Tongli's Lesser-Known Photo Spot｜Gengletang Lotus Pond: Summer Vibes in a Ming Dynasty Old Residence

📍 Location Guide · Exact Location: The westernmost part of Tongli Ancient Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City (outside the central tourist area, navigate to "Gengletang") · Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM) · Admission: Included in the 100 RMB ancient town combo ticket (not worth buying separately!) · Parking: North Town Parking Lot (10 RMB/day), about a 15-minute walk from the parking lot to Gengletang · Why It’s Lesser-Known: Located on the edge of the ancient town, rarely visited by tour groups; 90% of tourists stop at Tuisi Garden and the Three Bridges 📸 Photography Tips · Positioning Tricks:   · Spot 1: Under the corridor of “Huanxiu Pavilion” on the west side of the lotus pond, frame the reflection in the pond and the white bark pine on the opposite bank with the carved wooden window   · Spot 2: Sit low on the threshold of the Mandarin Duck Hall on the south side of the pond, let your skirt spread on the bluestone slabs, blur the lotus leaves in the foreground, and focus on the eaves of Moxiang Pavilion in the distance · Time and Lighting:   · Best Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (in summer, the westward slanting sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled light on the water)   · Overcast Bonus: When raindrops ripple the pond, shoot Hanfu backshots for a soft light ink painting effect · Style Suggestions: Hanfu in light green or beige + bamboo book box, matching the cool, scholarly feel of a Ming dynasty study. (Of course, if you prefer bold red like me, that’s fine too—beauty is a perception, anything works) 💡 Personal Impressions and Extras · Experience:     While Tuisi Garden is crowded and Hanfu robes get sweaty, the Osmanthus Hall at Gengletang is almost exclusively yours! The koi by the pond gather when they see people; bring some fish food to capture moments of them catching it. · Pitfalls to Avoid:     The 400-year-old white bark pine inside the garden is fenced off; do not cross for photos. Strong backlight on the west side of the pond in the afternoon requires a reflector to fill light. · Hidden Spot:     The second floor of Moxiang Pavilion is closed, but you can climb the rockery outside to the top of the rocks for an overhead shot of the heart-shaped lotus pond. (Wide-angle lens needed) 🚌 Transportation and Night View Tips · Public Transport:     Take Suzhou Metro Line 4 to “Tongli Station,” then transfer to the Zhigu T1 line to the Ancient Town Station (30 minutes/1 RMB), with the last return trip at 9:00 PM. · Accommodation Suggestions:     For night photography (the lights and reflections at Tailai Bridge are stunning), choose a riverside guesthouse where you can hear the sound of oars and lanterns right outside your window. · Food Bonus:     On the walk back, try the riverbank’s water shield and silverfish soup to cool off; the tender water shield looks like jade wrapping the silverfish. “When all lenses focus on the water corridor of Tuisi Garden, Gengletang’s lotus pond leaves the ripples only for those willing to walk five hundred more steps— Here, there is no noisy internet-famous check-in spot, Only the pine waves of the 400-year-old white bark pine, And the rustling sound of Hanfu skirts brushing moss.”