Gankeng Ancient Town: The 'Keng' (Pit) in its Name? Yeah, It's a Tourist Trap Pit!
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Regarding the Ganjing Ancient Town in Shen Zhen, I must confess that I wouldn't particularly recommend making a special trip there.
- The town feels a bit too commercialized with lots of chain stores, lacking the unique charm of a traditional ancient town.
- The place is genuinely not large; I arrived between 4-5pm in the afternoon but somehow concluded my visit without spending too much time there as I thought I could have spent longer.
- Honestly, there’s nothing particularly attractive about it to me, and I don’t even feel like taking many pictures there.
- However, I did notice an incredible amount (literally a lot!) of people taking pictures of themselves wearing "flower pin" and "ancient costume".
- ("Flower pin" refers to the beautiful head decorations similar to ancient head art that are currently very popular in China; “ancient costume” refers to traditional Chinese clothing.)
- With so many people around and given the narrow passages, coupled with hot weather, the experience is… well, you get the idea.
- Oh yes, and the transportation isn’t so convenient either, being quite far from the metro station.
Overall, I don’t think I will go there again, nor would I actively suggest others to make a special trip for it. Of course, if you happen to be nearby and with plenty of free time, you can still take a look.
Key points! A reminder for those interested (and also my honest advice):
- Commercialization Alert: There are many chain brand shops inside, which may disappoint you if you’re expecting an old-fashioned, quaint ancient town filled with local specialty shops.
- Small Space and Quick Walkthrough: The town is not big and can be easily toured within a short period, so do not be overly occupied with visiting here for a long period.
- Crowd Warning: Even more so when seeing a lot of people on the street taking pictures with flower pins or wearing ancient style costumes, you should prepare yourself for the crowds. The pathways are rather narrow.
- Weather and Transportation: Be prepared for hot summers and an inconvenient commute since it's a decent distance away from the nearest subway station (consider taking a taxi or figuring out the bus routes).
- Boring Photography Experience: If photo shots of beautiful scenery or iconic spots is what you’re looking for, there is little of that in this place.
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To be honest, 90% of ancient towns nationwide aren't worth the trip.
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What about Fenghuang Ancient Town?
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The bougainvillea is actually quite beautiful. I'll go check it out again next time they're in bloom.
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Are there still flowers now?
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It's just a small Hakka town with a lot of replica ancient buildings and a mock-traditional food street.
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Is it fun? I'm planning to go next week after I get paid.
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Such a rip-off!
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It's alright for taking photos.
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It's fine if you just treat it like a park and stroll around.