Guangzhou: Don't Come. Just RUN!
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Wow, not long after starting work in Guangzhou, my impression of the city has turned completely around!
Previously, my imagination of Guangzhou was a glittering metropolis! However, what I've experienced is quite different.
- Not much time has been spent feeling the brilliance of towering buildings and skyscrapers, but rather diving straight into its particularly "lively" face—the plainness that's beyond my expectations.
- The place where I live now is probably what people commonly refer to as a "village within a town."
- For those unfamiliar with this term: It’s like urban development has progressed too fast, swallowing up old villages in the process. So, houses are densely packed here with buildings touching each other, very crowded.
- The alleys I walk through every day are extremely narrow, they’re not even a meter wide! Walking requires careful attention.
- The classic feature: A constant trickle of dripping AC water from above, like it's raining lightly. When you look up, oh wow, high walls on both sides squeezing the sky into a slit. And there are messy old electrical wires intertwined in a jumble, causing me anxiety attacks!
Ah, the initial experience of working in Guangzhou for a fresh graduate… it's hard to describe in just a few words!
Some reminders for friends who wish to visit Guangzhou (pure complaints, for your reference only!)- Choose accommodation wisely:
- If you're traveling to Guangzhou, especially on a limited budget or wanting a more local experience, the accommodation you book is likely located in similar “villages within towns.”
- How to avoid: Before booking, make sure to carefully read the reviews and check the real-life photos! Pay special attention to any descriptions mentioning “handshake buildings” (buildings so close to each other that you can reach out and shake hands with someone in another building) or “slit of sky” (alleys so narrow that you can only see a thin portion of the sky when looking up). If you dislike such environments, try choosing a hotel alongside major roads or those planned and built in new areas.
- Manage your expectations:
- Guangzhou indeed has a side that is highly modernized and dazzling (like around Zhujiang New Town), but these crowded, relatively outdated 'villages within towns' also reflect the genuine face of the city, and their coverage isn't small.
- How to adjust: Think of this as experiencing Guangzhou's "B-side." Here, living costs are relatively lower, rich in authentic and affordable local foods, allowing you to witness the true lifestyles of locals. But if you seek vacation-like comfort and neatness, pay considerable attention to your lodging location wisely.
- Safety comes first:
- These aged streets cluttered with old wires might be a little dangerous. Take extra care while walking, watching out for puddles and unexpected objects, to avoid getting caught out by some dripping water or trash. If going alone at night, prefer taking brighter and bigger streets.
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It's not about where you go, it's about what's in your wallet. In Guangzhou, you can still find a spot in an urban village; in Beijing, you'd be looking at a basement.
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I agree with this. At least Guangzhou offers us less fortunate folks the option of an urban village. Everyone knows the conditions in urban villages aren't great – who would choose to live there if they had money?
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You could always just rent a better place in a third-tier city, you know.
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Sounds like they're just being sarcastic and don't actually have much money.
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It's not Guangzhou you're disillusioned with, it's yourself. Housing in Guangzhou ranges from a few hundred to tens of thousands. Sure, Guangzhou has the lowest living costs among the four first-tier cities, but that doesn't mean sunshine and a decent environment are free. You choose an urban village and then complain Guangzhou is 'gloomy' and 'disenchanting'? The truth is, Guangzhou's urban villages provided you a place.
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Blaming Guangzhou for your empty pockets.
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Honestly, I've never seen an urban village in any major city as chaotic as those in Guangzhou.
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The urban development is good.
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Count your blessings. You'll realize your mistake when you're in Shanghai, where a regular apartment in a complex costs 7-8k a month to rent. Even a partitioned single room is 2k+ and you get frequent inspections. Affordable 'buffer zones' like urban villages simply don't exist there.
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I used to live on the top floor on the outskirts of Tangdong in Guangzhou. Aside from the occasional flooding during heavy rain, the conditions were acceptable. It had good lighting and a balcony to get some air. The base rent was 700, plus AC fees from May to December and utilities. Lived there for four years without moving or being bothered. In Shanghai, I moved three times in one year – either the toilet got smashed or the neighborhood committee would show up for inspections unannounced. Then the sub-landlord decided it wasn't profitable and kicked everyone out. It was exhausting, and with overtime, my health suffered, so I moved back home. Now, my place is next to a park, the environment is lovely, and I'm content.
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Young person, let me share a saying with you: 'A heart full of resentment leads to a life full of bitterness.' If you can't find your place, even the most prosperous city will feel irrelevant to you.
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What do you mean? Can you elaborate?
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The comment section is making me even more disillusioned with Guangzhou. All this talk about 'outsiders' and being xenophobic – they sure can rival Beijing and Shanghai in that department.
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Moreover, many Guangzhou locals take great pride in their 'old local' status and tend to be quite unwelcoming to those who moved their household registration there later.
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Don't come here! Go live in a Beijing basement instead. Guangzhou doesn't need you.
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Outrageous Guangzhou people! @Happy
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Urban villages are pretty much the same everywhere, but Guangzhou's climate is terrible – muggy and humid. That's why the dark, damp feeling in its urban villages is particularly noticeable.
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Not even close. Guangzhou's urban villages are different; they're way too chaotic. The ones in Foshan are much cleaner.