China's Souvenir 'Sales Ninjas': They'll Chase You For Blocks! (My Cardio Thanks You?) #VendorStalkersWTF
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Shenzhen Tip for Friends Planning a Visit:
- Taking the metro at 8 PM in Shenzhen, well, it's just jam-packed with office workers off work after a long day of hustle and bustle. I bet you can relate!
- Friendly Reminder: Being a big city, there might still be rush hour traffic at 8 PM in Shenzhen. If you don't like being jostled amidst the crowds, try to avoid this busy time if you can.
- Some friends might consider staying at "villages within city" – neighborhoods formed as older villages became engulfed by a rapidly expanding city. Sounds grounded (down-to-earth), but these places are really far from subway stations!
- Important Note: If your accommodation is located in a "village within city”, you're probably looking at regular and exhausting daily commutes. Living there means 10,000 steps (which is roughly between 5-7 kilometers) every day, just to get to/from a subway station.
- Also, let's get the talk out in the open - stay prices in Shenzhen ain't cheap. Paying roughly 300 RMB (45 USD) for one night in a hotel room? Good luck finding a decent sized room even with that much money spent. You could barely fit a suitcase in the room with enough space left for turning around.
- You Need to Be Prepared: As for accommodation, it's expensive in Shenzhen - especially in popular areas. Rooms here may be smaller in size than comparable rooms elsewhere when matched dollar-for-dollar. Look into pictures and reviews before booking a place to stay.
- Oh boy, living or spending some time in Shenzhen ain't all smooth-sailing, truly. Recalling how I survived back then, leaves even me feeling puzzled. Yet, this city has its unique charm, though, there are some pitfalls you ought to know about first thing.
- Taking the metro at 8 PM in Shenzhen, well, it's just jam-packed with office workers off work after a long day of hustle and bustle. I bet you can relate!
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The moment I open my eyes each day, I'm already thinking about earning 100 yuan for the landlord and 50 for social security.
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Exactly! It feels like you constantly need money for everything.
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Honestly, the biggest pressure in Shenzhen is housing. As a local, I own a place, so I'm quite comfortable. But I really empathize with those working here who don't own a home. If I had to rent with my current income, I can't even imagine how stressful it would be.
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Totally! The rent here is just so expensive.
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True! Even if you can afford a house in Shenzhen, it doesn't bring much happiness. It just doesn't feel like a place truly meant for living. Many areas are quite run-down.
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To be fair, Shenzhen is a good place for work.
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The subway in Shenzhen is still crowded even at 10:30 PM. The rat race there is just insane, it scares me.
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It is. Truly terrifying.
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A trip to Guangzhou makes me feel human again
. Shenzhen is all concrete and steel, and everyone's just slogging away like beasts of burden. -
Hahaha, so true! I didn't realize it before, but now that 'beast of burden' vibe is just overwhelming.
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Everything you said is true. I used to see all the hype about Shenzhen online and thought it was great. But after spending a few months there, I never want to go back. The sense of well-being is too low, and there's no feeling of belonging.
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Shenzhen definitely has its good points and plenty of job opportunities, but the grind is also very real.
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As long as I can make money, it's fine. What I earn in Shenzhen in a year is like five years' worth back home. I regret not coming sooner; it feels like all that time in my hometown was wasted.
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True, it's definitely a good place to make money.
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Despite everything, I still love it here. When others return after the New Year feeling down, I come back and finally feel at home. Lying in my little den in an urban village, rented with my own hard-earned money, gives me such a profound sense of security and peace. It's a kind of relaxation and ease that's hard to put into words. I've visited many cities and other countries, but only Shenzhen makes me feel truly grounded. Sometimes, I do feel a bit down when I see how successful people experience a different Shenzhen due to my own limitations, but deep down, I can't find a city that suits me better.
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Shenzhen really suits you! It's wonderful to be in a city you genuinely like.
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It's true, the competition is intense. And I feel like some of these 'workhorses' are becoming mentally unhealthy, making them difficult to be around.
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Fellow workers shouldn't make things difficult for each other.
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You're so right! The first time I saw everyone running to get into the elevator after exiting the high-speed rail station in Shenzhen, it absolutely terrified me.