Tongli Ancient Town is located in Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and one of the six ancient towns in the Jiangnan region. The ancient town covers an area of about 133.15 square kilometers, with the core scenic area being approximately 33 hectares. Surrounded by water on all sides, the town is divided into 7 islets by 15 rivers, connected by 49 ancient bridges, forming a typical Jiangnan water town pattern of "every household faces water and has access to boats". Its characteristic lies in preserving a large number of architectural styles from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with over 300 existing residences and 49 ancient bridges from those periods, earning it the reputation of "the Oriental Little Venice". The ancient town is renowned for its "small bridges, flowing water, and households" layout and profound cultural heritage, serving as a historical and cultural town integrating sightseeing, leisure, vacation, and cultural experience.
History and Culture
The history of Tongli Ancient Town can be traced back to the Song Dynasty. Originally named "Futu", it was later renamed "Tongli" to avoid taboos, implying "prosperous land shared by all". Since the Song Dynasty, Tongli has become a commercial hub due to its convenient water transportation, reaching its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. A large number of officials and wealthy merchants emerged, leaving behind numerous exquisite mansions and gardens.
The architectural culture of the ancient town is unique. Most residences are of brick and wood structure, with white walls, black tiles, and carved doors and windows, reflecting the architectural style of Jiangnan water towns. Among them, the Tuisi Garden is a representative of classical Jiangnan gardens. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000, and its gardening art of "though man-made, it seems as if created by nature" is regarded as unparalleled.
Tongli's folk culture is rich and diverse. For example, the "Carrying the Warrior God" temple fair on the 28th day of the third lunar month has a history of hundreds of years. Villagers pray for good weather by parading with statues and performing folk programs. In addition, traditional arts such as Pingtan (story-telling and ballad-singing) and Kunqu Opera have been passed down from generation to generation in the ancient town, with classic plays often performed on ancient stages, showcasing the cultural essence of the Jiangnan region.
Main Attractions
Tuisi Garden
Tuisi Garden was built in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1885), covering an area of about 9.8 mu. It was constructed by Ren Lansheng, a Qing Dynasty official, after he was dismissed and returned to his hometown. The name of the garden means "retreat and reflect". With an ingenious layout centered around a pool, the buildings are constructed along the water, forming a unique "water-front garden" style. The main buildings in the garden include Tuisi Thatched Hall, Naohong Yige (a boat-shaped pavilion), and Mianyun Pavilion. Pavilions, terraces, towers, rockeries, and ponds complement each other, embodying the "changing scenery with each step" characteristic of Jiangnan gardens. Its integration of architecture and water is exemplary, making it a masterpiece of small classical gardens in the Jiangnan region of China. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000.
Chongben Hall
Chongben Hall is located on Fuguan Street. Built in the early years of the Republic of China, it covers an area of about 700 square meters and was the mansion of Qian Youqin, a wealthy merchant in Tongli. The building faces south, with three courtyards and five rooms, featuring a compact and reasonable overall layout. Its distinctive feature lies in its exquisite carvings. There are wood carvings and brick carvings on the lintels, window lattices, and beams, with themes including character stories, flowers, birds, fish, and insects. The craftsmanship is exquisite and the implications are auspicious, earning it the reputation of "a treasure house of Jiangnan wood carving art". The hall also displays furniture and daily necessities from the Ming and Qing dynasties, showcasing the living scenes of that time.
Jiayin Hall
Jiayin Hall is located on Zhuhang Street. Built in the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924), it covers an area of about 800 square meters and was the former residence of Liu Bingnan, a local merchant. The building integrates Chinese and Western styles, featuring both traditional brick and wood structures and Western stained glass and cement components. The brick carving screen wall of the "Three Stars" (Fu, Lu, Shou) in the hall is particularly eye-catching, with delicate carvings and a strong sense of three-dimensionality. In addition, the "Official Cap Hall" in the courtyard has a unique shape, named for its roof resembling the official cap of ancient officials, which is a rare architectural style in the Jiangnan region.
Three Bridges Scenic Area
The Three Bridges refer to Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, and Changqing Bridge. The three stone bridges are distributed in a "pin" shape in the central area of the ancient town, with each other less than 50 meters apart, and are one of the iconic landscapes of Tongli Ancient Town. Taiping Bridge was built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, a single-arch stone bridge with exquisite reliefs carved on both sides of the bridge body. Jili Bridge, also a single-arch stone bridge, was built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, with stone lion carvings on the bridge railings. Changqing Bridge, built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, has a simple shape. There is a folk custom of "walking the three bridges" in the local area. Newlyweds and elderly people celebrating their birthdays will walk across the three bridges to pray for peace and good luck, and tourists can also follow suit to experience this traditional custom.
Gengle Hall
Gengle Hall is located in Xiliuwei. First built during the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty and renovated many times later, it covers an area of about 6,000 square meters and is one of the oldest existing mansions in Tongli. The name of the hall comes from the meaning of "passing down the family tradition through farming and reading, and happily staying in the countryside". The layout is divided into two parts: residence and garden. The garden contains landscapes such as pools, rockeries, and pavilions, with a quiet environment. A large number of cultural relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as ancient calligraphy and paintings, and porcelain, are preserved in the mansion, showcasing the life interest of ancient literati.
Food
Zhuangyuan Ti (Scholar's Trotter)
Zhuangyuan Ti is a characteristic famous dish of Tongli Ancient Town, said to be loved by Shi Pan, a scholar from Tongli who achieved the top score in the imperial examination during the Ming Dynasty. It is made of high-quality local pig front trotters, with seasonings such as soy sauce, rock sugar, and spices, through multiple processes including blanching, stir-frying, and braising. The finished product has a bright red color, tender and rotten meat, a rich taste, and is fatty but not greasy. Because "ti" (trotter) is homophonic with "ti" (topic) in Chinese, it implies success in examinations, becoming a must-try food for tourists, with a price of about 50-80 yuan per serving.
Sanbai Wonton
Sanbai Wonton uses white fish, white shrimp, and silver fish as fillings. These three ingredients are produced in the lakes around Tongli and are named "sanbai" (three whites) because their meat is white and tender. The wontons have thin wrappers and ample fillings. When cooked, the soup is clear and the taste is fresh, with the fragrance of fish and shrimp while remaining light and refreshing. They can be tasted in the snack shops in the ancient town, with a price of about 15-20 yuan per bowl, and are one of the favorite breakfasts of local residents.
Qianshi Geng (Fox Nut Soup)
Qianshi Geng is a traditional dessert in Tongli, made from local specialty qianshi (also known as "chicken head rice") as the main ingredient, with ingredients such as lotus seeds, lilies, and rock sugar boiled together. Qianshi has a soft and glutinous texture, is rich in starch, and has the effect of invigorating the spleen and stomach. The soup has a dense texture and a sweet taste, suitable for consumption in summer. It is priced at about 10-15 yuan per bowl and is common in dessert shops and farmhouses in the ancient town.
Surrounding Farmhouse Dishes
Farmhouses around the ancient town offer authentic Jiangnan farmhouse dishes. For example, steamed white fish uses fresh white fish steamed to retain the tenderness of the fish meat; stir-fried snails are stir-fried with local snails, green onions, ginger, garlic, and chili, with a spicy and delicious taste; there is also yanduxian, a soup made by stewing fresh meat, salted meat, and bamboo shoots together, with a fresh and delicious soup. These farmhouse dishes use fresh ingredients and are priced reasonably, with a per capita consumption of about 60-100 yuan.
Tickets
The ticket price is 80 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "同里旅游" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The ancient town is open all day. The opening hours of internal attractions are 8:00-17:15 (April 1 - October 31) and 8:00-16:45 (November 1 - March 31 of the following year). It is recommended that visitors visit during the opening hours of the attractions to fully explore each one. The night view of the ancient town is also unique, with some areas lit up until 22:00. Visitors can stroll through the ancient town in the evening to experience the night scenery of the water town.
Tour Routes
One-Day Essence Tour
Arrive at Tongli Ancient Town at 8:30 am, first visit Tuisi Garden to admire the exquisite layout of the Jiangnan garden, with a visiting time of about 1.5 hours; at 10:00, go to Chongben Hall to visit the wood carving art, taking about 40 minutes; at 11:00, go to the Three Bridges Scenic Area, stroll across the three ancient bridges, experience the "walking the three bridges" folk custom, and take photos, for about 1 hour. Have lunch in the ancient town, tasting specialties such as Zhuangyuan Ti and Sanbai Wonton. At 13:30 pm, visit Jiayin Hall to experience the Chinese-Western architectural style, taking about 40 minutes; at 14:30, go to Gengle Hall to learn about the life of ancient literati, for about 1 hour; at 15:30, wander freely in the ancient town, buy characteristic souvenirs, and end the trip at 17:00.
Two-Day In-Depth Tour
After arriving on the morning of the first day, visit Tuisi Garden and Chongben Hall, and have lunch in the ancient town; in the afternoon, visit Jiayin Hall and the Three Bridges Scenic Area, in the evening, enjoy the sunset at a riverside restaurant and taste desserts such as Qianshi Geng; stroll through the ancient town in the evening to admire the night view. Stay at a waterside homestay in the ancient town that night to experience the water town nightlife. On the morning of the second day, visit Gengle Hall, then go to Luoxingzhou near the ancient town (a boat ride is required, and the ticket is included in the combined ticket) to experience Buddhist culture, for about 1.5 hours; have lunch at a farmhouse near Luoxingzhou; in the afternoon, return to the ancient town, freely visit the unvisited alleys and residences, buy specialties, and return at around 16:00.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Metro Line 4 from Suzhou Railway Station to Tongli Station, then transfer to Bus No. 725 to reach the entrance of Tongli Ancient Town Scenic Area directly, with a total journey of about 1.5 hours. Metro Line 4 operates from 5:40 to 23:10, and Bus No. 725 operates from 6:30 to 21:00, with a frequency of about 20 minutes per shift.
- Self-driving: Starting from Shanghai, drive along Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway (G50) and transfer to Changtai Expressway (G1521) to exit at Tongli, then drive along Sutongli Highway to Tongli Ancient Town, with a total distance of about 100 kilometers, taking about 1.5 hours; starting from Suzhou, drive along Youxin Elevated Road and transfer to Sutongli Highway to Tongli Ancient Town, with a total distance of about 30 kilometers, taking about 40 minutes. There is a parking lot in the ancient town scenic area, with parking fees of 10 yuan per day for small cars and 20 yuan per day for large cars.
- High-speed rail/bullet train: Take a high-speed rail or bullet train to Suzhou Station, then transfer to Metro Line 4 and Bus No. 725, following the same route as the bus; you can also take it to Suzhou Industrial Park Station, transfer to Bus Express Line 5 and then to Bus No. 725, with a total journey of about 2 hours.
- Tourist special line: Cities such as Shanghai and Suzhou have special tourist lines to Tongli Ancient Town during the peak tourist season (March-November). For example, the special line of Shanghai Tourism Distribution Center departs at 8:00 am every day and returns at 17:00 pm, with a round-trip ticket price of about 100 yuan per person, which can be booked in advance.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Tuisi Garden: Covering an area of 9.8 mu, it is a representative of classical Jiangnan gardens, famous for its "water-front garden" layout. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000, the buildings in the garden are perfectly integrated with the water scenery, showcasing superb gardening art.
- Three Bridges Scenic Area: Composed of Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, and Changqing Bridge, distributed in a "pin" shape, all are stone arch bridges from the Ming and Qing dynasties. They are iconic landscapes of Tongli Ancient Town, where you can experience the "walking the three bridges" folk custom and feel the charm of the water town.
- Chongben Hall: Covering an area of 700 square meters, it is famous for its exquisite wood carvings and brick carvings, with rich themes and exquisite craftsmanship, known as "a treasure house of Jiangnan wood carving art". The displays in the hall showcase the living scenes of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Travel Suggestions
- Best travel season: March-May and September-November. During these periods, the climate is mild, with flowers blooming in the ancient town in spring and clear and crisp weather in autumn, suitable for strolling; lotus flowers can be admired in summer, and there are fewer tourists in winter, allowing you to feel the tranquility of the ancient town.
- Accommodation suggestions: Choose a waterside homestay in the ancient town, with prices of about 200-500 yuan per night. Opening the window, you can see the water scenery, and in the morning, you can hear the sounds of birds and flowing water, providing a better experience.
- Transportation suggestions: Motor vehicles are prohibited in the ancient town. You can walk or take a rowing boat for sightseeing. The boat ticket is about 60 yuan per boat (can seat 6 people), and the boatman will explain the scenic spots along the way, which has a unique charm.
- Photography suggestions: The light is soft in the early morning and evening, suitable for taking panoramic photos of the ancient town and water scenery; the Three Bridges and the pavilions of Tuisi Garden are excellent shooting spots, where you can capture the charm of the Jiangnan water town.
- Shopping suggestions: Specialties in the ancient town such as qianshi, Zhuangyuan Ti, and Taihu silver fish can be taken as souvenirs. Crafts such as wood carvings and Suzhou embroidery have local characteristics and are reasonably priced.
Matters Needing Attention
- Ticket Preservation: The combined ticket is valid for 2 days and must be kept properly. The ticket must be presented when entering and exiting each attraction.
- Boating Safety: When taking a rowing boat, you must wear a life jacket, follow the boatman's instructions, not frolic or roughhouse on the boat, and keep your personal belongings safe.
- Environmental Protection: Take good care of the ancient town's environment, do not litter randomly, do not discard debris into the river, and protect the water town's ecology.
- Consumption Tips: When shopping or dining in the ancient town, confirm the prices in advance to avoid disputes; some private courtyards in the alleys are not open to the public, so do not enter without permission.
- Cultural Respect: When visiting ancient residences and temples, abide by relevant regulations, do not touch cultural relics, do not make loud noises, and respect the local historical culture and folk customs.