Suzhou's So Pretty, But Honestly? The Commercial Overload Was a Total Letdown 💔
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Actually, I visited Suzhou once and it left a lasting impression on me. There are so many stunning gardens, it's almost overwhelming. Absolutely beautiful! I'm planning to go back in '25 to experience the gardens in springtime.
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Wow, your photo really captures a great vibe!
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Pingjiang Road is completely ruined now... It wasn't like this at all when I was in middle school. There weren't so many identical, unoriginal shops. It used to be very quiet, the canal banks weren't so overly manicured, and you'd often see students sketching. Walking the whole length was so pleasant. Now it's just a chaotic mess. I saw a new Russian shop in the middle section and almost fainted in disbelief.
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Hahahaha, I saw that Russian shop too!
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Suzhou has more than just one ancient street. If you only go to Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street, what do you expect? South of Pingjiang Road, the area from Guan Taiwei River to Shengjia Dai also features the classic street-and-canal layout and isn't commercialized – did you visit it? Did you explore the northern section of Shantang Street, the part without tourist traps? Do you even know why Guanqian Street is named so? It's because of the Xuanmiao Temple, home to the largest Southern Song Dynasty wooden structure south of the Yangtze River, plus ancient relics like the Three Unique Steles and Fang Xiaoru's Uninscribed Stele. Did you even bother to see those? You've barely scratched the surface and you're already telling people to 'avoid it'! I really don't know what you're looking for!
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Speaking of which, the residential area in the northern part of Shantang Street was recently slammed and people were advised to avoid it. The complaints were: 'at night, there's nobody around, nothing to see, you can't get a taxi, it's pitch black, and I was scared to death!'... Then you have posts from people who ventured into the back alleys, complaining that Suzhou is 'run-down, old, and ancient' and should be avoided... It's quite ridiculous, really.
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To be fair, your expectations might have been a little off. Shantang Street was historically a commercial street. While Xuanmiao Temple within Guanqian Street is indeed the largest Song Dynasty wooden structure in southern China, the street itself was also a commercial hub that developed around the temple. Pingjiang Road's main thoroughfare has certainly become quite commercialized. If you're looking for a more authentic local atmosphere, you either need to go very early in the morning or venture into the many side alleys that branch off it. Turn into one of those, and you'll instantly find yourself away from the crowds and noise.
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Mmmhmm, that explanation makes sense to me now.
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We've all escaped to the mountains in Zhejiang instead.
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This is awesome!
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I went to Suzhou yesterday, and I have to say, it's so much better than Hangzhou!
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How's the scenery there recently? I'm planning to visit after the 10th day of the Lunar New Year.
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It's a catch-22, really. If it's not commercialized, it won't attract people. No people means no money, and no money means no maintenance.
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Suzhou needs to learn from Japan on how to blend commerce with tradition. In China, many attempts at such integration end up feeling very disjointed.
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It's truly beautiful.
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Where is this?
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Even though I'm a Suzhou local, I can't find much fault with what you're saying; I mostly agree.
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Suzhou was more fun back in my childhood, during the 80s and 90s. It really had that authentic 'Old Suzhou' charm.