Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:17 pm Post subject: Tongli: An Ancient Water Town
Tongli in Jiangsu Province is one of the many ancient water towns in the south of the Yangtze River Delta, which are famous for their rivers, ancient bridges and house complexes. Tongli occupies an area of 51 square miles (133 square kilometers) with a population of 55,000. The city is separated by 15 rivers into seven islets, which are connected through 49 ancient bridges.
Tongli, established in the Song Dynasty, has a history of over 1,000 years. It is very rich in cultural heritage. Traditional residences including gardens, houses and temples, built in the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, are the highlight of the city. Jiayin Hall built in 1922 is known for its fine carvings on the structure. Congben Hall built in 1911 is also known for its carvings on the structure. There are more than one hundred of well-preserved woodcarvings of traditional figures from Chinese classics.
Bridges are an important part of the city. The most famous bridges among the 49 bridges in Tongli are the three bridges named Taiping (peace), Jili (luck) and Changqing (celebration) bridges. The three bridges have now become the symbol of the city. Whenever there is an important occasion, such as a wedding, people will walk through the three bridges to wish peace, fortune, happiness and health in their lives.
There are also many traditional gardens in Tongli. Tuisi Garden is a classic of traditional Chinese gardens, which was constructed between 1885 and 1887 by Ren Langsheng, who was once an imperial scholar. The pavilions, terraces, halls, rockeries, ponds and other elements of the garden were harmoniously integrated together. _________________ Asia Expats Forum Expat Friends Dating
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