Tongli can be best described as a water town made attractive by its bridges, rivers and old houses. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Taihu, 80 kilometers west of Shanghai and 18 kilometers east of Suzhou, Tongli is 63 square kilometers in area and has a population of over 33,000. True to its reputation, Tongli is a really wonderful travel destination where you can spend a marvelous holiday or experience traditional Chinese culture. Follow our guide and you will have a general idea of this captivating water-town.

Bridges: These are the vital links between the different parts of town. Forty-nine stone bridges in a variety of styles join the seven islands created by fifteen rivers and five lakes upon which Tongli stands. Each bridge has a name and these examples will give you an idea of the poetic nature of the inhabitants. Perhaps the most notable are Peace and Tranquility (Taiping) Bridge, Luck (Jili) Bridge and Lasting Celebration (Changqing) Bridge. These are known as Ternate Bridges as they cross three rivers at their confluence and form a natural ring road.

In 1981 Tongli Town was declared one of the thirteen national standard tour towns of the Taihu Lake region. In addition, in 1982 it was listed for protection as the standard provincial town of cultural interest in Jiangsu Province. Tongli is now a highly praised historical site and tourist resort and enjoys increasing popularity with travel enthusiasts.