My Few Days Loitering in Suzhou
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Sure, here is the translation:
Absolutely! I'm happy to modify it for you while keeping the mix of love and critique intact, and also giving foreign friends a heads-up:
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My primary focus during this trip was exploring gardens in Suzhou's Old Town (these are the grand houses and gardens of ancient wealthy people), so my first impression of Suzhou is simply that the Old Town is extremely crowded!
- The streets are really narrow! Want a taxi? It'll be stuck in traffic like a turtle! Taking a bus? No difference, same crowded!
- Even the kind of tricycle that is common on the street (we call it "pedicab") isn't reliable either. They're just pretending to help you!
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️ Warning: Be careful with the lying pedicabs!- Those pedicab drivers can be really nasty! They will approach you with enthusiasm, saying, "Hey friend, only 5 yuan per person to the entrance of scenic spots!" Sounds too good to be true, right?
- Don’t believe it! In reality, they will drop you at a nearby travel agency store, where their associates will persuade you to purchase their fancy 100-yuan "tour packages"!
- This experience is much more memorable than popular attractions such as the Suzhou Museum and Humble Administrator’s Garden (two must-visits), it made me absolutely furious!
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Therefore, I find that Suzhou has a kind of "old" taste as well as "small city" issues.
- There are elegant classical gardens, charming narrative singing (a unique form of art in Suzhou with rich flavor) and sweet beverages galore (specific local desserts).
- But at the same time, though, I feel somewhat puzzled by its inadequate urban infrastructure handling such an overwhelming influx of tourists, indicating there is still much room for improvement in managing the city. It feels like a sudden overflow of many guests entering a small town, resulting in the inability to cater to all their needs properly.
- Honestly, I truly hope that the local authorities will step up and crack down on these deceptive practices to ensure that visitors can have a better experience. So that Suzhou will become an even more beautiful place to visit!
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I agree. The rickshaw driver claimed to be a local and said his recommendation couldn't be wrong. I bought the 138 yuan package and I'm still fuming about it.
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It's so disappointing. What happened to trust between people?
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You can just walk there; the subway stations are all relatively close.
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It really is close. I was just feeling lazy while traveling and opted for a taxi.
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Gusu District is the ancient city center. It's remained largely unchanged for 2500 years – even the roads are the same. This truly shows Suzhou's character. While many places raced to build skyscrapers, letting ancient towns and architecture vanish amidst the roar of machinery, Suzhou prioritized preserving its old city. They've imposed restrictions on building height, color schemes, and even air conditioner installations. Residential buildings must be lower than the third story of Beisi Pagoda, and exterior colors are limited to black, white, and gray, ensuring the Pagoda remains the old city's tallest landmark.
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The old city is very well-preserved, but the road planning could still use some improvement. It's also possible it was just more chaotic because of subway construction when I visited.
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The old city definitely needs to be protected. Next time, try staying in the Suzhou Industrial Park (often referred to as the 'Singapore Industrial Park' due to its origins) – then you'll see what a modern urban area is like.
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Okay, I'll make sure to check out the new district next time too.
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In any city, I wouldn't trust anyone who proactively strikes up a conversation with me near a tourist attraction.
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Sigh, lesson learned the hard way.
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Whether Suzhou feels 'big' or not really depends on your perspective. If you go in with a small-city mindset, it won't feel large. Actually, both locals and long-term residents from other places are generally very friendly; I've often been proactively offered directions or help.
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Actually, I've always wanted to point this out: those rickshaw drivers at the entrance of the Humble Administrator's Garden who offer to take you to Pingjiang Road for 30 yuan... well, Pingjiang Road's rear entrance is literally just 40 meters away from the garden. It makes me chuckle every time I see someone get taken on a roundabout trip from the north side of the garden all the way to the main entrance of Pingjiang Road.
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Suzhou's streets were originally designed for sedan chairs, and its gardens were meant to be lived in, not just visited as tourist spots.
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You should report it to the Suzhou 12345 hotline.