Suzhou Water Towns

After appreciating the beautiful landscape gardens in Suzhou, the water towns near Suzhou must attract people's attention. There are three famous water towns near Suzhou - Tongli, Zhouzhuang, and Xitang.

Tongli locates in Wujiang city, Jiangsu province. It is surrounded by water. It is 80 kilometers from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and it is near 318 National Highway. So the traffic is very convenient. The scenery is also beautiful. The village has as many canals as it does roads. No cars are allowed into the village, making the special peaceful and quiet atmosphere. Little gondolas glide through the canals and people can rent one and travel through the village. The village is filled with elderly people and they extend hearty smiles to visitors. Sitting next to a canal with your feet in the water, or sitting in a teahouse watching the gondolas pass by is an unforgettable experience. Besides, there are many pretty gardens in Tongli. Take the Garden of Seclusion and Meditation for example. The garden is centered around a large pond filled with fish. Each building is built so that it offers its own unique view of the surrounding area. The gardens in Tongli also have musicians in them performing music. One pavilion had a man playing the flute, while another had a woman playing the Guzheng and another had two girls wearing qipaos playing a duet. The gardens are very beautiful. The fresh aquatic products here are delicious.

Zhouzhuang locates in southeast of Suzhou city. It has a history of more than 900 years. It still keeps the former scene of the traditional water town. Zhouzhuang is an ancient water village. It is also filled with canals and ancient buildings. It has some very famous bridges, such as the Twin Bridge and the Fu An Bridge which shows the traditional architectural style. They have been used in advertising around the world, but most people wouldn’t know where they were from unless they actually went to Zhouzhuang. The streets are lined with shops selling antiques, food, local snacks, artworks, and so on. It is a very popular place with visitors. A lot of movies are played here. Zhouzhuang is said by abroad newspapers and magazines to be the most beautiful water town in China.

Xitang locates in Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province. The traffic is very convenient. It is less than 100 kilometers from Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. It has a history of more than 1000 years. Xitang has a character different from other water towns, that is, there is a long corridor shed on the streets along the rivers. It is just like the long corridor in the Summer Palace. Whenever it is, it always takes on a charming picture that houses are in the water, bridges are above the water, people are walking on the bridges, the boats are crossing over the bridges, the shops are near the bridges, and the inverted images are in the water. How cozy life here is!

The water towns do not have the hustle and bustle of big cities. The bridges, rivers, and people constitute a harmonious picture that visitors envy.

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