A Forest of Dreams | Tongli, Suzhou

In the morning, a light mist drifts through the forest, sunlight filters through the leaves, dappling the ground. Below, a soft moss path; around, the natural music of birdsong and flowing water—Tongli Wetland Park in Suzhou, a fairytale forest seemingly forgotten by time, where every corner holds the magic of nature. Here, there are no noisy crowds of tourists, only a green wonderland woven from wetlands, forests, and lakes, making you feel as if you've stepped into Alice's Wonderland. Follow this guide to unlock a healing journey into the "Wizard of Oz." --- 🌿 Act One: Entrance to the Fairytale Forest—A First Glimpse into the Wetland Wonderland Transportation and Tickets - Address: Northeast of Tongli Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City (adjacent to Tongli Ancient Town, which can be visited together). - Tickets: Free admission, advance reservation required on the official WeChat public account. - Transportation: Approximately 40 minutes by car from downtown Suzhou, or take Subway Line 4 to Tongli Station and then a 10-minute taxi ride. First Impressions As you step through the park gates, you'll be greeted by the moist air filled with the fragrance of plants, and before you lies a winding boardwalk and endless greenery. It is recommended to visit in the early morning or after a light rain. When the mist lingers, the metasequoia forest is veiled in a thin layer of gauze, resembling a misty forest inhabited by spirits. --- 🌳 Act Two: Magical Scenes from the Wizard of Oz—Must-See Attractions 1. Metasequoia Forest Wonderland - Location: "Forest Waterway" in the park's core area. - Experience: Rent a sculling boat (30 yuan/person) and glide slowly through the straight rows of metasequoia trees. Sunlight pours through the canopy, the reflections in the water resemble an oil painting, and the oars break the tranquility, startling egrets into flight. In autumn, when the metasequoia trees turn red, it becomes even more beautiful, like the "Forest of Fire" in a fairytale. 2. Bamboo Forest Maze and Fairytale Boardwalk - Location: The section from "Bamboo Forest Path" to "Wetland Birdwatching Tower." - What to do: Towering bamboo forests intertwine to form a natural maze, bamboo leaves rustle, and the dappled ground seems scattered with magical symbols. Walk along the boardwalk and encounter wooden sculptures of squirrels and mushroom seats hidden in the bushes, full of childlike fun. 3. Cheng Lake Wetland Birdwatching Tower - Best time to visit: Early morning or dusk. - Surprise: Climb the birdwatching tower and use binoculars to observe egrets, night herons, kingfishers, and other birds. If you're lucky, you might even see flocks of migratory birds skimming across the lake, the splashes from their wings shimmering like stars in the setting sun. 4. Forest Cafe and Nature Bookstore - Location: Next to the "Nature Education Center" in the park. - Recommended break: Order a jasmine latte and sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the wetlands. The wooden bookshelves and green plant walls in the bookstore create the atmosphere of a "forest study," and picking up a nature picture book makes time slow down. --- 🌱 Act Three: Immersive Nature Activities—Explore Like a Spirit - Cycling through the Greenery: Rent a tandem bicycle (40 yuan/hour) and cycle along "Ginkgo Avenue," the wind through your hair, the ginkgo trees on both sides forming a golden arch (autumn only). - Nature Crafts Class: On weekends, there are often wetland plant rubbing and pinecone DIY activities (reservations required), allowing you to take home the texture of a leaf. - Nighttime Firefly Watching: On summer nights, fireflies dance in the depths of the wetlands. The park occasionally organizes nighttime ecological tours (follow official announcements), making you feel like you've stepped into a Miyazaki animation. ---🍃 Act Four: A Taste of the Wild—Nature-Inspired Restaurants - Forest Tea House: A small wooden house hidden in the bamboo forest. Recommended dishes include sweet osmanthus rice balls with lotus root starch, Biluochun tea, and a plate of crisp bamboo shoots, refreshing and relieving fatigue. - Lakeside Farmhouse Restaurant: "Cheng Lake Family" outside the park offers "Three Whites of Taihu Lake" dishes, with fresh ingredients and a rustic charm from the wood-fired stove. --- 🛏️ Act Five: Sleeping in a Fairytale—Forest-Themed Accommodation Recommendations - Tongli Lake Resort (high-end choice): Located by the lake, rooms have panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing you to watch the mist rise from the lake in the morning from your balcony. - B&Bs near the wetlands (budget-friendly choice): For example, "Cedar Whisper Lodge," where you can open the window to the metasequoia forest and fall asleep to the sound of insects at night. --- 📌 Wizard of Oz Travel Tips 1. Clothing suggestions: Light-colored cotton and linen dresses, straw hats, and canvas shoes for a natural, photogenic look. 2. Essential items: Mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and a lightweight folding umbrella (wetland weather is changeable). 3. Environmental guidelines: Please do not pick plants or disturb birds, and take your trash with you to keep the fairytale forever pure. --- Epilogue As the setting sun paints the wetlands with gold, and the forest paths gradually fade into twilight, you might understand—Tongli Wetland Park is not just a scenic spot, but a dialogue between nature and the soul. Here, everyone is the protagonist of their own Wizard of Oz story, each step a page in a fairytale. "The most beautiful adventures are often hidden in the quietest forests."🌿