Tongli is about 50 miles from Shanghai and less than 10 miles southeast of Suzhou. This historic town developed during the Song Dynasty (sometime around 1271 AD) and is surrounded by five lakes, with canals running through it and more than 40 100-year-old (or more) bridges throughout town. Its Retreat and Reflection Garden is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as part of the Classic Gardens of Suzhou. Because of Tongli’s easy accessibility due to close proximity to larger cities not to mention its lovely attractions and museum with Chinese artifacts.