Gulangyu's "Most Beautiful Corner"? More Like Insta-LIE Corner! š¤„ Filters Off = Prepare for a Human CRUSH & Major Disappointment! #ChinaTravel #GulangyuFail
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Oh my goodness, let me tell you, traveling on the mainland will really make you not want to go back to Taiwan!
You feel like you're being āspoiledā by all the conveniences available in China.
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No need to return dishes after dining:
Did you know that, upon finishing your meal in many places on the mainland (especially at snack streets or some quick-service restaurants), thereās no need for you to personally take your plates and cutlery to a designated recycling area. Restaurant staff will come collect them! When I first arrived, I was super unaccustomed to this and would even ask people, "Uh, where do I put the trays?" - it was so embarrassing.
Accommodation comes with thoughtful items:
Most hotels provide disposable toothbrushes, hair brushes, small packets of shampoo and shower gel. Theyāre replenished every day, making things incredibly convenient, so you donāt have to carry so much stuff with you.
Liquor convenience:
When buying your drinks, be they milk tea or bottled water, vendors usually give you a plastic bag to carry them and also provide straws. It makes taking them home a piece of cake!
Cost-effective taxi rides:
This is indeed something noteworthy. The fare for calling a taxi using an app on the mainland is so cheap itāll shock you. For short distances, the fares can be quite comparable to public buses.
Itās now where Iāve grown lazy walking around and constantly consider taking a taxi. But if you were doing that everyday back home in Taiwan, your personal finances would surely take a hit!
No added service charge when paying the bill
For most dining establishments, the final cost of the meals is just as written in the menu - thereās generally no need to add an additional service charge as high as 10% (as in most Taiwanese restaurants).
In conclusion, all these little details not only make your stay much easier but also inadvertently create habits of laziness; hahaha!
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I was also surprised we didn't have to clear our own trays. Though, I agree with clearing your own tray in places where you eat and run quickly. But it's pretty speechless that they don't provide disposable items. They talk about environmental protection, but no matter how much I bring my own reusable items, it can't offset the carbon emissions of a single private jet flight. I know disposable items aren't expensive, but with such a significant drop in convenience, it's really baffling if the room rates don't decrease. š¤®
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Just by seeing how you Taiwanese type, I can imagine your speaking tone is a bit cute.
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Hold on, you guys don't clear your trays after eating at KFC or McDonald's????
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If you haven't undergone their internal waste sorting training, you might cause more trouble for the cleaning staff. Your good intentions could even lead to them being penalized or having their pay docked.
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Taxi fares skyrocketing happened over 20 years ago. Back when the economy was at its best, taxis almost felt like an everyday mode of transport. Then, prices suddenly shot up to what they are now. These days, unless there's a special reason, taking a cab even once really stings your wallet.
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Just a quick, hesitant question: what's the starting fare?
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I used to clear my own trash at KFC and McDonald's (not to impose on others, just a personal habit). But I haven't done so in recent years. Because of waste sorting rules, the cleaning staff stopped me a few times, as I realized sorting it incorrectly could cause them more trouble.
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It's a bit different in mainland China due to the large population. If everyone cleared their own trays, cleaners might not have enough work, leading to layoffs.
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I've also been spoiled by life in mainland China. Cheap and readily available taxis are just one aspect. You should experience Taobao and Meituan! Every year before I go to the mainland, I start shopping on Taobao and have items delivered to my hotel. There, I can try everything on, make returns or exchanges, and then buy even more. If Taobao can't deliver in time during my last couple of days, I switch to Meituan for anything I need urgently. For example, once it was raining and I desperately needed rain boots to go out. I used Meituan, and they were delivered within half an hour ā my makeup wasn't even finished when the boots arrived!
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For urgently needed items like medicine, groceries, spices, or drinks, you can directly use Meituan or Alipay's Ele.me. If you don't feel like going out, Meituan delivers right to your door. For things you don't need immediately, like rain boots or umbrellas, you can shop on Taobao, taking your time to choose based on appearance and quality. I usually opt for items with free shipping, buy several at once to check their quality and see if I like them, and then return anything that's not to my liking or has issues.
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Please don't promote clearing trays at fast-food restaurants, thank you. What are people like us, who eat out specifically to avoid doing dishes, supposed to do?
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I'm referring to someone in the comments section, not the original poster (OP).
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In fast-food restaurants in a highly populous country like ours, if everyone cleared their own trays, owners would surely hire fewer staff. That's why we should definitely not clear them ourselves ā let's leave these manageable and often overlooked jobs for those who genuinely need them.
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Exactly! Some people think they're being so well-mannered, but in reality, it only benefits the capitalists. Ordinary people get no advantages, only disadvantages, like fewer job opportunities.
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Entrance fees for tourist attractions in 'Tianchao' (mainland China) are outrageously expensive.
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Most museums are free (though the Palace Museum isn't. But then again, it's the Forbidden City, so I'm happy to pay for that).
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Sometimes they even include two!
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When I visited Taiwan in the past, I stayed in a hotel with my relatives. They would make their beds perfectly neat every morning. Also, you're not allowed to have drinks on the subway there.
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You don't actually need to make your own bed in Taiwanese hotels... Your relatives might have OCD or be real neat freaks.