Tongli Ancient Town is a worthwhile destination near Shanghai

Tongli Town, located in Wujiang District of Suzhou City, was established during the Song Dynasty and has a history of over 1000 years. It is one of the six famous ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River, also known as the water town culture of China. Originally called 'Futu', it was renamed 'Tongli' in the early Tang Dynasty, and the old name was split into 'Tongli' during the Song Dynasty. It is 18 kilometers away from the city center of Suzhou and 80 kilometers from Shanghai. Covering an area of 33 hectares, Tongli is surrounded by five lakes and connected by 49 bridges. The network of rivers divides the town into seven islands. Every household in the ancient town is located by the water and has access to boats; the bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are well-preserved. On the weekend, cloudy In winter, the cloudy weather in Jiangnan is a bit cold, but it does not hinder travel. Departing from Shanghai by car at 9 am, I arrived at Tongli Ancient Town at 10:30 am. Due to the weather, there were not many people, but this seemed to make the experience of the ancient town in the winter of Jiangnan even more authentic. The ancient town is quite large, with many scenic spots and gardens. The gardens of Suzhou are each unique yet broadly similar. Every step offers a view, and every angle is different. After visiting two attractions, I had a meal in the town. I chose a restaurant at random, and it was quite good. After eating, I continued to stroll around. The marriage registration office in Tongli is quite distinctive and also serves as the local wedding customs museum!