"When in office, one should be loyal to the emperor, when away from office, one should meditate." So goes a classic Chinese saying, one that Qing official Ren Lansheng took to heart. When he was released from his government post in 1886, he returned to his home in Tongli and built his dream garden, Garden of Retreat and Reflection (Tuì Sīyuán, 退思园), a perfect place for meditation. Divided between a residence and the garden proper, you can stroll garden paths, charming terraces and winding corridors. Placid ponds host lotuses and goldfish, completing the picture of a beautifully representative Qing-era classical Chinese garden. The garden's cultural and aesthetic value have been recognized by UNESCO, which has designated it a World Heritage Site. Jiangsu guide | Tongli guide | Tongli attractions | Tongli flights (Shanghai) Tongli hotel... more >>

In water towns, bridges are second in importance only to the waterways they span. Tongli's long history has given rise to 49 bridges, three of which are famed above the other 46 (don't let that stop you from crossing them all). What sets them apart? Perhaps it's that they best meet the ideal balance of form and function, practicality and beauty. Perhaps it's their historic value that symbolically ties contemporary China to its deep history. Perhaps it's pure aesthetics and organic symmetry: they join to form a triangle of sorts in the center of town, allowing you to walk from one to another and enjoy this classic scene from multiple vantage points. Beauty, historical significance and charm—the bridges sum up Tongli in a single elegant image. Exquisite and simple, Taiping Qiao (Tàipíng Qiáo, 太平桥) was built in 1747 at the height of the Qing Dynasty an... more >>

The well-preserved Gengle Residence (Gēnglè Táng, 耕乐堂) allows visitors to explore a home of classic Ming and Qing Dynasty design. Ming Dynasty official Zhuxiang, also called Gengle, built this placid retreat built ater a successful career in government. So pleasant was his home that he seldom left it, earning a reputation as a hermit, albeit a hermit with a 54-room mansion to hole up in. Today, the house retains three courtyards and 41 rooms out of the original layout. The front living quarters lead to a small garden area with a lotus pool. An adjacent zigzag bridge connects to a pavilion. The Sweet Osmanthus Hall is home to two ancient sweet osmanthus trees that waft their fragrance through residence to this day. Jiangsu guide | Tongli guide | Tongli attractions | Tongli flights (Shanghai) Tongli hotels | Tongli on the China Travel Blog more >>

The China Sex Museum (Zhōnghuá Xìng Wénhuà Zhǎnlǎn, 中华性文化展览) is a collection of over 1,500 artifacts amassed by former army man and factory worker turned sociologist, Professor Liu Dalin. The museum is located in the 1,000-year-old water town of Tongli in Jiangsu Province, 80 km (50 mi) west of Shanghai and easily reached from Suzhou by bus in just an hour. The museum was created to showcase the 9,000-year history of sex in China, promote a healthy attitude toward sex and further research into the topic. Professor Dalin’s collection was initially located in Shanghai when it first opened in 1997. However, the sociology professor ran into several obstacles; he was told that the Chinese character for sex was not elegant and therefore he was not able to make a sign for his museum. After some financial and bureaucratic issues, the exhibit settle... more >>