Tongli is the water town many Suzhou visitors choose when they want a half-day escape from the city. About 18 kilometres from Suzhou on the eastern shore of Taihu Lake, it has a history of more than a thousand years and a layout of canals, stone bridges and Ming and Qing houses that has survived almost intact. The town sits on a network of waterways, and boats glide beneath arched bridges past old merchant houses and teahouses. The best-known sights are the three bridges, Taiping, Jili and Changqing, which cross rivers at their meeting point and are walked by couples for luck. The Tuisi Garden, known as the Retreat and Reflection Garden, was built in the 1880s by a retired Qing bureaucrat and is one of the gardens in the UNESCO classical gardens group, with pavilions seemingly floating on its pond. A visit gives you a quieter, more local feel than the busier water towns, especially if you stay until the day trippers leave.
Getting there
From Suzhou, buses run to Tongli from the railway station area and the bus stations, or you can take Metro Line 4 to Tongli Station and change to the local tram line. Private car tours with a boat ride are also sold by local operators, which is the simplest way for people who want a guide and a driver. The journey takes about forty-five minutes to an hour.
Tickets and hours
The town charges an entry ticket that includes several sights and a boat ticket to a nearby islet, and children under 1.4 metres and older seniors go free. The sights open from about eight in the morning to a quarter past five. Outside those hours you can enter the town in the evening and the next morning without a ticket, but you cannot go into the paid sights, which is useful for those who want to see the lanterns on the canals.
What to do
Take a boat through the canals, walk the three bridges, spend an hour in the Tuisi Garden and eat in the old town. Try to go on a weekday, as weekends and public holidays bring crowds. Autumn and spring are the most pleasant seasons. If you want only one water town on a Suzhou trip, Tongli is a good choice, and this guide suggests skipping others unless you have extra days.
What to expect
The experience
A half-day trip to a canal town with boat rides, historic bridges and a UNESCO-listed garden, by bus, metro or private car.
Best time
Weekdays in spring and autumn, with an early start to beat the tour groups.
How long
A half day, or a full day with a slow lunch and an evening stroll.
Tips
Choose one water town only, go on a weekday, take a boat through the canals and consider staying for the lanterns after the day trippers leave.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want a canal-town day trip without leaving Suzhou’s region.
- Families
- Boat rides and bridges keep children interested, and the lanes are flat but crowded on weekends.
- Couples
- Walk the three bridges and share a canal boat, then stay for the lantern-lit evening.
- Pair with
- Lingering Garden or Pingjiang Road to see the contrast between the city and the water town.
- Time needed
- Four hours minimum, a full day for a relaxed visit.
Good questions
How far is Tongli from Suzhou?+
About 18 kilometres, or roughly forty-five minutes to an hour by bus or car.
Is Tongli better than Zhouzhuang?+
Tongli is usually quieter and feels more residential, while Zhouzhuang is larger and busier. This guide recommends choosing one, and Tongli is the calmer pick.
What are the three bridges?+
Taiping, Jili and Changqing cross rivers at their confluence. Couples traditionally walk across all three for good fortune.
What does the entry ticket include?+
It covers several sights, including the Tuisi Garden, and a boat ticket to a nearby islet. Children under 1.4 metres and older seniors enter free.
Can I visit in the evening?+
Yes, after the ticketed sights close you can walk into the town without a ticket, though you cannot enter the paid sights.
