Why go
Tongli's lakes give it a softer, more open feel than the canal-only towns. The Retreat and Reflection Garden is its masterpiece — a Qing-dynasty garden designed to be viewed from a boat, with a three-bay pavilion jutting over the water.
Because it is slightly harder to reach than Zhouzhuang, Tongli gets far fewer tour groups — a genuine plus for the traveller who wants atmosphere over spectacle.
- The Retreat and Reflection Garden — a UNESCO-listed classical garden
- Boating across the town's fifteen lakes
- The old bridges: Taiping, Jili and Changqing
- Chengze Lei pagoda and the tiny folk museums
Where to go
Begin at the Retreat and Reflection Garden before the crowd, then take a boat across the lake network to the town centre. Walk the three famous bridges (a local ritual is crossing all three for luck), and finish with a slow loop of the outer canal.
Practical notes
Tongli combines easily with a Suzhou city day. If you are heading to Shanghai, the town's bus station connects to both cities. Pack light — the stone streets are not luggage-friendly.
Getting there
- Bus or taxi from Suzhou (~30 min)
- Layout
- 15 small lakes
- UNESCO
- Retreat and Reflection Garden
- From Suzhou
- 30 min
