Suzhou's So Pretty, But Honestly? The Commercial Overload Was a Total Letdown 💔
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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.