Suzhou Pingtan: My WTF Rant (Tourist Warning!)

[Franklin Weimann IV]

I would like to share my experience of visiting Suzhou in August last year with some close friends. Overall, Suzhou is a beautiful place full of picturesque views and plenty of things to enjoy and indulge in.

• In terms of food, most of it suited my taste. However, the noodles at the West Garden Temple were overly sweet for my liking. It seems that Suzhou cuisine tends to favor sweeter flavors. Be sure to keep this in mind while trying local delicacies!

• Moving on to the main point, which is about listening to the renowned “Teacher Wu’s Pingtan” when visiting Suzhou. Many people probably have the same goal as I did.

  • What is “Pingtan”? Simply put, it’s a traditional storytelling and singing art form unique to Suzhou. Performed in Shanghainese dialect and usually involving one or two performers, Pingtan is truly distinctive. Teacher Wu is especially famous when it comes to this traditional art form.

  • We found a Pingtan performance hall on the famous old street of Pingjiang Road through an online search. A female staff member promptly invited us to take seats to listen.

  • However, we wanted to double-check if the performer was indeed Teacher Wu, who we had been anticipating; if not, when would we have the opportunity to hear such an excellent artist? We had made a long journey specifically to meet this purpose; thus, the information provided by the hall had to be precise and clear.

  • But the female employee was vague and wouldn’t give direct replies, persistently urging us to sit down. The problem was that the performer on stage wasn’t Teacher Wu!

  • Then, in an attempt to get a definite answer, we approached a man whose demeanor suggested he was the owner. He had a rather unpleasant response to our question: “No!” With a look of annoyance on his face and some indecent remarks in local dialect (meaning roughly “If you don’t want to watch, get out!”), everything went sour.

    • Local language note: With his comments in dialect, I didn’t understand him clearly at first. But since my friend caught his expression and what he said, it became apparent that the owner simply wasn't pleased.

  • My friend immediately expressed anger and suggested getting out of there. At this point, I learned what the mean comments were actually about. I felt speechless yet normal to inquire about the event beforehand, as a visitor with paying intentions for sure would!

• Important warning!

  • The issue is that you may not receive clear answers on whether your desired artists are performing when inquiring in this particular Pingtan hall. Even worse, they could show poor attitudes toward visitors!
  • Solutions to avoid trouble:
  • Check with other sources (official introductions and recommendations from local friends) before heading to the venue for confirmation on specific performances. If on-site inquiries are necessary, ask directly before making final decisions about consumption. For example, if the management shows unprofessionalism or vague responses, simply switch to another location.
  • As I observed, either the manager's mental condition was not entirely healthy or he simply had a bad temper innately. The poor treatment of customers could harm business prosperity. Perhaps life hadn't been smooth sailing for him; maybe he needed to have some improvement in his outlook.
  • Don't go to this establishment! Avoid being disdained by the staff and then forcibly asked out due to his rude remark in dialect. They seem to publicize under the banner of Teacher Wu, but his ill attitude alone can damage the artist’s reputation. Hehe!