Suzhou: Total Letdown. No, Really.
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Hey there! Let me first clarify, I have absolutely no intention to look down on any place at all! It's just that I've always lived in the north, and thus have constantly yearned for a poetic life reminiscent of a "misty south," such as that in southern Jiangnan.
You see, Jiangnan (literally “south of the Yangtze River”) is well-known for its waterside rural settings, picturesque gardens, and scenery shrouded in enchantment, very different from the arid atmosphere in northern China.
Some time ago, I finally set foot in my much anticipated Suzhou.
- Initial amazement and subsequent disappointment
- I visited several famous attractions, like Qili Tang Street, where this is an ancient street that follows along a river.
- Upon initial sight, wow, it just looked so amazing! As it’s rare to witness such a landscape of tranquil waterways and gentle bridges in the northern region, we were all taken aback.
- However, further wandering made us realize that it felt a tad too commercial, with shopping stalls and hawkers popping out everywhere.
- Stepping back into reality from the garden
- Emerging from a classical garden (the gardens in Suzhou are widely known!), we stood by the roadside waiting for our ride.
- Instantly, an impression surfaced: There didn’t seem to be much difference between here and other cities!
- In the south as well, roads are paved asphalt, marred by potholes, vehicles come and go, delivery men skillfully weave through traffic on electric scooters.
- The contrast between ideals and realities
- Do you understand what I experienced?
- Sure, this is fairly normal. After all, with Suzhou's advanced economy, urbanization is to be expected. It wouldn't make sense if everywhere is still outdated.
- Nevertheless, this reality is starkly dissimilar to my cherished, timeless vision of Jiangnan, infused with poetic sentiment. Frankly speaking, I was a bit disappointed, as if something had been lost.
Travel tips (especially for the fans of vintage charm):
- Expectation management: A lot of well-known ancient towns or sights in Jiangnan may well manifest a touch of commercialism now.
- Mental preparation: Even amid historic cities, modern cityscapes are everywhere. Should one wish to completely bypass contemporary vibes, it might be necessary to dig up some lesser-known or remote locations.
Therefore, allow me to inquire: have you discovered any more unadulterated sites that better reflect the originality of Jiangnan culture? Your recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
#Suzhou #TravelSpotlight #TravelRecommendation #JiangnanAdventure - Initial amazement and subsequent disappointment
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I just visited, and perhaps my expectations were too high. I won't be going back. That's all there is to it.
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It felt quite similar to a winding street with a stream in Jinan (I can't recall the name), so I was also quite disappointed.
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Well, there are some plain, ordinary streets too. But when you're planning a trip, you're bound to focus on the tourist spots, and those are inevitably commercialized.
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Not exactly. This strong feeling wasn't so much about the tourist spots. My hotel wasn't near them, so just walking on ordinary streets, it felt very much like being in northern China – the shops lining the roads, people busy cycling to work.
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You must be talking about the kind of alleyways (longtang) from my childhood... The Shilu area has changed so much in recent years with road widening, relocations, and redevelopment. It's just not the same.
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Yeah, I was just hoping to see those charming little streets and bridges.
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Sounds so beautiful! I'll keep that in mind.
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What you can't accept, what disappoints you, are the scenes of local people's everyday lives. In a modern city, outside of the designated scenic areas, people have no obligation to live up to some idealized, 'untouched by the mundane world' image that tourists might have in their minds.
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Exactly.
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I completely understand you. Honestly, many northerners don't really connect with this kind of southern scenery. I've visited many ancient towns in Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Overall, Zhejiang's towns felt more like the 'misty, rainy Jiangnan' ideal than Jiangsu's, but I still found them pretty ordinary, nothing special. Anyway, as a northerner, I just can't seem to appreciate it. And I'm not even from the super far north. I truly don't have any bias against these places; these are just my genuine feelings.
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That's exactly it. Plus, I'm from Tianjin and had never been to the south. I'd been dreaming of visiting since I was little, but when I finally went, I realized it wasn't all that different from the north.
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I probably shouldn't say this, but the 'esteemed' people of Suzhou might get defensive. If you want to experience the essence of Jiangnan combined with a modern metropolis, I'd recommend Hangzhou, or Nanjing is a good alternative too.
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Oh, I visited Nanjing too while I was at it.
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Shaoxing! Shaoxing! It fulfilled all this northerner's fantasies about the South!
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Loved it! Planning to go for a second time during summer vacation!
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Girl, where is this? It's gorgeous!
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Just got back from Suzhou, and I'm honestly at a loss for words (and not in a good way). Of all the tourist cities I've visited, Suzhou is the only one where the scenic areas have practically no subway access. The city roads are congested, and the taxi drivers are incredibly rude, always losing their temper. Forget about getting a taxi or taking the subway; there weren't even any share bikes. They say the scenic spots are close to each other, but 'close' means one or two kilometers. You're already doing a ton of walking within the attractions, and after you finish one, there's no transportation to get to the next. For a girl, walking that much is truly, truly draining.
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@摆烂咸鱼也翻身