of the East." Tongli retains many of the characteristics of an ancient city in the Wu region. Famous for its picturesque canals, Tongli is one of the hidden gems around Shanghai and one of the most picturesque water towns in China.
Features of Tongli Ancient Town
Tongli retains the charm of a small historic town. It features tranquil classical gardens, bucolic canals filled with traditional rowboats and ancient bridges, and numerous historic buildings.
Retreat and Reflection Garden
One of the most famous attractions is the Retreat and Reflection Garden (also known as Tuisi Garden). It was built by the retired official Ren Lansheng between 1885 and 1887. The ingenious design of the garden adjusts to the shapes and conditions of the land, occupying about 700 square meters, very compact and harmonious.
The garden is divided into two parts. The western residential part consists of an outer house and an inner house, including a sedan hall, tea room, main reception hall and two buildings. The eastern part has ponds, marble boats, riverside pavilions, halls, kiosks, verandas, rockeries and bridges. Along with blooming trees and colorful flowers, the garden welcomes visitors with its beauty and charm whatever the season.
It was included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2001, along with the numerous gardens of Suzhou. As its name suggests, this elegant garden is a nice place to stroll and appreciate traditional architecture, including pavilions, pagodas and bridges.
Ancient Architectures
Tongli also features impressive historical architecture dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them, Jiayin Hall and Congben Hall stand out, both known for their exquisite wood carvings.
It will be a very unforgettable experience to stroll along the banks of Tongli's canals and explore the quiet streets. Travelers can enjoy exquisite meals or have a cup of tea at a local restaurant along the canals, also sail on a traditional boat. During the cruise, you have a chance to visit more than 50 bridges, of which the most famous are Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge and Changqing Bridge. The small and exquisite Taiping Bridge was built during the reign of Emperor Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); The Jili Bridge is arched and has ancient couplets inscribed that describe the beautiful pictorial views at both ends; Changqing Bridge, also called Guangli Bridge, was originally built in 1470 and rebuilt by Xiezhen in 1704.
Culture of Tongli Ancient Town
Tongli is an ancient town with very deep culture. In ancient times, many poets, painters, Confucian scholars and government officials resided there. Their skills have greatly contributed to the progress of many areas of the country. Dozens of stone tablets from different periods are preserved here and many of the streets are named after their official titles. Strolling through the alleys of the water town, Travelers cannot help but be captivated by its pristine and intoxicating atmosphere. In 1981, Tongli was declared one of the thirteen national landmark tourist towns in the Taihu Lake region. Furthermore, in 1982 it was listed for protection as a standard provincial town of cultural interest in Jiangsu Province.
