Suzhou? Nah, Not For Me.

[Mr. Ryan Hermann]

Well, let me tell you, before going to Suzhou, I was so thrilled! I thought it would be a city that is particularly gentle and distinctive as a Water Town in the Southern China region. Plus, it must have developed well.

However, after visiting the place, oh my, I was so disappointed...

I'd like to give you all a heads-up, here are some things you might encounter in Suzhou:

• Endless honking!

  • Oh lord, the honking is non-stop. It's not just cars, but all those e-bikes (known as "electric donkeys" in China, a very common small electric motorcycle in Chinese cities) are also joining the honking craze.
  • If you are sensitive to noise, or if you are looking for a quiet area, this should definitely worry you.

• Narrow roads, crowded with vehicles, traffic chaos!

  • Many of the roads are quite narrow, with some places not even have dedicated lanes for bicycles or e-bikes (known as "electric donkey").
  • With lots of these "electric donkeys", the traffic felt like a chaotic mess, a bit like a "gang of devils dashing about".
  • When walking or cycling, beware, keep your eyes on every direction and your ears wide open!

Later on, I visited Shanghai, and wow, it's completely different from Suzhou! The world seemed to have muted itself, much more peaceful.