Idyllic ancient water towns in Yangtze River Delta (4)

Tongli Ancient Town. (File photo)

Tongli Ancient Town in Jiangsu province is one of many ancient water towns in the south of the Yangtze River Delta, all of which are famous for their rivers, ancient bridges and residential complexes. Tongli occupies an area of 133 square kilometers. The city is separated into seven islets by 15 rivers; the islets are connected by 49 ancient stone bridges in a variety of styles. Tongli, established during the Song Dynasty, has a history of over 1,000 years. It is very rich in cultural heritage. In 2004, due to its long history and special beauty, Tongli, together with Zhouzhuang and Luzhi, was listed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.