Tongli Ancient Town｜Stay in a Century-Old Republic of China Schoolhouse, This Is What Jiangnan Should Truly Look Like!

🌿Tongli Ancient Town｜Stay in a Century-Old Republic of China Schoolhouse, This Is What Jiangnan Should Truly Look Like!🍂

"When the bluestone paths stretch through the morning mist, when the archways and corridors let in autumn light, I finally understood—the real Jiangnan isn’t in the crowds, but behind that old window around the corner in Tongli."

🕰️Story Atmosphere:

✔️A girls' school from the early Republic of China era, with blue brick archways and carved corridors. Sunlight filters through stained glass windows, as if you can hear the reading voices from a hundred years ago.

✔️The Huajiantang Hotel is converted from the schoolhouse; open the window to see the ancient courtyard well, turn around to find a tea room transformed from a Republic-era classroom, and even the corridors are decorated with old photos.

📸Photo Spots: Archway corridors, stained glass windows, ancient well courtyard. Wearing a qipao or a plain long dress makes for even better photos!

🌉The Three Bridges · The Soul of the Water Town

📍Location: Town center (Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, Changqing Bridge)

🛶Activities:

✔️Come at 6 AM to watch fishing boats row through the bridge arches; the reflections in the mist look like ink paintings.

✔️Locals say, "Cross the Three Bridges, and all misfortunes vanish." Be sure to walk the bluestone path at least once~

💡Fun Fact: The Three Bridges are Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, with stone carvings on the bridge bodies hiding "Fu, Lu, Shou" (fortune, prosperity, longevity) Easter eggs.

🎫Ticket: 100 RMB (included in the ancient town combo ticket)

🌿Highlights:

✔️A classic example of water-adjacent garden design, with winding corridors and a dry boat courtyard. The autumn red maples reflected in the pond are breathtaking!

✔️Hidden spot: The "Tianxiang Pavilion" behind Tuisi Caotang, where the second-floor window frames a bamboo grove like a living painting.

⏰Suggestion: Enter the garden at 7 AM to avoid tour groups and enjoy the tranquility alone.

🏨【Live the Story】

🌸Tongli Huajiantang · Lize Girls' School

💰Price: 800 RMB+/night (includes breakfast + ancient town ticket)

🛏️Experience:

✔️Stay in rooms converted from Republic-era classrooms, with old wooden beams and vintage desk lamps. Even the keys are engraved copper plaques!

✔️Public areas include a study, tea room, and courtyard. Free white fungus soup is served in the afternoon, and there are Pingtan (Suzhou storytelling) performances at night.

✔️5 minutes walk to Tuisi Garden, 10 minutes to the Three Bridges, excellent location!

🍂【Autumn Exclusive Activities】

🌰Rowboat Lotus Seed Harvesting

🕒Time: 9:00-11:00 (coolest in the morning)

🛶Route: Three Bridges - Tuisi Garden - Luoxingzhou

🎣Experience: The boatman will stop the boat so you can pick lotus seeds, freshly shelled and eaten on the spot, sweet and crisp!

💰Price: 120 RMB/boat (up to 4 people), includes a basket of lotus seeds~

🎨Handmade Blue Calico Printing

🌸Activity:

✔️Dye a square scarf using traditional techniques: block carving, dyeing, and drying, all in 1.5 hours.

✔️The instructor will share the history of blue calico printing, and you can stamp a "Tongli" commemorative seal on your work!

💰Price: 80 RMB/person (you can take your creation home)

🍜【Local Hidden Food Gems】

✅Sock Bottom Pastry: Freshly baked flaky pastry, classic with salt and pepper flavor, 10 RMB/bag (recommended "Lin’s Shop")

✅Top Scholar Pig’s Trotters: Braised pig’s trotters, tender and flavorful, 35 RMB/portion (best at "Nanyuan Teahouse")

✅Gorgon Fruit Sweet Soup: Autumn exclusive, chewy gorgon fruit with osmanthus syrup, 15 RMB/bowl (small stall near the Three Bridges)

🚄High-speed Rail: After arriving at "Suzhou Station," take Metro Line 4 to Tongli Station, then bus 725 (or taxi for 15 RMB)

🚗Driving: 1.5 hours from Shanghai, 2.5 hours from Hangzhou, parking available at the ancient town