Scenery of Suzhou, the charm of Tongli

Tongli Ancient Town is one of the six major ancient towns in Jiangnan, known as the "Venice of the East." It boasts a long history and typical water town features. This guide hopes to help you better plan your trip.

🏮 Tongli Ancient Town Travel Guide

✨ Highlights

- **World Cultural Heritage Experience**: Tongli is home to the **Tuisi Garden**, listed as a World Cultural Heritage site. This late Qing Dynasty garden is famous for its "water-adjacent garden construction" and is a unique example of classical Chinese gardens. You can experience the essence of Jiangnan garden art up close.
- "**Walking the Three Bridges**" Blessing Experience: Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, and Changqing Bridge form Tongli’s iconic "Three Bridges" scenic area. Here you can experience the local custom of "walking the three bridges to avoid disasters and seek blessings," symbolizing peace and good fortune.
- **Living Water Town Experience**: Tongli is not just a scenic spot but a vibrant ancient town full of life. You can stroll along the riverbank in the morning and observe local residents’ daily life; take a sampan boat through the water alleys at dusk; and in the evening, listen to Pingtan storytelling and enjoy Grandma’s tea, deeply immersing yourself in the slow life of the water town.

📌 Basic Information

**Best time to visit**: Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) with pleasant weather. Flowers bloom in spring, and autumn offers clear skies and refreshing air.
**Recommended duration**: 1-2 days (if you want to deeply experience water town life, staying overnight is recommended)
**Budget estimate** (per person):
- Budget: about 300-400 RMB/day (including tickets, meals, local transport, budget accommodation)
- Comfortable: about 600-800 RMB/day (including tickets, specialty meals, accommodation)

🗓 Itinerary Planning

Half-day Tour (tight schedule)

- **Morning/Afternoon**: Enter from Zhongchuan Bridge entrance, focus on visiting **Tuisi Garden**, **Three Bridges Scenic Area** (Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, Changqing Bridge), then briefly stroll through **Ming and Qing Street**.

One-day Tour (recommended)

- **Morning**: Arrive early, visit **Tuisi Garden**, then tour **Pearl Pagoda Scenic Garden**.
- **Noon**: Taste local specialties in the ancient town, such as **Zhuangyuan Pork Knuckle** and **Euryale Seed Soup**.
- **Afternoon**: Head to the **Three Bridges Scenic Area** to experience "walking the three bridges," then visit **Chongbentang** and **Jiayintang**. Afterwards, explore **Ming and Qing Street** for souvenirs or take a **sampan boat ride** (120 RMB/boat, seats 6).
- **Evening**: If time allows, enjoy a **night tour of the ancient town**, admire the night view of the Three Bridges, and on Friday and Saturday nights, watch the live performance "Tuisi Painting Realm" at Tuisi Garden (advance reservation required).

Two-day Tour (in-depth experience)

**Day 1**:
- **Morning**: Arrive in Tongli, check into a guesthouse in the ancient town.
- **Afternoon**: Visit **Tuisi Garden**, **Pearl Pagoda Scenic Garden**, **Chongbentang**, and **Jiayintang**.
- **Evening**: Experience a **night sampan boat ride**, enjoy the night view of the Three Bridges and the water screen projection "Tongli Past," and taste local snacks.

**Day 2**:
- **Morning**: Visit **Gengletang** and **Luoxingzhou** (take a boat to the island in the lake).
- **Afternoon**: Stroll through **Ming and Qing Street** to buy specialties like Min Cake and Tangerine Red Cake; or visit **Tongli National Wetland Park**.

🍜 Food Recommendations

Tongli’s cuisine reflects the characteristics of the Jiangnan water town, emphasizing seasonality and original flavors.

- **Special Snacks and Pastries**:
- **Sock Bottom Crisp**: A crispy and delicious pastry (recommended shop: Lin’s Shop).
- **Min Cake** and **Tangerine Red Cake**: Local intangible cultural heritage pastries, great as souvenirs.
- **Fermented Rice Cake**, **Green Dumplings**, and **Fried Dough Balls** are also worth trying.
- **Food Experience**:
- Enjoy tea and Pingtan storytelling at Nanyuan Teahouse, experiencing the Grandma’s Tea custom.
- Try **Suzhou-style Soup Noodles** with various toppings.

🏨 Accommodation Suggestions

- **Inside the Ancient Town**:
- **Advantages**: Convenient to experience the peaceful atmosphere of the ancient town in the early morning and at night; some inns offer ticket discounts.
- **Recommended**: **Huazhu·Tongli Ancient Town Jianyuan Inn**, **Yinlu Tongli Courtyard** (converted from a Republic of China era building with private butler service), **Huajiantang·Lize Girls’ School** (converted from a century-old girls’ school site).
- **Outside the Ancient Town**:
- **Advantages**: Relatively cheaper with more options.
- **Consider**: Hotels in Suzhou Wujiang District city area.

🚌 Transportation Information

- **External Transportation**:
- **Train/High-speed Rail**: Arrive at **Suzhou Station** (relatively close to Tongli), then:
- Take a direct shuttle bus from the North Square Bus Station to Tongli Scenic Area (ticket about 39 RMB/person).
- Or take **Metro Line 4** to Tongli Station, then transfer to the **Smart Rail T1 Demonstration Line** or **Bus 725** to the ancient town.
- **Self-driving**: Navigate to "Tongli Ancient Town," parking lots are available north or east of the town (about 10 RMB/day).
- **Internal Transportation**: Mainly **walking** inside the ancient town; you can also take a **sampan boat** or **electric cart** (recommended to check prices and routes in advance).

⚠️ Practical Tips

1. **Tickets**: The ancient town combined ticket costs **100 RMB** (covers multiple attractions, can be purchased online in advance or at a discount for about 80 RMB). **Entry to the ancient town is free from 5 PM to 8 AM the next day**, but attraction tickets must be purchased separately.
2. **Avoid crowds**: **Early morning** (around opening time) is the best time to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the water town; **weekdays** are less crowded than weekends.
3. **Packing**: Wear **comfortable, non-slip shoes** (many stone and cobblestone roads in the town). Jiangnan is rainy, so bring **rain gear**.
4. **Money-saving tips**:
- Stay in guesthouses inside the ancient town for possible ticket discounts.
- For meals, avoid expensive riverside restaurants; choose shops outside the scenic area or in alleys for better value.
5. **Nearby extensions**: If time permits, combine with visits to **Zhouzhuang** (requires separate planning), **Tongli National Wetland Park**, or Suzhou city’s **Hanshan Temple** and **Qilishantang**.

We hope this guide helps you plan an unforgettable trip to Tongli, fully enjoying the slow life and poetic charm of the water town.