Tongli Water Town

Tongli is an ancient water town in Wujiang District, Suzhou, Jiangsu, about 18 km southeast of Suzhou city and close to the border with Shanghai. It is often considered quieter and more relaxed than nearby Zhouzhuang and is built on a set of small islands divided by canals, connected by more than forty stone bridges. The town's most important sight is the Retreat and Reflection Garden (Tuisi Yuan), built in the late nineteenth century and included in the UNESCO listing of Classical Gardens of Suzhou. The garden is unusual because its halls and pavilions seem to float over the pond, giving the impression of hovering on the water. The Three Bridges (Sanqiao), Taiping, Jili and Changqing, are a local wedding tradition in which brides and grooms walk across all three for good luck. Other sights include the Pearl Pagoda Garden, the Chongben Hall, the Gengle Hall and the small Museum of Chinese Sex Culture, which is a ticketed curiosity. The town is at its best in the morning, when canals are calm and reflections are clear, and boat rides along the waterways are available. A typical visit takes about three hours, and the streets are pleasantly walkable. Weekends and holidays are busier but the crowds are usually lighter than at Zhouzhuang. The town's food specialities include braised pork, smoked fish and sweet rice cakes. Intercity buses run from Suzhou bus stations and Didi takes about 45 minutes. A combined ticket covers the main sights.