Suzhou vs. Hangzhou: Worlds Apart! (And Boy, Do I Have Thoughts...)
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As a Suzhou local, I admit Hangzhou is truly better in terms of urban development and planning. Suzhou is quite weak in these aspects. However, our ancient city district is very well preserved, largely retaining the layout shown on the old Pingjiang Map. I still prefer Suzhou, no need to compare. For me, Suzhou is simply the best.
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You can't use Alipay in Suzhou?!?!
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You can use Alipay or WeChat directly on the Suzhou Metro; you don't necessarily have to download the Su E Xing app.
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Reading this has me confused. I was just in Suzhou during the National Day holiday, and I simply applied for metro access through Alipay, and it worked perfectly.
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When it comes to food, I personally feel Suzhou offers a rich variety of dishes, with delicious freshwater delicacies from Taihu Lake and Yangcheng Lake. Hangzhou, on the other hand, feels like a bit of a food desert to me.
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It's not too bad, I think. In Hangzhou, I enjoy Sichuan, Hunan, and Quzhou cuisine. And if I'm looking for something else, there are always Shengzhou and Shaxian snacks... It's just that when I first moved to Hangzhou a couple of years ago, I weighed just over 80 jin (around 40kg), and now I'm 110 jin (around 55kg). The milk tea here is dangerously good!
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I'm a Suzhou native, but I prefer Hangzhou because it has mountains; it's truly a place nestled 'between mountains and water.' A road trip through western Zhejiang is an absolute highlight. Suzhou's hills like Tianping, Lingyan, and Yangshan, at only two or three hundred meters high, aren't really much to look at in comparison. Scenically, Hangzhou is definitely better.
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True. Even if you get a lake-view room, looking out, it can seem quite bare. Plains don't offer as many natural scenic features as mountainous areas. The food is cheap, but on the other hand, the city seems to go to sleep too early.
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I live in Suzhou and happen to be visiting Hangzhou today. I think your summary is very comprehensive.
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So, in terms of scenery, which one would be a slightly better choice to visit?
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As someone from Hangzhou, I love visiting Suzhou.
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As a Suzhou local, I like Hangzhou.
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It's hard to compare; one is a provincial capital, and the other is a prefecture-level city. But I've always loved the saying, 'Above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.' I'm very fond of both places.