Overview
The 1000-year-old township of Tongli took its original shape during the time of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is located 10 km west of Zhouzhuang and 18 km from Suzhou City. The community is surrounded by five lakes – Tongli, Jiuli, Yeze, Nanxing and Pangshan. It is a genuine water town, where waterside buildings are found everywhere. The township is administrated by Wujiang City of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
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Tourist Attractions
Local folks in Tongli proudly summarize their scenery spots as "one garden, two mansions and three bridges." Retreat and Reflection Garden The gem of all these spots is the Retreat and Reflection Garden. What makes the garden most distinctive is its waterside buildings and crosswise layout around a lake. The pavilions and houses by the water look as if they are floating on it, so people also call it the "floating garden."
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Folk Customs
Unique and rich traditions in Tongli have developed through its long history. At the beginning of the year, the first thing local people do, customarily during the first five days of the lunar year, is to visit the South Temple and pray for peace. Dances of dragon lanterns, horse lanterns and lions are performed at the community's New Year night parties.
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Useful Information
Through ticket: 80 yuan (includes all 10 sites in the township) Township admission: 25 yuan Package ticket: 40 yuan for township and Tuisi Garden; 35 yuan for township and Pearl Pagoda; Boat sightseeing: 60 yuan for 30 minutes. Information: The Tongli Tourism Co., Ltd. Tel: 0512-6333 1140 http://www.china-tongli.com/website/html/english/ How to get there: From Shanghai: Hongkou Stadium: approx. 2.5 hours, 110 yuan (includes the trough ticket)
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Photos
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