TonglI—A Jewel Set Amidst River and Gardens

TonglI—A Jewel Set Amidst River and Gardens

According to an old Chinese proveb:In heaven there is paradise, and on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou,But ,to most Tongli people,the saying is incomplete,because between Suzhou and Hangzhou there is Tongli.The additional phrase not only points to the distinguished geographical position of the ancient water town, but also vividly conveys the sense of local people’s pride,

Tongli Town,the best—preserved water town ship in Wujiang city, In East China ‘s Jiangsu province ,rest on the east bank of an ancient canal,on the shore of Taihu Lake,.It is 80 kilometers from Suzhou to the north.

Tongli is a famours ancient site of rivers and lakes.The town,built around five lakes, is in the shape of a rough circle.It is divided into seven islands by more than 20 drivers and combined into a harmonious whole by 49 ancient bridges..

Interected by so many canals ,nearly all the buildings in the town are surrounded by water,.Thus it has the honorific”Venice of the East”

The layout of the town,as well as the architecture of the residence along both banks,retains the traditional style.Ming and Qing buildings,which include grand house ,small exquisite courtyards and gardens,are the highlight of Tongli town.Decorated with flying eaves,brick carvings and elegant windows,they are mostly built facing onto the water,sometimes with a small garden at the back.For washing,small stairs were built in front of the house leading to the river.

Due to the town’s Charming environment, in ancient times many noblemen and distinguished families built their private gardens there.These complexes,featuring a harmonious combination of house and garden,are unique,rare even among the other water towns south of the Yangtze River .Tuisi(Retreat and Meditation) Garden has the highest reputation,enjoys considerable attention.

This garden was built by Ren Lansheng in 1886 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),after he was discharged from office.Tuisi Garden is laid out horizontally instead of vertically.The western part is residential area,including a sedan hall, a tea hall , and the main hall in addition to the eastern scenic area,consisting of the exterior and interior garden are halls for meeting or entering guests.On the other side is a boat landing,serving as a rendezvous point for guests.

xperience.

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• Panmen Scenic Area
• Guanqian Street
• The Heavenly Pond Hill
• The West Hill
• The East Hill (图文)
• The Mysterious Taoist Temple (图文)
• The Garden of Retreat and Reflection
• The Twin Pagodas
• The Hanshan Temple
• The North Temple Pagoda
• The Couple's Garden Retreat
• The Surging Wave Pavilion
• The Lion Grove Garden
• The Lingering Garden
• Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty
• The Master-of-Nets Garden
• The Humble Administrator's Garden
• Wuzhen
• TonglI—A Jewel Set Amidst River and Gardens
• Zhouzhuang Wate village