It was Christmas week 2018 that I finally got round to checking the city of Suzhou off my great China tick list. Like most people I’d been wowed by the tempting “Venice of China” tagline. And for the most part Suzhou duly delivered, with its pretty canal streets, stone bridges and classical gardens. 

However, the most impressive slice of ancient China came with my day trip to Tongli Water Town, one of the six ancient water towns scattered around the outskirts of Suzhou.

The Tongli experience is truly like stepping back in time. Red lanterns hang in the cobbled streets. There are historical houses galore, with whitewashed walls, wooden beams and tiled roofs. And of course you’ve got the mystical green canals themselves, lined with trees, bushes and lily pads.

So if you find yourself in Suzhou, or even nearby Shanghai, you’d be mad to pass up the opportunity of visiting this gorgeous town.

To find out more, take a look at my travel articles on:

Tongli Town Part I

Tongli Town Part II

Happy Farming Hall

What To Eat In Tongli

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