My friend from Suzhou made me this amazing two-day travel itinerary, and I can confirm it’s both relaxing and fun with plenty of great spots to visit and delicious food!

For accommodation, you can find a place near Guanqian Street for around $20 per night. The location is perfect for exploring all the famous sites.

On Day 1, start at Suzhou Railway Station and head to the Suzhou Museum (designed by the famous architect I.M. Pei), then visit the beautiful Zhuo Zheng Garden, Lion Grove Garden, Pingjiang Road, and finally end your day at Guanqian Street. These places are packed with history and charm typical of Jiangnan, the region known as 'China’s Venice.'

Day 2 takes you further into Suzhou's cultural side: Hanshan Temple (famous for its bell-ringing tradition), Xiyuan Temple, Liu Garden, Huqiu Mountain, and Seven Mile Mountain Path. Each spot has its own unique vibe.

Now let’s talk about the food! You must try:

• Wangshi Shuangta Burnt Pancake: A classic Chinese baked flatbread that comes in both sweet and savory flavors. It’s crispy and fragrant!
• Ya Ba Shengjian (Dumplings): Steamed dumplings filled with juicy meat and flavorful broth. This is one of Suzhou’s iconic street foods.
• Cha Yan Yue Se: Yes, even the popular Chinese tea chain Cha Yan Yue Se has arrived in Suzhou! Their drinks pair perfectly with sightseeing.
• Su Ya Xing Noodle Shop: Located near the museum, their noodles are a must-try. The broth is rich, and the red or white soup options are quintessential Suzhou cuisine.
• Su Xiang Xing Noodle Shop: On Quan Street, after visiting Wangshi Garden, stop here for some hearty noodle dishes like braised pork noodles or luxury crab roe noodles.

If you go in July, be prepared for the heat—it gets humid in Suzhou during summer. But trust me, it’s worth every drop of sweat!

So beautiful.

Shouldn't people from Fujian be the ones asking this first?

Where is this?

Same here, feeling bored.

Who else gets this? I used to wash my hair every two days, now it feels constantly damp.

Anyone looking for driving lessons? Instructors are recruiting directly.

If you chose the most inconvenient method, how can you blame the subway system?

Next time, you can just leave your stuff at my place, hahaha.

I found one for 170, it's a studio apartment.

Guangzhou won't miss you.

Hello, everyone! Today, I wish to share some truly frustrating stories about my experiences in Hangzhou. This city is fraught with difficulties whether you’re looking at accommodations or transport!

• Why was my room that I had booked back in March suddenly canceled? Because the hotel wanted to raise its rates!

  • Back then, I was quick on my feet and managed to snag a twin room located just 1.5 kilometers away from the convention center (yes, the huge venue for various activities) before ticket sales were open for CP31, a major comic convention. I couldn't help but show off a little bit to my friends on WeChat about how quick I was.

  • However, right around March when I was buried in school work, I received a call from Baidu Maps (a popular booking app) service telling me that “the merchant had canceled your order, as they stated the room was fully booked.” My anger got the better of me. I could not accept it!

  • Later, the customer service told me the truth — “The hotel set its price too low, so they canceled the order and asked us to rebook. We can offer you a free upgrade and penalize the merchant.”

  • But how could I bear it? I just wanted to stay close for convenience; CP31 tickets were long gone by then. March was simply not the time for new bookings unless I wanted to splurge over 1400 RMB a night! When I asked them for the merchant’s contact information, they were reluctant to share it, but I eventually agreed to have my refund processed. Perhaps buying those event tickets would come first.

  • Warning! A few hotel booking tips:

    • - Be wary of hotels offering low prices during large events such as conventions or concerts, as they may cancel orders due to higher profit margins.
    • - **What should I do?** Book with trusted platforms and keep records of all conversations. If your order is canceled, try to negotiate compensation with the app customer service, or make sure you get a refund. Additionally, consider pre-ordering accommodations that allow free cancellations.

• Why did I pay three times for a short trip of only 1.5 kilometers, once for 10 RMB, another time for 5 RMB, and once more for 6 RMB? Did you overcharge me with the platform service fee?

  • It was said that Jinsahake’s natural scenery was pretty impressive (although, to be honest, I just booked a room around there because CP31 tickets were all sold out). As the hotel was about 1.5 km away from the subway station, I thought it would be perfect.

  • The initial cost of taking a car in Hangzhou was 13 RMB; however, my app displayed that the predicted price would be around 5 RMB after using a coupon. But, to my surprise, 10 RMB were deducted from my account instead! Upon looking at the breakdown, 3 RMB was stated as “platform service charges”. Yet, upon reviewing the order details in the app, it still clearly showed 5 RMB – meaning the driver added in a service fee they never should have.

  • I thought that 5 RMB wasn’t a big deal at the time so I decided not to complain since taxi rides in Hangzhou were quite affordable. Additionally, I acknowledged that increasing one’s price as a form of compensation could be acceptable (Although later on, I realized that the actual fare should have been 6 RMB — I chose a “fixed-fare” option instead of the ride-meter).

  • Warning! Taxi tips in Hangzhou

    • - When booking a cab through an App platform in Hangzhou and maybe other parts of China, watch out for the discrepancy between actual charges and app predictions. Some drivers would charge you extra for their service fees or because the "fixed fares" they select might be different from what the app is charging.
    • - **What to do?** If overcharged, communicate with the driver first. If the two of you can't resolve it, keep your payment records and screenshots of order details to file a formal complaint with the taxi app customer service. Choosing a "fixed-rate" will probably mean you don’t pay more than that unless there is more toll fees.

• I got blocked at the door by the proprietor, did I get scammed due to a low room price?

  • Upon arriving at the inn, I had this proprietress suddenly stand her ground, her hand gripping my luggage and blocking me at the very door, demanding I cancel the online booking with Baidu.

  • She told me they had their hotel prices increased recently due to test events – or maybe that was simply an excuse made up by convention fans. In either case, the surrounding hotels were rising to at least 200 RMB. Therefore, they could increase their prices too! She emphasized that, while she couldn’t change the platform price herself yet, I might as well cancel my booking with Baidu and pay her personally instead to avoid any intermediary fees.

  • Of course I rejected! What if the price shoots up after I cancel? Then, what would I do if someone’s safety (such as a solo, female traveler, coming all the way from Hebei Province) depends on that confirmation only?

  • Yet, pressured by her stern attitude, I gave up and agreed to cancel the order. However, I thank the heavens that Baidu Maps had to charge a fee for this cancellation, which became a perfect excuse for me not to cancel it after all!

  • Frustrated by low-cost bookings?

    • - Some inns attempt to persuade guests to cancel orders with booking apps so they can pocket intermediary fees
    • - **What to do?** Always stick to booking apps! They provide solid protection. In case of harassment, report them immediately to the app. Under no circumstances, should you risk paying without intermediary fees, especially if you are traveling alone and have security concerns.

@Hangzhou文旅
#CP31 #Hangzhou #AvoidingPitfallsInHangzhou #HotelAvoidanceTips

Frankly, I don't think they're comparable at all. In terms of urban development, Shanghai might look better than Tokyo on the surface. Chinese people have always prioritized 'face projects'—things that look good outwardly. There's a real need to focus more on cultivating things on a cultural or spiritual level.

Exactly!

Sure, here is the translated text tailored to make it easier for foreign friends to understand your travel tips for Taiwan:

Here are my "True Confessions and Big Challenges" for friends planning a trip to Taiwan:

• First Impression vs. Reality:

  • Hey, when you first arrive in Taiwan, you might think, "Hmm? It looks kind of worn-out?" Don’t rush to judgement!
  • Take a stroll around, and you will find, wow, the streets and lanes are unbelievably clean! Much more impressive compared to some old districts in our regions.

• Taiwanese People? Angels!

  • Let me tell you, Taiwanese are incredibly friendly!
  • I remember several times when I was confused and couldn't find a way out on the street. Before I could even ask for help, a passer-by would come over and say, "Sis, have you gotten lost? Where are you heading?" These people provided patient guidance like angels, it was really touching.

• "Anihasayyo" (Korean greeting) Everywhere?

  • Now, here’s a little critique from me, I feel that more than half of the tourists in popular tourist spots were Korean friends!
  • Especially at the famous Fire-Work Balloon Town - Shifen’s vintage and wish-making lantern festival street, all you can hear is Korean! I felt like I was back in Korea, hee hee.

• Language Barrier? No worries!

  • Don’t worry about feeling unfamiliar with the surroundings or not being understood.
  • Taiwan is not at all close-minded or xenophobic (I mean very welcoming towards us). Speaking Mandarin Chinese when you're here won’t pose any problem. They’re all very nice!

• Pay attention! Important Warning Below!

  • Cash! Cash! Cash! (Repeat three times for emphasis!)
    • Mobile payment services like Alipay or WeChat Pay are far less commonly used here than in mainland China!
    • Some street food vendors, night markets, even Family Marts could accept cash-only.
    • What should you do? Make sure you carry enough Taiwanese cash, or withdraw from local ATMs (note the possible withdrawal fees). Otherwise, seeing delicious food but not being able to buy could end up making you shed tears of regret!

• Eco-Friendly Challenge:

  • The garbage bins on the streets in Taiwan are just so few!
  • After enjoying an entire night market feast, you might find yourself holding onto your sticks, paper cups, and wrappers for quite some time trying to find a bin.
  • Suggestion: If you bring a small bag with you to hold your trash, it’ll be much more convenient!

Hope this helps – Enjoy your trip!

That's a very good description.

Speak for yourself, don't lump me in with you.

What an accurate assessment!

It left a pretty good impression on me. I'm sure it will only get better in the long run.

To be honest, for many people, even the presence of ultra-luxury brands doesn't really concern them. They just think it's novel to have such a high-end place suddenly appear, merely adding to their conversational topics.