Tongli Xiaodianhu Forest Park

Tongli Xiaodianhu Forest Park

Jiangsu Province’s Wujiang Xiaodianhu Forest Park is located in the northeastern part of Tongli Town, Wujiang City. To the southeast lies Zhouzhuang, a renowned ancient water town in the Jiangnan region; to the west is Tongli, a millennial historic town. The park borders the vast, shimmering waters of Cheng Lake to the north and Baijian Lake to the south, enjoying an exceptionally prime location with convenient transportation. It is a must-visit spot along the travel route connecting Tongli and Zhouzhuang. In May 1998, it was officially approved by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Forestry as Jiangsu Province’s Wujiang Xiaodianhu Forest Park. The park integrates ecological conservation with forest, farmland, water network, and natural landscapes, showcasing distinctive features and richness of the plains.

Covering an area of nearly 4,000 mu (with over 2,000 mu of water surface), Xiaodianhu Forest Park is one of the largest and most lushly green, ecologically rich parks in the Jiangnan region. The park has initially developed several sightseeing areas including a metasequoia forest, a pond cypress forest, a loquat garden, a camphor garden, a ginkgo garden, a peach garden, a medicinal herb garden, a pear orchard, a bamboo grove, a nursery, and fishponds.

The park is covered with dense woods that block out much of the sunlight, and it is often frequented by wild animals such as orioles, egrets, and hares. Surrounded by shimmering lakes and emerald-green farmland, with the smoke of village homes curling up in the distance, it offers a quintessential pastoral scene. A stroll through the park offers a true sense of returning to nature. Additionally, the park now features newly added amenities such as rockeries, a swing area, a barbecue zone, a fishing area, as well as tea houses and pavilions.

Scenic Area Address: Northeastern part of Tun Village Community, Tongli Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Transportation: Take a bus headed for Kunshan or Wujiang, then transfer to a local bus or minibus bound for Zhouzhuang. Get off at Xiaodianhu along the way.

Tongli Town: One of China’s Six Ancient Towns of the Jiangnan Region. Originally called “Futu,” the town was renamed “Tongli” during the Tang and Song dynasties after a wordplay on its original name. Established in the Song Dynasty, it boasts a history of over 1,000 years as of 2015, and is a classic ancient water town in China.

Located in Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Tongli Town is 18 kilometers from downtown Suzhou and 80 kilometers from Shanghai. Covering an area of 33 hectares, the town is embraced by five lakes, interconnected by 49 bridges, and divided into seven islands by a network of rivers. Almost every home in the ancient town sits by the water, and every household has access to boats. Well-preserved bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties dot the area. In 1982... More details about Tongli Town++