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Tongli old town
Tongli is a famous water town in china, featuring four distinct seasons, each worth experiencing. There are many popular tourist sites in Tongli, including Tuisi Garden, Three bridges, Chongben Hall, Jiayin Hall, Pearl Tower, Luoxing Islet, Wujiang Xiaodian Lake Forest Park, etc.
Tongli is inlaid in the area of five lakes and surrounded by water on four sides, thus it is abundant in small bridges. The town is divided into seven islands by 15 small rivers while the 49 ancient bridges link up them to form an integral whole. Tongli is reputed as Little Venice in the Oriental as many buildings are constructed beside water. It is the best-preserved ancient watery town in Jiangsu Province, and a key cultural relics site under the protection of the province. In 1995, it was listed by the provincial government as one of the first batch famous historical and cultural towns. It is one of the thirteen major scenic areas around the Taihu Lake and attracts millions of visitors each year.
Tuisi Garden
Built from 1885 AD to 1887 AD, the Tuisi Garden is originally owned by Ren Lansheng. The garden's name originates from “Be loyal to the emperor when serving the court and reflect upon oneself when retreating from the post” in Tso Chuan. Its designer Yuan Long took actions that suited the local circumstances of Jiangnan Region and finished the Garden in two years after elaborate design. The 9.8-mu Garden, simple and unsophisticated, quiet and elegant, is an area with typical architectural style of Jiangnan Garden in late Qing dynasty. Tuisi Garden boasts unique layout with a complete collection of pavilion, terrace, tower, porch, bridge, hall and house centered by pond as if these architectures are floating on it. The compact and natural layout, plants and sceneries of four seasons contribute to a clear, secluded and bright Tuisi Garden.
Tuisi Garden enjoys the characteristics of garden of Qing dynasty, is a classic work of Jiangnan classical garden. Chinese landscaper Chen Congzhou regards Tuisi Garden as “Waterside Garden” inspired by “The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills” of Confucius. The profound cultural connotation of Tuisi Garden, together with the long history of Tongli, makes tourists fall into reverie and enlightenment. Tuisi Garden was listed as world’s Cultural Heritage in 2001.
Three bridges
Three bridges refer to Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge and Changqing Bridge which are arranged in a triangle at the convergences of three rivers, forming ring roads in the town. Tongli locals like walking across the three bridges.
Three bridges symbolize auspiciousness and happiness for Tongli people. If someone celebrates marriage, the celebration group will walk across the three bridges full of joy accompanied by hilarious drum music and fireworks, praying aloud,“peace, auspiciousness and everlasting happiness!” and residents along the street will come out to view the occasion, extending their congratulations; if old people celebrate their 66-year-old birthday, they will certainly walk across the three bridges after lunch for auspiciousness.
Jiayin Hall
Jiayin Hall is located in the front part of Youjia Lane in Zhuxing Street, which established in 1912. It has four entrances and all the doors, windows and beams are well-carved.
Its owner is Liu Bingnan, who started oil mill in Luxu at the very beginning. After becoming rich, he moved to Tongli to build luxurious residence which cost 20,000 grams silver. Liu Bingnan and the famous patriotic poet Liu Yazi are of the same clan.
The main architecture of Jiayin Hall, commonly known as “Gauze Cap Hall”, imitates the architectural style of Ming dynasty. It got such a name because the front beam is like the cap wing in Ming dynasty. The high and spacious court is solemn and grand. The symmetric two sides of five beams are carved with Eight Horses, and the two ends of beams are carved with Phoenix and Peony. Such patterns as Satisfaction and Destined to be Selected are carved at the back of beams. What’s more rare is that the gauze cap wings (i.e. the front beam) are carved with eight pictures in Romance of Three Kingdoms including Meeting in Ancient Town, Three Big Persons (Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei) Fighting against Lv Bu, etc.. All the figures in these pictures are vividly portrayed.
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