Tong Li 同里 Travel Guide

Another of the canal towns which surround Shanghai, Tong Li is a favourite as it retains much of it’s original character having not been over restored. Leisurely boat trips on the canals, long walks along the winding cobbled alleys or lazy afternoons sipping tea in the many tea houses are the chief pastimes here in a China a world away from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai.

Sipping a fine tea in one of the canal side teahouses and watching the world go by.

Rather than specific sites a trip to Tong Li is all about soaking up the experience of a bygone China. A canal trip is a must as is a visit to a teahouse. Much of the pleasure will also come from just strolling about and peering into the courtyard homes that are little changed since the town’s founding in the 9th Century. There are also a few museums that can be visited. If you can, avoid being there at weekends or public holidays as it gets very crowded with day trippers from Shanghai.

For a change of both scene and pace from Shanghai, Tongli is both accessible and not as large and visited as Suzhou although it does lack Suzhou’s famous gardens.

Tong Li is normally visited as a day trip from Shanghai. See our Shanghai Destination Guide for accommodation recommendations there.

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By Phil Stanley & Headseast – TCTC Destination Expert.