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Tongli Water Town Private Tour: A 4-Hour Exploration of Ancient Architecture from Suzhou
5.0
9 Ratings
Suzhou
Maximize your Suzhou visit with a private tour of Tongli Water Town. Explore ancient architecture, stone bridges, canal streams, and UNESCO gardens. Experience the charm of the ‘Oriental Venice’ and learn about local culture and customs.
Maximize your Suzhou visit with a private tour of Tongli Water Town. Explore ancient architecture, stone bridges, canal streams, and UNESCO gardens. Experience the charm of the ‘Oriental Venice’ and learn about local culture and customs.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Tuisi Garden - A friendly local guide and driver will pick you up from your Suzhou hotel or railway station (if arriving by train). Your delightful tour begins with a comfortable ride to Tongli. Upon arrival, explore the UNESCO-listed Tuisi Garden, built by a Qing Dynasty official. Enjoy the enchanting garden adorned with ponds, lush greenery,…
- Tuisi Garden - A friendly local guide and driver will pick you up from your Suzhou hotel or railway station (if arriving by train). Your delightful tour begins with a comfortable ride to Tongli. Upon arrival, explore the UNESCO-listed Tuisi Garden, built by a Qing Dynasty official. Enjoy the enchanting garden adorned with ponds, lush greenery, exquisite rockeries, and pavilions.
- Tongli Town - Next, enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Ming and Qing canal streets to explore the fascinating water markets and cross the auspicious three-ring bridge. Visit the serene Pearl Pagoda and discover charming local folklore. Take a relaxing boat ride along the river stream and admire the picturesque scenery of the “Chinese Oriental Venice.” If you choose the tour with a lunch or dinner option, you will enjoy a delightful local meal tailored to your dietary preferences. After the wonderful visit, you will be dropped off at your Suzhou hotel or another downtown location as per your request.
What's Included
- Private driver with air-conditioned vehicle
- Suzhou hotel or railway station pickup and drop off
- Boat ride
- Entrance fee to Tongli water town
- Great local guide
- Private driver with air-conditioned vehicle
- Suzhou hotel or railway station pickup and drop off
- Boat ride
- Entrance fee to Tongli water town
- Great local guide
What's Not Included
- Food or drink(Can recommend based dietary requests)
- Gratuities
- Food or drink(Can recommend based dietary requests)
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Make the most of your visit to Suzhou by participating in a private tour to view the well-renowned water town of Tongli. Discover the enchanting scenery filled with historical architecture, stone bridges, tranquil canal streams, and a UNESCO endorsed garden. Also, experience the vibrant and tantalizing alley streets. Enjoy a soothing gondola ride to…
Make the most of your visit to Suzhou by participating in a private tour to view the well-renowned water town of Tongli. Discover the enchanting scenery filled with historical architecture, stone bridges, tranquil canal streams, and a UNESCO endorsed garden. Also, experience the vibrant and tantalizing alley streets. Enjoy a soothing gondola ride to appreciate the allure of the ‘Oriental Venice’. Embark on this journey with your individual expert guide and gain valuable insights into local culture, traditions, and everyday sounds.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
Tuisi Garden
Tongli Town, Wujiang District,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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Katherinedk8320vp
Mar 17, 2026
Lulu, our guide was the best person for this adventure! - It was just two of us so Lulu, our guide, quickly understood our interests and guided us towards the best experience feeding us information about Suzhou and Tongli Town with details of history and culture which most appealed to us. Lulu also found us a restaurant which served very tasty vegetarian options. At the restaurant, we were serenaded by a traditional, charming older lady which gave us a feeling of being blessed and welcomed. The gondola experience included seeing the fishing birds in action and the ancient(refurbished) stone work on the banks, bridges and homes. We were picked up at hour hotel and guided throughout the day so we learnt a lot about Suzhou and Tongli and also got to practice our limited Chinese. We visited the original silk making factory to learn how to spin silk thread and to test its nature. This tour was great value and we would definitely recommend this adventure to experience the quaint and delicate aspect of China. Make sure to visit the paper cutting artist, Ji Jianming and experience the magic of Jiǎnzhí 简直
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joma0815
Jan 1, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent, smooth and insightful Tongli Water Town tou - I had a wonderful experience on this Tongli Water Town tour. Everything was very smooth and well organized from start to finish. My guide explained the history, architecture and daily life of the water town in great detail and in a very clear and engaging way.
What I especially appreciated was the cultural insight – many small details and stories that I would never have discovered on my own. The pace was relaxed, never rushed, and it felt more like a personal cultural walk than a standard tour.
As an extra bonus, I was even dropped off directly at my hotel afterwards, which made the whole experience even more comfortable and stress-free.
Overall, a very informative, relaxed and enjoyable tour. Highly recommended if you want to truly understand Tongli beyond just walking through it yourself. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James
Dec 12, 2025
Worth the Trip - We enjoyed our tour with Lulu and exploring the Tongli Watertown. In addition we especially appreciated meeting the calligraphy poet and getting scrolls of our poems. It was also wonderful that Lulu arranged our boat ride on the canal late in the day so that it was peaceful and with no other tours in sight.
Lulu was knowledgeable and helpful in every way. Thank you! 🙏
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Weizan
Nov 27, 2025
Wonderful Tour of Tongli! - My family and I had a great time at Tongli today with our knowledgeable and helpful guide Michelle, who did a good introduction to Tongli town and also the Tuisi Gardens. Her knowledge of the details regarding the garden and Tongli town was enlightening. Michelle was also helpful in suggesting other places to visit in Suzhou when I hold her our plans to tour the city on our own over the next 2 days. Overall, it was a memorable tour!. 😀
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Truonghaihung
May 6, 2025
Amazing trip to Suzhou - An Amazing Week Exploring Suzhou and Surrounding Cities
I recently spent a week in Suzhou, China, and the experience was nothing short of incredible. As a tourist, I had the chance to explore not only Suzhou but also nearby cities like Wuxi and Changshu—and every destination left a lasting impression.
In Wuxi, I visited Huishan Old Town, a beautifully preserved area rich in traditional architecture and local culture. Three Kingdoms City was another standout, offering an immersive glimpse into ancient Chinese history. The modern Gate to the Orient added a dramatic contrast with its impressive skyline presence.
Changshu surprised me with its serene charm. The Park of Roses was in full bloom and absolutely stunning—perfect for a peaceful walk and some memorable photos.
Of course, the heart of the trip was Suzhou itself. Shantang Street was lively and full of character, with canals, bridges, shops, and street food that made it a joy to explore. The Humble Administrator’s Garden lived up to its reputation as one of China’s most famous classical gardens—peaceful, picturesque, and immaculately designed.
Every location was well-maintained, and the locals were friendly and welcoming. From history and culture to natural beauty and modern sights, this trip offered the perfect balance.
Highly recommend Suzhou and its surrounding cities for anyone looking for an enriching and visually stunning travel experience in China!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Relax616478
Apr 22, 2025
Strongly recommended! - Did the 4 hour tour to Tongli with guide Peter! My husband, father and myself thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. He brought the place alive with his passionate and enthusiastic sharing of the culture and history. The pace was just right with some time to take photos and exploring the area. We went on a weekday. Tongli is a good choice as it’s less crowded but also as beautiful.
If you are thinking of a day trip from Su Zhou to Tong li, will strongly recommend signing up for this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E9936nbcaram
May 27, 2024
Relaxing Tour of Tongli - I enjoyed the tour with Lulu. She was very knowledgeable and conducted the tour so that it was very relaxing. She also provided options to do what I was most interested in. The transfer to and from the hotel was on time and very comfortable. Tongli was beautiful and there is so much history there to see. I loved the boat ride!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eehsiungt
Dec 19, 2023
SUNNY TOURS - Tongli is a beautiful old town. It was well explained on all the attractions. Lulu has good knowledge on Suzhou and recommended many Suzhou local produce. We visited hangshang temple as we have some time left. Overall good experience and would recommend friends to book with Sunny Tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
