Tongli Lakeview Hotel is situated near Tongli, which is a national 5A-level scenic area also known as a famous historical ancient town. Within the ancient town, there are 1 garden Tuisi Garden, a World Cultural Heritage site； 2 halls Chongben Hall and Jiayin Hall; 3 bridges: Taiping Bridge (Bridge of Peace), Jili Bridge (Bridge of Fortune), and Changqing Bridge (Bridge of Eternal Celebration), as well as well-known scenic spots such as Pearl Tower, Luoxing Island, Nanyuan Tea House, Chuanxin Lane (Heart-Piercing Alley), etc. The town’s timeless charm has made it a preferred filming location for numerous movies and TV series.
Tongli was listed as one of the scenic spots of the National Taihu Lake Scenic Area in 1980 and was designated as a Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Unit in 1982. In 1992, it was listed as a Provincial-Level Historic Preservation town. The famous scenic spot, Tuisi Garden, was included in the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2000. In 2010, it was rated as a National 5A-Level Tourist Scenic Area by China National Tourism Administration.
Tongli is a living ancient town, it's surrounded by water, with many bridges and architectures from Ming/Qing dynasty. Tongli's history can be dated back to 6 thousand years ago. Archaeological discoveries of the Songze Culture at Jiuli Lake reveal that even in ancient times, Tongli was surprisingly prosperous. During the pre-Qin period, it became a market town known as “Futu” (富土-Land of Abundance). In the early Tang Dynasty, its name was changed to “Tongli” (铜里-Copper County) to avoid connotations of extravagance. By the Song Dynasty, the original characters for “Futu” were cleverly rearranged by removing strokes to form “Tongli” (同里), a name that has been used to this day.
According to the Qing Dynasty’s Tongli Annals (Jiaqing period), Tongli rose to prominence as a strategic hub in the Wu region during the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Shielded by its water-bound isolation—accessible only by boat—it became a sanctuary for wealthy elites seeking refuge from turmoil, shaping its identity as a haven of stability and refinement.
The town is divided into seven islets by 15 canals, seamlessly connected by 49 ancient bridges. Remarkably untouched by modernization, over 70% of its structures retain Ming-Qing architectural styles, while locals preserve traditions of simplicity and tranquility. Recognized as “Jiangsu’s Best-Preserved Water Town”, Tongli is celebrated as a “Pure Water Town, Timeless Jiangnan”—a living canvas of China’s poetic past.
In Tongli, there exists a distinctive custom known as “Zou San Qiao” (Walking the Three Bridges). The “Three Bridges” refer to three ancient stone bridges—Taiping Bridge (Bridge of Peace), Jili Bridge (Bridge of Fortune), and Changqing Bridge (Bridge of Eternal Celebration)—nestled within the heart of the ancient town. A crossing point where three bridges meet forms like a Chinese character "品", this has formed a circulating walking path. And whenever there's a family having a wedding in town, the wedding parade will cross the three bridges and rooting "Peace and luck with long celebration!", and all the neighbors will come out and congratulate the newly-weds. The three bridges signify luck and happiness to the residents in town. In 2011, the Wujiang District People’s Government officially recognized the “Walking the Three Bridges” custom as part of the Fourth Batch of Wujiang District-Level Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Complimentary Shuttle Service (8:30 AM – 10:00 PM | Hotel Lobby to Hotel Entrance)
The North Gate of the Ancient Town is a 500-meter walk from the hotel.
Concierge Reservations: Extension 5603 | Direct dial from room: 3
Ancient Town Admission (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Ticket Discount: Original price: 100 RMB/ticket → 20% off for advance bookings.
Inclusions: Town entry + access to 10 attractions.
Free Entry: Before 8:00 AM or after 5:00 PM (attractions closed).
Contact: Concierge at extension 5603 or dial 3 from your room
