The stunning ancient water town that’s the ‘Venice of the East’ surrounded by huge lakes

By driving just an hour west of Shanghai, you will leave behind vibrant and bustling city and enter an entirely new world – one similar to that of , except you’re over 5,500 miles away. 

Tongli, also known as Tong-Li, is an ancient water town in Wujiang district, found on the outskirts of . 

Known for its complex system of canals – due to it being surrounded by five huge lakes including Jiuli, Huangnidou and Tongli – it has earned the nickname of “Venice of the East”. 

Built by the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), Tongli is one of six famous ancient towns to the south of the , alongside the likes of Zhouzhuang, Wuzhen and .

Covering an area of 33 hectares, it boasts an impressive selection of ancient bridges, residences and gardens that flow seamlessly into each other, just as they have done for over a millennium. 

Among its must-see attractions are Tuisi Garden, meaning “Retreat and Reflection Garden”, a beautiful example of a classical Chinese garden, complete with ponds filled with koi. Built in the 1880s, it was named a World Cultural Heritage site by in 2001. 

Jiayin hall is one of the most notable historical buildings in Tongli, which was originally the residence of a wealthy family and stands as a stunning example of traditional Chinese architecture. 

The Chinese Ancient Canal Museum, meanwhile, is a great place to go for those looking to understand more about the rich history and significance of China’s ancient canal systems, particularly the . 

The Three Bridges refer to Taiping Bridge (1913), Jili Bridge (1987), and Changqing Bridge (1470; rebuilt 1704), each of which has its unique meaning for the locals. It is a custom for the locals to walk across the three bridges during events such as weddings. A walk across Taiping Bridge, for example, symbolises good health for the rest of the year.

The oldest bridge of Tongli, Siben Bridge, was built in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279) and remains standing despite 700 years of wind and rain.

Finally, you cannot visit Tongoli without taking a canoe ride down the canal. This gives you a chance to experience what life has been like here for over 1,000 years and experience its classic scenery up close. If you’re lucky, you will also get to see some locals going about their day. 

Once your feet are tired from exploring the plethora of breathtaking streets, buildings and greenery, dine at one of the town’s canal-side , surrounding by old bridges and traditional houses and lit by Chinese paper lanterns. Here you can enjoy a delightful mix of local specialities and fresh ingredients including tender steamed fish, savoury dumplings, and vegetable stir-fries.

Several of those lucky enough to visit Tongli have shared their experiences on Tripadvisor.  One wrote: “This was stunning. We arrived early morning with a private guide and visited the gardens, a museum and the canals. The boats were great fun and lasted approximately 30 minutes but took you all around the canals of Tongli.”

Another said: “Absolutely loved Tongli town, not at all what I expected before visiting China. Such a pretty little town and so much quieter than other tourist areas. So many tiny streets to wander down with so much character. Different gardens and houses to explore, plenty to do for a whole day.

“As people said it’s like a Chinese Venice with the canals, bridges, boats and little streets. We loved it.” 

A third added: “A great place to visit as it has over a thousand years of history, and is definitely not as crowded as the other watertowns like Zhou Zhuang in the area… There are souvenir shops, of course, and modern cafes, but this town is essentially still lived in by around 55,000 locals, so you can see how they live daily lives. They are quite friendly and happy to chat.”