Skip Wuzhen. Tongli Water Town Suzhou Is The One You Will Truly Fall For

When you come to Suzhou, you will find that almost every household rests against the water. There is little unused land left from the old palaces, but countless waterways and small bridges remain. Tongli Ancient Town is a textbook example of this Jiangnan water town layout. Rivers and canals crisscross the town, and scenes of small bridges, flowing water and people’s homes appear everywhere. Within the town there are 38 surviving gardens and residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and hundreds of mansions once owned by local gentry as well as former residences of famous figures. Historically, more than twenty natural beauty spots were recorded here, including the “Former Eight Views,” the “Later Eight Views” and the “Additional Four Views,” giving the town a rich, classical charm.

The “Three Bridges” in Tongli does not refer to a third bridge, but is the collective name for three neighboring stone bridges: Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge and Changqing Bridge. These three bridges are famous throughout Tongli and can be considered the very heart of the ancient town. Taiping Bridge and Changqing Bridge are beam stone bridges, while Jili Bridge is an arched stone bridge. Their structures differ, yet they set one another off and each has its own distinctive grace.

Tuisi Garden is the representative classical garden of Tongli. Once inside, you will notice that the auspicious pebble pattern laid out in the small courtyard is full of meaning. At its center is the character for “longevity.” The inner ring is formed by five outspread bats, symbolizing the arrival of five blessings and the combination of good fortune and long life. The outer ring is composed of coin patterns, and walking around along the design represents smooth and flourishing wealth. When you visit Tuisi Garden, you may wish to follow local custom and circle the courtyard twice for good luck.

Lize Girls’ School, which stands next to Tuisi Garden, also carries a deep sense of history. Founded in 1906 by Ren Chuanxin, it was the first girls’ school in the Wujiang area and took “sincerity, diligence, simplicity and love” as its motto. In 1938 the school buildings were occupied by the Japanese army and the commemorative stele was buried underground. When it was unearthed in 1982, a pavilion was built to protect it. After 1949 the school was renamed Tongli Central Primary School, and some of the original buildings have survived to this day. In 2013 Lize Girls’ School and Tuisi Garden were jointly listed as national key cultural heritage sites. Today, part of the former campus has been converted into cultural exhibition spaces open to the public.

If you choose to stay inside the scenic area, you do not need to buy a separate entrance ticket for the general scenic zone. However, many of the attractions in town, such as several of the gardens, still require an all‑in‑one ticket for entry. Therefore, if you plan to visit the “Three Gardens” and other core sights in a more systematic way, it is recommended to still purchase a combined ticket for greater convenience. The level of commercialization in Tongli Ancient Town is relatively restrained. Although there are a fair number of shops and stalls, compared with many of China’s popular ancient towns the atmosphere here is much quieter and more tranquil, making it better suited to slow wandering and careful appreciation.

You can also take a hand‑rowed boat through the waterways of the town. The price is 150 yuan per boat, with up to six passengers per boat. The classic sightseeing route runs from Gongyuan Bridge Pier to Changqing Bridge, Taiping Bridge, Gengle Hall, the T‑shaped junction of the river and Jili Bridge, before returning to the pier where you boarded. Boat services operate from 8:00 to 17:10.