The most impressive spot on my journey from Shanghai to Taihu is the small town of Tongli 同里. The accient town, Tongli, may seems quite boring at day time if you have visited lots of similiar town like Zhouzhuang, Luzhi….. However, if you experience the town at night, you will definitely be as impressed as I did – Tongli is definitely the beauty at night.
Tongli Street Near Arch Bridge © Jian Shuo Wang
Above: The night of Tongli. There is no passengers on the street. The whole town is completely empty and let you forget it is a town with 10K residents. Look at the arch bridge on the right side of the picture and the perfect reflection in the water.
Tongli Blue Sky © Jian Shuo Wang
Above: The dawn of Tongli. The blue skys appeared behind the trees and the houses in Tongli. Taken at about 4:00 AM.
Tongli River in the morning © Jian Shuo Wang
Above: Houses and river in dawn. I am so glad that I got up early that day to capture the beauty of the town of Tongli with my Sony P8 in the morning.
© Jian Shuo Wang
Above: Houses and it reflection on the water. It looks like a piece of Chinese painting.
Tongli Tongxinnong © Jian Shuo Wang
Above: Tongli Street – a typical narrow and long street in Tongli.
Tongli, old walls © Jian Shuo Wang
Above: Look at the walls! Time have left so much marks on the accient walls.
Tongli Covered Bridge © Jian Shuo Wang
Above: The bridge at the entrance of Tongli.
© Jian Shuo Wang
Above: The tri-bridge area. Rivers are flowing in the town and bridges connects the seperated part.
© Jian Shuo Wang
Above: Me, lying on the Reading Bridge (Dushu Qiao) in Tongli. The stone surface was very smooth after so many years.
© Jian Shuo Wang
Fanrong Inn where I stayed. It has very nice equipment (in the context of such an accient town) and reasonable price (less than 70 RMB). The owner of the inn Mr. Xu Fanrong is a very nice guy. He showed me around in the town for one hour. He grows up in the town and knows the town so well. He even brought me to the dark streets – streets covered by roofs and are 100 meters long – so it is completely dark. You can move forward use you foots and hands, not your eyes. Keeping your eyes open or closed makes no difference in the “dark streets” Xu showed me. The pictures of the street and the place I sit and drunk teas are just before his inn. Call him at 0512-63337665 for reservation – I will be very happy to advertise for him.
More pictures
Some of the pictures on this page was shown in my previous blog: Back from Taihu by Bike. A complete set of the pictures are stored on ImageStation.
Top Commenter of the Month
As always, I am going to announce the Top Commenters of the Month award for this website. The Top Commenter of the Month Award for June goes to:
Nick 6
cuanyu 5
Xu 4
andrea 4
Top 10 list
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History
In June, 117 visitors contributed 216 comments to this website.
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Looks like a beautiful town! I lived in China from 1980-1982 (Tianjin) and 1985-1986 (Jinan), but never made it to Tongli.
Will be in Shanghai for business in September. Plan to take a traditional silk-road tour, Urumqi-Lanzhou, on top of it. Any recommendation on a credible travel agency that would arrange this kind of tour? Thank you.
I suggest you to call Mr. Zhong in Urumqi. I have talked with him and believe he will be a good guide for you.
http://www.xjx.cc
markinfo@xj.cninfo.net
0991-2809510,13809939497,13579995069
Fax: 0991-2809510
I really enjoy being at this informal place. Wish you luck and success for the future. Surely see you again sometime.
Hi Jian Shuo Wang:-) My name is KONDi and I come from Poland. I have just seen your website, it’s so great and cool!:) You are really great photographer:-) I would like to contact with you by email, and talk about Tongli that beautiful Chinese Venice:-)WOW! I have been in Italy in Venice, but Tongli is so beautiful and so romantic place! How far away is Tongli from Shanghai? Please contact with me by email I would be honored to talk with you about Tongli. KONDi from Poland.
@KONDi, Tongli is very near to Shanghai, just about one hour car’s ride.
Hello Jian Shuo Wang,
I love what I have seen through your eyes. I have a few questions if you will allow me. If so, please send me an e-mail and I will ask. Thank you,
Jerome (Jerry)
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