Tongli Ancient Town - chiige.com

Nestled in Suzhou’s Wujiang district, the water town of Tongli is surrounded by lakes with a network of rivers dividing the town into seven islands. Almost every household in the ancient town is adjacent to water, featuring numerous narrow alleys and ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. With a relatively low number of tourists on ordinary days, the town exudes a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. At night, the lights along the eaves create a breathtakingly beautiful scene. The area of the scenic town is not vast, and it is typically explored on foot. Alternatively, visitors can opt for a rickshaw tour for a fee. The entrance to Tongli Ancient Town is on the south side of the scenic area, where visitors are greeted by picturesque landscapes of small bridges and flowing water. The town’s central area is home to the distinctive and historically rich Sanqiao, or Three Bridges. Visitors can stroll through the town to explore exquisite gardens, former residences of notable figures, and unique exhibition halls. To the east of the town, on an islet in the lake, lies Luoxingzhou, where one can burn incense and worship Buddha. It is a 20-minute walk from the town to the dock to take a boat there. A visit to Tongli would be incomplete without trying the local snacks. Upon entering the main gate, the Ming and Qing streets and Zhuhang streets are densely packed with snack vendors. Tongli’s pastries are particularly distinctive, with袜底酥、芡实糕、麦芽塌饼 being quite famous, and the Jiangnan specialties such as osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice balls and scholar’s trotters are sure to tantalize the taste buds. One can leisurely stroll along these two streets, savoring the delicacies. In addition to snacks, the scenic area also has many artistic and bohemian spots, mostly concentrated on the south side of the ancient town. The Nanyuan Teahouse is a prime example, where sitting on the second floor and sipping tea while enjoying occasional storytelling performances is a delightful experience not to be missed. For those wishing to spend two days, there are various guesthouses and inns available within the town. While the accommodations in the ancient town are charming, the facilities may not be as comprehensive as those in hotels outside the town. The area around Huanhu West Road to the east of the town offers quick hotels and guesthouses for those who prefer modern amenities. The opening hours are from 08:00 to 17:15 from January 1st to August 13th and November 1st to December 31st, and from 08:00 to 17:15 from August 14th to October 31st. Additionally, from August 14th to October 31st, the Tui Si Garden is open for night tours from 17:30 to 20:45, with the last admission at 20:15. There is a 15-minute clearance before the night tour begins. Preferential policies include free admission for children under six years old or under 1.4 meters in height with valid identification, half-price admission for children aged six to eighteen with valid identification, half-price admission for full-time university undergraduate students and below with valid student identification, free admission for elderly people aged seventy and above with valid identification (and those aged sixty in Wujiang district), half-price admission for those aged sixty to seventy without valid identification, free admission for active servicemen and retired military personnel of the People’s Republic of China, free admission for disabled individuals and one accompanying person with valid identification, free admission for journalists with press credentials issued by the News Office, free admission for electronic tour guides with electronic guide credentials, free admission for drivers with an A1 driver’s license accompanying a group, free admission for retired officials of Suzhou City with a ‘Retirement Certificate’ or ‘Suzhou City Old Cadre Visit Certificate’ and one accompanying person, free admission for labor models with a ‘Model Garden Certificate’ issued by the Suzhou Municipal Federation of Trade Unions and a model card and labor model certificate issued by the Wujiang District Model Workers Association, free admission for firefighters with a badge or work certificate as valid identification, and free admission for disabled servicemen and martyrs’ families with a ‘Jiangsu Province Preferential Treatment Object Pension and Subsidy Certificate’ issued by the Jiangsu Provincial Civil Affairs Department, free admission for blood donors who have received the ‘National Voluntary Blood Donation Award’, ‘Voluntary Donation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Award’, and ‘Voluntary Blood Donation Volunteer Lifetime Honor Award’ in Jiangsu Province with relevant identification issued by the Jiangsu Province Blood Donation Work Joint Meeting Office.
Blood donors in Wujiang District who have received the National Voluntary Blood Donation Award and the ‘Voluntary Blood Donation Love Card’ for those who have donated hematopoietic stem cells without compensation, are entitled to free entry. Individuals who have acted bravely without seeking reward: holders of the ‘Jiangsu Province Bravery Certificate’ issued by the Jiangsu Provincial Committee Office for the Reward and Protection of Bravery, can enter for free. Honorary sanitation workers: residents of Suzhou city with a sanitation worker honor certificate can enter for free after binding their ID cards at the ticket halls. Free for Suzhou medical staff: on the Chinese Physician’s Day (August 19th) and International Nurses Day (May 12th), medical staff in Suzhou can enter for free within seven days starting from these dates (August 19th to August 25th, May 12th to May 18th). Free for holders of preferential treatment certificates: veterans and families of martyrs, military personnel who died in service, or those who passed away due to illness, can enter for free with valid ID. Additional information: 1. All age-related document checks require the actual age in full years, precisely to the day and month. 2. Special individuals enjoying free or discounted tickets to the scenic area must present valid documents when entering the attraction. The above information is for reference only; please refer to the official notices at the scenic spot for details. Service facilities: Parking lot: [North Town Parking Lot] Reference price: ¥10 per time; Address: Left side of the entrance of Chongben Road in the ancient town; Spaces: 320. WIFI: Account: Tongli; Password: No password required; Coverage: Scenic area visitor service center. Mobile phone charging: The scenic area provides power bank services at the visitor service center and ticket hall, free for the first half hour, then ¥1 per hour. Luggage storage: Reference price: Free with entrance ticket. Scenic area explanation: The scenic area provides guided tour services. The ticket center/visitor service center offers guided tours. Cost: 120 yuan (Chinese) / 160 yuan (English) for 1.5 hours and 3 scenic spots. Scenic spots offer code scanning explanation services. Cost: Free. Stroller rental: Reference price: Free rental with entrance ticket; Address: Visitor center. Restrooms: There are multiple restrooms in Tongli Ancient Town, located near each small scenic spot with clear signs. Nursing room: Address: Nursing room is located on Xiaochuan Road. Catering: There are multiple restaurants in Tongli Ancient Town, distributed near the scenic area with clear signs. Alipay/WeChat Pay can be used. Vending machines: There are multiple vending machines in Tongli Ancient Town, distributed near the Tuisi Square. Alipay/WeChat Pay cannot be used. Convenience stores: Tongli Ancient Town has a convenience store near Tuisi Square, where Alipay/WeChat Pay can be used.

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