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Tour Style:
Book Suzhou Tongli Water Town Tour From Shanghai By Train to explore Tongli Water Town, one of six famous ancient water town in China, deserves its name of a “museum of ancient architectures”.
Duration: 6-8 hours
Attractions(Cities):
Tongli Water Town
Pick-up point:
Suzhou train station (based on your requirement)
Finishing point:
Suzhou train station or your hotel in Suzhou (based on your requirement)
Tour Customizable:
Absolutely! (Tell us your requirements in your inquiry)
Payment Types:
Cash, Wire, Paypal, WesternUnion, Wechat, Alipay
Available: Daily
In the morning, you will take a bullet train from Shanghai to Suzhou, it takes only 25 minutes. Upon arrival, our local Suzhou tour guide will pick you up at the exit of Suzhou train station, you will find a welcome signage “Suzhou Private Tour”. And drive you to Tongli water town (around 50 minutes). (By the way, if you need, we can arrange the private transfer from your hotel in Shanghai to Shanghai train station as well, feel free to let us know your requirement, the tour can be customized cater to your needs.)

Our Suzhou Pick Up Sign "Suzhou Private Tour"
Tongli Water Town: As one of the many ancient water towns in the south of the Yangtze River Delta, Togli was established in the Song Dynasty, has a history of over 1,000 years, which are famous for their rivers, ancient bridges and house complexes. There are more than one hundred of well-preserved woodcarvings of traditional figures from Chinese classics. In 2004, Tongli together with Zhouzhuang and Luzhi were listed in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With the rapid modernization of China, large number of historical towns disappeared under the bulldozers, with only a handful of well-preserved historical townships remaining today.

Residential House: Tongli Water Town deserves its name of a “museum of ancient architectures” as there are many homes and temples dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Designed along the riverside and embellished with carved windows, porcelain furniture, figured clay bricks, flying eaves, dapper gardens and tiny stairs leading all the way down to the water, these complexes named Tongli Water Town could be a shining pearl among the water townships south of Yangtze.

Retreat and Reflection (Tuisi) Garden: designed by the retired official Ren Lansheng throughout 1885 and 1887, is that the most spectacular in Tongli Water Town. Its name, Tuisi, suggests being meditative upon the previous faults when away from officialdom. The ingenious style for Tuisi Garden conforms to the native landforms and conditions and covers 700 square meters. Compact and harmonious, the garden is made from two parts. The garden within the east has verandas, ponds, waterside pavilions, Marble Boats, halls, kiosks, rockeries and bridges. In conjunction with flourishing trees and colorful flowers the garden greets guests with its beauty and charm regardless of the season. The residential area to the west consists of an outer house and inner house together with the tea hall, the sedan hall, 2 buildings forming the particular dwelling and a main reception hall.

Have luch at the local restaurant.
Ancient Bridge: Taiping Bridge was built in 1747 during the Qing dynasty. Changqing Bridge, also named Guangli Bridge, was rebuilt by Xiezhen in the Ming dynasty. Siben Bridge, built in the Southern Song dynasty, is the oldest bridge in Tongli town. Dubu Bridge, 5 feet in length and 3 feet in width, is the smallest bridge in the town.As a character of Tongli, these ancient bridges today is reputed as the witness of the history, telling the story of the past.

Free on your own for a while and you will be transferred back to your hotel in Suzhou or Suzhou train station for your next destination. And your Suzhou Tongli water town tour ends.
Some useful tips for you to purchase train ticket between Shanghai and Suzhou:
Shanghai to Suzhou
Option 1: G7104 Shanghai Hongqiao Station to Suzhou Station: Depart at 08:54AM and arrive at 09:30AM
Option 2: G7006 Shanghai Station to Suzhou Station: Depart at 09:00AM and arrive at 09:25AM
Please choose one of the above options according to your hotel location
Suzhou to Shanghai
Option 1: G7119 Depart at 17:56 from Suzhou Station and arrive at Shanghai Hongqiao Station at 18:32
Option 2: G7243 Depart at 18:02 from Suzhou Station and arrive at Shanghai Station at 18:27
Price Per Person in US Dollars
Personalized Travel Consultant
Experience the best of China with our expert travel consultants by your side. With years of local tourism experience, they are not only professional and knowledgeable but also deeply committed to making your trip unforgettable. Your dedicated consultant will craft a bespoke tour plan tailored to your unique interests, schedule, and budget, offering you the utmost flexibility. From the moment you start planning until the end of your journey, they will be in touch, ensuring every detail is perfect and that your trip runs smoothly.


Exceptional Local Guides
Discover it through the eyes of our exceptional local guides. All certified and experienced, they are passionate about sharing their deep knowledge of attractions, history, and culture. Whether you're interested in hidden gems or popular sites, they know the best places to visit. They can recommend top local restaurants, unique shopping spots, and must-see shows. Beyond just guiding, they provide enriching insights into the history, customs, and authentic daily life, making your experience truly immersive.


Premium Private Transportation
Travel in comfort and style with our premium private transportation. We offer a fleet of air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean, and meticulously maintained vehicles, all less than four years old. Our professional drivers, all locals with over a decade of driving experience, are friendly, courteous, and dedicated to your safety and comfort. Depending on your group's size, we provide a range of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, business vans (MPVs), and spacious buses, all with ample luggage space.


Authentic Dining Experiences
We prioritize genuine local culinary experiences over pre-arranged tourist restaurants. Our local guides will recommend the best local restaurants where you can savor authentic flavors. This approach ensures you enjoy the freshest, most authentic meals, tailored to your preferences, and experience the true essence of the local cuisine. Whether your dietary needs are vegetarian, Muslim, Chinese, Western, Jewish, or Indian, we have excellent options to make every meal a delightful part of your journey.


Duration:10+ Hours
Attractions(Cities):Humble Administrators Garden, Tiger Hill, Hanshan Temple, Pingjiang Road
Tour Style:A private day trip pairing a fast Shanghai-to-Suzhou bullet train with a guide who knows the city. Your guide meets you at Suzhou train station by a Your Way Holiday sign, then you travel door to door in a private air-conditioned car with your bags left in it. The route covers Suzhou's essence at an easy pace: the Humble Administrator's Garden, the city's largest classical garden; Tiger Hill, with its leaning Yunyan Pagoda and the Sword Pool; Hanshan Temple, remembered in a Tang Dynasty poem; and a relaxed walk along Pingjiang Road, where whitewashed houses and canals run side by side. Your guide books tickets, sets the pace to your interest, and takes lunch at a real local kitchen rather than a tourist set menu. At day's end your driver returns you to Suzhou station for the train back to Shanghai.
Duration:10+Hours
Attractions(Cities):Lingering Garden, Panmen Gate, Hanshan Temple, Shantang Street
Tour Style:A relaxed one-day tour of Suzhou built around its most-loved old-town sights. Your guide meets you at Suzhou train station beside a Your Way Holiday sign, and from there you move door to door in a private air-conditioned car. The day links the Lingering Garden, one of China's four celebrated classical gardens; Panmen Gate, the only old city wall and water gate still standing in Suzhou, first built in 514 BC; Hanshan Temple, made famous by a Tang Dynasty poem about its midnight bell; and Shantang Street, a 1,200-year-old canal market street. Your guide books tickets, keeps the pace easy, and stops lunch at a local kitchen rather than a tourist hall. Vegetarian, halal or lighter requests are simple, and you pay only for what you order. At the end your driver returns you to Suzhou station for the train back to Shanghai.
Duration:6-8 Hours
Attractions(Cities):Humble Administrators Garden, Tiger Hill, Hanshan Temple, Shantang Street
Tour Style:A full day in Suzhou with your own guide and car, starting from your hotel. Your guide meets you in the lobby beside a Your Way Holiday sign, and you spend the day door to door in a private air-conditioned car with your bags left in it. The route covers Suzhou's classics at an unhurried pace: the Humble Administrator's Garden, the city's largest and most celebrated classical garden; Tiger Hill, long called the number-one sight in Suzhou, with its leaning Yunyan Pagoda; Hanshan Temple, famous for a Tang Dynasty poem; and Shantang Street, a 1,200-year-old canal market street. Your guide books tickets, keeps the pace to your interest, and takes lunch at a genuine local kitchen rather than a tourist set menu; vegetarian, halal or lighter requests are easy and you pay for what you order. The day ends back at your hotel or wherever you like.
Duration:6-8 Hours
Attractions(Cities):Lingering Garden, Hanshan Temple, Panmen Gate, Pingjiang Road
Tour Style:A classic one-day tour of Suzhou, built around its most famous garden, temple, gate and old street. Your guide meets you at your Suzhou hotel or at the train station beside a Your Way Holiday sign, and you spend the day door to door in a private air-conditioned car. The route links the Lingering Garden, one of China's four great classical gardens; Hanshan Temple, made famous by a Tang Dynasty poem about its midnight bell; Panmen Gate, a 2,500-year-old land-and-water city gate; and Pingjiang Road, a preserved canal street of whitewashed houses and teahouses. Your guide books tickets, keeps the pace easy, and takes lunch at a genuine local eatery rather than a tourist hall; vegetarian, halal or lighter requests are simple and you pay for what you order. At the end your driver returns you to your hotel or the station.
Duration:10+ hours
Attractions(Cities):The Master of Nest Garden, Pingjiang Road, Zhouzhuang Water Town
Tour Style:One long day that pairs classical Suzhou with the most famous water town, all by private car from Shanghai. Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel and ride into Suzhou, where you start at the Master of the Nets Garden, the smallest and most finely worked of the city's classical gardens, then stroll the canal street of Pingjiang Road. After a Suzhou lunch of dishes such as squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, the car takes you on to Zhouzhuang, a 900-year-old water town of willow-lined canals, stone arch bridges and old merchant halls. Your guide times it to reach the town as the day-trippers leave, then drives you back to your Shanghai hotel. The car is private and air-conditioned, tickets are booked for you, and lunch is at a local kitchen rather than a tourist hall.
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Can you customize a 10-hr. tour on Oct 11, 2025 for 7 adults from Shanghai to Suzhou, on bullet train, with local English guide and private transport in Suzhou? Priority interest in Lingering Garden, Old Grand Canal area, and Tongi water town. Want more time to visit these places. Ping Jiang Road and Panmen also good, but it depends on time. Short visit ok. No silk, pearl or jade factories or shopping stops, please. If you have recommendations for first timers to not miss, and place for lunch (authentic food), please make suggestion. If private transport from Shanghai instead of bullet train better and gives us more time, please suggest which is best option. I would like to hear from you. Thank you.
Replied:
Hello Helen,
Thank you for your detailed inquiry! Based on the number of people in your group, I recommend choosing a private car transfer. This option is not only economical but also allows for greater flexibility in your itinerary, giving you more time to explore the sights without being restricted by train schedules.
Your itinerary, focusing on the Lingering Garden, the Grand Canal, and Tongli Water Town, is entirely feasible. I can adjust the itinerary time according to your schedule, allowing for a more in-depth exploration experience. Pingjiang Road and Banmen can also be included depending on time availability. I will ensure the itinerary is relaxed and enjoyable, without being too rushed.
I will send you more detailed information via email, including the itinerary and an accurate quote. For first-time visitors, there's absolutely no need to worry; we have professional private guides who will point out hidden gems and recommend the most authentic Suzhou cuisine.
Looking forward to finalizing the itinerary with you!
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