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Escaping the hustle and bustle of city life to enjoy cool, relaxing waters. For many Chinese, that is the perfect three-day holiday. The ancient city of Tongli was founded more than 1,000 years ago. It is the only ancient town in China with a world cultural heritage site, the Tuisi Garden, also known as the Garden of Retreat and Meditation.

Tongli is different from other water towns. The rise in tourism has not forced locals to leave their homes. Officials say the town’s “originality” is one of its greatest selling points.

During China’s last national holiday, Tongli attracted more than 800,000 tourists in seven days. On one day, nearly 60,000 tourists came. Water town tourism has become a pillar industry for the local economy.