The Three Bridges of Tongli

The Three Bridges of Tongli

The Three Bridges of Tongli are a protected cultural heritage site of Suzhou City.

The three bridges — Taiping Bridge, Jili Bridge, and Changqing Bridge — collectively known as the Three Bridges, are the jewels among Tongli’s bridges, built during the Ming and Qing dynasties respectively. The riverbanks are lined with bluestone, with trees such as the Chinese redbud and privet reflected in the water, and both sides are equipped with flower-patterned stone railings. Boats come and go on the river, while people stroll across the bridges, creating a unique scene in the ancient town of Tongli.

Taiping Bridge spans the Dongliu and Qizi polders. It is a beam-style bridge, small and exquisite, with a couplet inscribed on it.

Jili Bridge spans the Qizi and another polder, located between Taiping Bridge and Changqing Bridge. It is an arched bridge, with couplets on both the southern and northern sides. The southern couplet reads: “Shallow waters shimmer with clouds and light, a small bridge spans flowing water by the riverside village.” The northern couplet reads: “Jili Bridge arches like a half moon, Taiping Bridge stands reflecting twin rainbows.”

Changqing Bridge, commonly known as Xiejia Bridge, spans the Dongliu and another polder. Its former name was Fujian Bridge, also called Guangli Bridge. There is a couplet on the bridge that reads: “A man generously funded this bridge for public good, leaving sturdy pillars for future inscriptions.” The couplet shows that the builders united in goodwill to construct the bridge for the people, benefiting the present and future generations alike.

The bridges form a “品” (Chinese character for “item”) shape, spanning the confluence of three rivers, naturally creating a circular street.

Time Needed

30 minutes

Transportation

Accessible on foot within the town

Ticket

Included in the 100-yuan combo ticket.

Opening Hours

Open all day

Location

Fuguang Street, Tongli Ancient Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province (near Cangchang Lane)

Tongli Town: One of China’s Six Ancient Towns of the South, Tongli was formerly known as “Futu” (Rich Land), renamed “Tongli” (Copper Village) in the early Tang Dynasty, and then reinterpreted by splitting the characters during the Song Dynasty to become “Tongli” (Same Village). Established in the Song Dynasty, it has a history of over 1,000 years as of 2015 and is a classic water town in China.

Tongli Town is located in Wujiang District, Suzhou City, 18 kilometers from downtown Suzhou and 80 kilometers from Shanghai. Covering an area of 33 hectares, the town is surrounded by five lakes, connected by 49 bridges, and divided into seven islands by a network of canals. Traditional homes face the waterways, with boats available at every household. Well-preserved bridges from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties remain. Since 1982... More detailed information about Tongli Town++