Suzhou: Yeah, It's Good. Seriously.
-
I've just booked my flights and high-speed train tickets. I was planning to go this week.
-
You can still go! Just plan your trip well, avoid those tricycle taxis, don't eat in the main tourist areas, and make sure to look after your own safety.
-
I won't complain about other things, but the traffic in Suzhou is genuinely terrible.
-
Agreed... The traffic is truly...
-
Maybe I was just lucky, but everyone I met during my three-day trip was lovely. I stayed in Gudagu Lane... Oh my gosh, there was so much delicious food around there!
-
Could you recommend some good restaurants?
-
Don't locals speak their own dialect? That's what makes a place unique.
-
Oh yes, your 'uniqueness' is wonderful – like not following traffic rules!
-
Many food recommendations online are just advertisements – expensive and not even tasty. Like that 'Xin' something place, their pan-fried buns were pricey, and the taste was just average.
-
And they have the nerve to say we don't do our research!
-
The scenery is genuinely beautiful, but the electric scooters really spoil the experience. A few days ago, it was a common sight to see them going the wrong way on sidewalks without slowing down. Even local drivers complain about how recklessly they zip around.
-
Exactly! And they still think we're trying to smear Suzhou's reputation. Who would deliberately say negative things for no reason?
-
We also took a ride on an elderly man's rickshaw. Initially, I hesitated because I felt they worked so hard, but the man said it was a chance for him to earn money, so I went with my son. We came out of the Humble Administrator's Garden and said we wanted to go to the Lingering Garden. Instead, he offered to take us for a tour around Pingjiang Road. He ended up taking us on a detour to Loumen Gate, then circled back to the Pingjiang Road entrance, charging 100 yuan per person. I paid 200 yuan and basically ended up back where we started.
-
So, the takeaway is: it's our fault for not doing enough research. If we get ripped off, we should just blame ourselves. We're not allowed to complain, and we definitely can't blame the place! Just have to chalk it up to bad luck!
-
Our taxi driver offered to take us to a silk factory 'for a look around'... We said we didn't have time, so we managed to avoid it. I actually quite like Suzhou; I'm just mentioning these few specific complaints.
-
It's not that I dislike it; it's just that places I've visited once, I usually don't feel the need to visit a second time. Then I got attacked for saying that, so I shared these specific experiences, and I got attacked again. It made me start to question everything. I actually used to like Suzhou quite a bit, but after all the backlash, I've become indifferent to it.
-
I've been here for four days now, and my experience has been great. Perhaps it's because I get up early and have never eaten in the main tourist spots.
-
Ah, same here. Plus, we rented our own electric scooter, and it made getting anywhere really convenient.