Historic site · JIANGSU
Tongli Water Town
同里古镇 · Tónglǐ Gǔzhèn
About
Restored Ming-Qing water town 18 km southeast of Suzhou. Less crowded than Zhouzhuang, with the Retreat & Reflection Garden as its UNESCO-listed centrepiece.
Tongli is one of the better-preserved Yangtze Delta water towns. Cobbled streets and 49 stone bridges run between the canals. The Retreat & Reflection Garden (Tuisi Yuan, UNESCO) is the small late-Qing scholar's garden at the centre. Quieter than the more famous Zhouzhuang. Easy day trip from Suzhou or Shanghai.
How to get there
Metro Line 4 from Suzhou to Tongli Station.
When to visit
Weekday early morning. Boat ride at dusk.
Other attractions in Suzhou
Itineraries featuring this site
- Classical Gardens Circuit — Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Beyond, 12 days
12d · China's finest classical gardens in sequence: Suzhou's UNESCO garden quartet, Hangzhou's West Lake landscape, Yangzhou's slender garden tradition, and Shaoxing's canal-town context.
- Off the beaten path — two weeks (Pingyao, Datong, Hongcun)
14d · Walled towns, cliff temples, southern villages — China away from the tour-bus routes.
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