Tongli Ancient Town｜Stay in a Century-Old Republic of China Schoolhouse, This Is What Jiangnan Should Truly Look Like!

🌿Tongli Ancient Town｜Stay in a Century-Old Republic of China Schoolhouse, This Is What Jiangnan Should Truly Look Like!🍂 "When the bluestone paths stretch through the morning mist, when the archways and corridors let in autumn light, I finally understood—the real Jiangnan isn’t in the crowds, but behind that old window around the corner in Tongli." 🕰️Story Atmosphere: ✔️A girls' school from the early Republic of China era, with blue brick archways and carved corridors. Sunlight filters through stained glass windows, as if you can hear the reading voices from a hundred years ago. ✔️The Huajiantang Hotel is converted from the schoolhouse; open the window to see the ancient courtyard well, turn around to find a tea room transformed from a Republic-era classroom, and even the corridors are decorated with old photos. 📸Photo Spots: Archway corridors, stained glass windows, ancient well courtyard. Wearing a qipao or a plain long dress makes for even better photos! 🌉The Three Bridges · The Soul of the Water Town 📍Location: Town center (Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, Changqing Bridge) 🛶Activities: ✔️Come at 6 AM to watch fishing boats row through the bridge arches; the reflections in the mist look like ink paintings. ✔️Locals say, "Cross the Three Bridges, and all misfortunes vanish." Be sure to walk the bluestone path at least once~ 💡Fun Fact: The Three Bridges are Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, with stone carvings on the bridge bodies hiding "Fu, Lu, Shou" (fortune, prosperity, longevity) Easter eggs. 🎫Ticket: 100 RMB (included in the ancient town combo ticket) 🌿Highlights: ✔️A classic example of water-adjacent garden design, with winding corridors and a dry boat courtyard. The autumn red maples reflected in the pond are breathtaking! ✔️Hidden spot: The "Tianxiang Pavilion" behind Tuisi Caotang, where the second-floor window frames a bamboo grove like a living painting. ⏰Suggestion: Enter the garden at 7 AM to avoid tour groups and enjoy the tranquility alone. 🏨【Live the Story】 🌸Tongli Huajiantang · Lize Girls' School 💰Price: 800 RMB+/night (includes breakfast + ancient town ticket) 🛏️Experience: ✔️Stay in rooms converted from Republic-era classrooms, with old wooden beams and vintage desk lamps. Even the keys are engraved copper plaques! ✔️Public areas include a study, tea room, and courtyard. Free white fungus soup is served in the afternoon, and there are Pingtan (Suzhou storytelling) performances at night. ✔️5 minutes walk to Tuisi Garden, 10 minutes to the Three Bridges, excellent location! 🍂【Autumn Exclusive Activities】 🌰Rowboat Lotus Seed Harvesting 🕒Time: 9:00-11:00 (coolest in the morning) 🛶Route: Three Bridges - Tuisi Garden - Luoxingzhou 🎣Experience: The boatman will stop the boat so you can pick lotus seeds, freshly shelled and eaten on the spot, sweet and crisp! 💰Price: 120 RMB/boat (up to 4 people), includes a basket of lotus seeds~ 🎨Handmade Blue Calico Printing 🌸Activity: ✔️Dye a square scarf using traditional techniques: block carving, dyeing, and drying, all in 1.5 hours. ✔️The instructor will share the history of blue calico printing, and you can stamp a "Tongli" commemorative seal on your work! 💰Price: 80 RMB/person (you can take your creation home) 🍜【Local Hidden Food Gems】 ✅Sock Bottom Pastry: Freshly baked flaky pastry, classic with salt and pepper flavor, 10 RMB/bag (recommended "Lin’s Shop") ✅Top Scholar Pig’s Trotters: Braised pig’s trotters, tender and flavorful, 35 RMB/portion (best at "Nanyuan Teahouse") ✅Gorgon Fruit Sweet Soup: Autumn exclusive, chewy gorgon fruit with osmanthus syrup, 15 RMB/bowl (small stall near the Three Bridges) 🚄High-speed Rail: After arriving at "Suzhou Station," take Metro Line 4 to Tongli Station, then bus 725 (or taxi for 15 RMB) 🚗Driving: 1.5 hours from Shanghai, 2.5 hours from Hangzhou, parking available at the ancient town