Day trip or overnight from Suzhou
Tongli
同里
A canal town connected by 49 stone bridges, centered on the UNESCO-listed Tuisi Garden and a local three-bridge luck ritual.
Set in Suzhou's Wujiang District, Tongli is a thousand-year-old water town split into seven islets by fifteen canals and linked by 49 stone bridges. Unlike flashier neighbors such as Zhouzhuang, it preserves a lived-in rhythm alongside Ming and Qing courtyard mansions and the UNESCO-listed Tuisi Garden, where pavilions appear to float directly on the water.
Most travelers visit Tongli as a relaxed half-day or full-day trip, though staying one night in a canal-side guesthouse near the Three Bridges lets you enjoy the cobbled lanes after tour buses leave. If you prefer a city base, stay in central Suzhou and ride Metro Line 4 in, or pair Tongli with nearby water towns like Luzhi or Mudu. It fits naturally into an eastern China route between Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. Photographers, architecture buffs, and fans of classical gardens will love its quiet backwaters, while travelers seeking nightlife or dramatic natural landscapes may find the slow pace underwhelming.
Updated 24 October 2026
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Plan your trip, freeHighlights
Tuisi Garden, The Three Bridges, Jiayin Hall +2
Highlights
Tuisi Garden, The Three Bridges, Jiayin Hall +2
01Tuisi Garden
Built in the late Qing dynasty and recognized by UNESCO as part of the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, this compact retreat arranges its halls, pavilions, and stone boat right at the water's edge.
必看02The Three Bridges
Taiping, Jili, and Changqing bridges meet at a three-way canal junction at the heart of town. Local tradition holds that walking across all three in a circle brings peace, fortune, and celebration.
必看03Jiayin Hall
A Republican-era residence structured around four courtyards, noted for its intricate wood carvings depicting scenes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
04Chongben Hall
Standing near Changqing Bridge, this five-courtyard mansion displays delicate brick and wood reliefs alongside exhibits on traditional Jiangnan water-town wedding customs.
05Luoxing Islet
A small island floating in Tongli Lake just east of the town, reached by a short ferry ride and home to Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian shrines surrounded by quiet water views.
Travel tips
Start at Tuisi Garden early, Keep your joint ticket handy, Hire an official rowboat at the pier +1
Travel tips
Start at Tuisi Garden early, Keep your joint ticket handy, Hire an official rowboat at the pier +1
Start at Tuisi Garden early
Tour groups funnel through the garden's narrow walkways by mid-morning. Head straight to Tuisi Garden as soon as the gates open, then explore the outer canals and halls later.
Keep your joint ticket handy
Entry requires a single combination ticket that covers the town gate and individual heritage halls inside. Staff punch or scan it at each mansion entrance, so keep it accessible as you walk.
Hire an official rowboat at the pier
Wooden gondolas operate from designated docks near the Three Bridges and charter by the boat rather than per person. It is worthwhile to share the ride with other travelers.
Set up mobile pay before arriving
Canal-side teahouses, snack stalls, and the shuttle from the metro station rely almost entirely on Alipay and WeChat Pay, though keeping a few small notes is helpful for older vendors.
How to get to Tongli
Suzhou Railway Station is the closest major high-speed rail hub, receiving frequent trains from Shanghai in about 25 to 30 minutes and from Hangzhou in roughly 90 minutes. From Suzhou Railway Station, ride Suzhou Metro Line 4 directly to its southern terminus at Tongli Station, which takes around 50 minutes, then take a short local shuttle or tram to the ancient town gate. The nearest airports are Sunan Shuofang Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, both roughly an hour away by car or a combination of high-speed rail and metro.
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