SHENG JIA GARDEN

Very good, both adults and children love to eat, the price/performance ratio is OK, the environment is good, it is worth recommending, I will come again next time, I recommend to bring the elderly and children to eat, the environment is also very good, recommended

A great place for a small gathering, home-cooked food, romantic feeling

It started out as a food stall, with cheap prices and good quality, and the environment has also been upgraded.

Suzhou is more than just Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen! This thousand-year-old water town, the setting for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," is sparsely populated, quiet, and free to enter. Tongli truly represents the last vestiges of "slow life" in Jiangnan! Still struggling with the crowds in Wuzhen? Still frustrated by the clamor of Xitang's bars? Come to Tongli. This authentic Jiangnan water town, the setting for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and featured on CCTV three times, is free of over-commercialization and internet-famous check-in walls. Just small bridges, flowing water, ancient courtyards, the sound of boatwomen rowing, and a bowl of steaming hot Aozao noodles served at 6 a.m. At this moment, you'll understand what "a dreamlike water town" means. -- 📍 Where is Tongli? Why is it worth visiting? ✅ Located in Suzhou's Wujiang District, a one-hour drive from downtown Shanghai, with direct access via Suzhou Metro Line 4 (Tongli Station). ✅ This thousand-year-old town, founded in the Song Dynasty, retains the rich heritage of the Ming and Qing dynasties. ✅ "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was filmed here, and the story of Li Mubai and Jade Fox unfolds on the winding bridge of Retreat and Reflection Garden. ✅ Locals still live by the water, washing clothes, drying vegetables, and drinking tea, immersing themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of life. ✅ Free admission to the core scenic area! (A combined ticket for Retreat and Reflection Garden and five other gardens costs 100 yuan, recommended.) --- 📌 TOP 5 Must-Sees | Missing Out is a Waste of Time 1️⃣ Retreat and Reflection Garden | China's only "Waterside Garden," a World Cultural Heritage Site 👉 The pinnacle of Jiangnan private gardens, designated by UNESCO! 👉 At night, there's a light and shadow show called "Retreat and Invite the Moon," a breathtaking blend of ancient gardens and modern light and shadow. 📸 Photo spots: Reflections on the curved bridge, the moon-shaped gate, and a bench beneath the osmanthus tree. 2️⃣ Three Bridges | Walk across the three bridges for a lifetime of happiness. 👉 Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, and Changqing Bridge are connected in the shape of a Chinese character "品" (a character for "品"). 👉 Local custom: Walking across the three bridges for blessings on weddings, births, and birthdays is essential. 📸 Photo spot: Early in the morning, when there are no tourists, stand on Zhongchuan Bridge for a panoramic view of the three bridges. 3️⃣ Tongli Lake & Nanyuan Teahouse | The perfect spot for sunrise viewing. 👉 Climb to the second-floor terrace of Nanyuan Teahouse at 5:30 AM to watch the sun slowly rise over the lake, the mist dissipate, and the black-sailed boats create their first ripples. 🍵 Enjoy a cup of Biluochun tea and listen to a veteran Pingtan artist sing "Qinhuai Scenery." 4️⃣ Pearl Tower Garden | A romantic tale of "getting rich first, then marrying" 👉 This story tells the joys and sorrows of Ming Dynasty scholar Fang Qing and his cousin Chen Cui'e. 👉 The garden features a "drumming and sound transmission" program and a theater performance, perfect for bringing parents to listen to stories. 📸 Photo spot: Fang Qing's study in the "Moxiang Pavilion," where the window lattices cast a stunning light and shadow. 5️⃣ Luoxingzhou | A small island in the middle of a lake, brimming with Zen. 👉 A 5-minute boat ride to the island. The temples are quiet and peaceful, though not heavily incense-filled. 👉 Magnolias bloom in spring, lotus flowers bloom in summer, and golden ginkgo trees bloom in autumn. 📸 Photo spot: Sit alone in the lakeside pavilion, with the vast Tongli River system as a backdrop. --- 🍜 Must-try | Authentic flavors only locals know 🔥 Yudelong Restaurant: A century-old establishment, their braised river eel and steamed white silk fish are so delicious they'll make you lick your plate! 🔥 Grandma's Noodle House: Tucked away in a deep alley, enjoy a bowl of Aozao noodles with a rich broth and chewy noodles, and freshly fried toppings (recommended are the fried fish and pig intestines). 🔥 Socks Pastry Shop: Shen's and Wang's compete for the spotlight, offering both savory and sweet options, each crispy and crumbly. 🔥 Champion's Pig's Hoof: Soft and flavorful, rumor has it that eating it will help you pass the imperial examination. 🔥 Gorgon Fruit Cake & Osmanthus Candied Taro: After-meal desserts, a taste of Jiangnan's gentleness. ⚠️ Warning: The "internet-famous cakes" on the main street are expensive and unpalatable. Head to Zhuxing Street and Shipi for surprises! --- 🛶 Hidden Gems | Tongli: 99% of Tourists Don't Know 🌙 Night Tour of Tongli: After 8 PM, the scenic area lights up, and Retreat and Reflection Garden enters its nighttime mode. Wear Hanfu for photos and instantly transform into the heroine of a period drama. 🚣 Customized Wupeng Boat Ride: Skip the big boat! Find a local boat hostess and book a "private route" to take you through unopened waterways, where you'll see old houses with back doors, clotheslines, and cats basking in the sun on the eaves. 🎨 Stay in a B&B near a garden: Recommended accommodations include "Yinlu Tongli" and "Huajiantang Li Ze Girls' School," both renovated from Republican-era schoolhouses. Open your window to see the water and wake up to the sound of the morning bell. 📅 Seasonal Guide: 🌸 Spring: Admire the crabapples at Tuisi Garden and the magnolias at Pearl Tower. 🌿 Summer: Listen to the rain at Nanyuan Teahouse and enjoy iced mung bean soup. 🍁 Autumn: Golden ginkgo trees make Luoxingzhou the most beautiful. ❄️ Winter: Tongli after a snowfall, an ink painting comes to life. --- 🚗 How to Get There? Detailed Transportation Guide 📍 By car: Navigate to "Tongli Ancient Town South Gate Parking Lot." Arrive before 9 AM on weekends for ample parking. 🚇 By subway: Take Suzhou Metro Line 4 to Tongli Station, Exit 1, then transfer to Bus No. 725 or walk for 15 minutes. 🚌 From Shanghai: Take the Suqi Express from Hongqiao Airport directly to Tongli. The journey takes 1.5 hours and costs 35 yuan. 🎫 Admission: Free admission to the ancient town! A combined ticket to Tuisi Garden and five other gardens costs 100 yuan (recommended, worth it!) --- 📷 Photo Tips | 100% Photo Capture 1. Take a photo of the curved bridge from the window frame of Tuisi Garden's "Lansheng Pavilion" 2. The reflection of the Sanqiao Bridge, deserted at dawn 3. Take a photo of the sunrise and the wupeng boats from the terrace of the Nanyuan Tea House 4. Red lanterns under the eaves of the old houses on Zhuxing Street 5. Take a photo of the lake from the door frame of Luoxingzhou Temple 👗 Outfit Tip: Wear a plain long skirt, cheongsam, or Hanfu, paired with an oil-paper umbrella or bamboo bag for a truly immersive experience. --- 💬 One final note: Tongli isn't for checking in, it's for daydreaming. Here, you can sit in a teahouse all day watching the rain, you can walk through three alleys for a bowl of noodles, and you can stop to take a photo of a fallen leaf. It's not bustling, but deeply moving. It's unassuming, yet sophisticated enough. If you're tired of the hustle and bustle of "internet-famous ancient towns," come to Tongli and rediscover the authentic Jiangnan spirit. Save this guide. Next weekend, go to Tongli and spend a day as someone who's "not in a rush." ​​#TongliAncientTown #ShuiRhythmJiangsu will be even more beautiful with you.

Local food stall. The portions are quite large. Not high-end enough.