14/05/2026
People often skip Luzhi and head straight for Tongli or Wuzhen. It is less famous and less polished, and that is exactly why it is worth a visit. Luzhi is a quieter Suzhou water town with no entrance fee. Its three‑by‑three canal system is said to form the ancient character “甪”, and at the main gate you will see a statue of the mythical Luduan, a creature that local legend says understands all languages and rescues people from the water.
Walk inside and you find yourself in a maze of old houses and deep courtyard compounds, some stretching five or even seven sections back. It feels like slipping into layers of hidden Suzhou alleyways instead of a theme park style “ancient town”. There is real history here as well: Baosheng Temple, founded in 503, holds Tang dynasty Arhat wall sculptures that were listed among China’s earliest nationally protected cultural relics. Nearby, the Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall stands on the site where the famous educator taught and coined the modern Chinese subject name “Yuwen”.
If you are coming to Tongli or the Suzhou area, save half a day for Luzhi. Come with modest expectations and a curious mindset, and you will find a quieter, more authentic Jiangnan water town that still feels lived in rather than staged. For more guide in Suzhou, check here:
https://fashinerary.org/destinations/suzhou/