Three Days. Something Bad Every. Single. Day. Nope, Never Again.
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Alas, my recent trip to Suzhou left me with a complex brew of emotions, mulling over the incidents and feeling quite frustrated late into the night, which I feel compelled to vent about. I had hoped for that "Misty Jiangnan" atmosphere, the poetic and dreamy sense of romantic, foggy waterscapes of the Jiangnan region, but the following happened instead...
Nightmare Accommodations
Our initial stay was at an apartment-style hotel. It just so happened that on our departure day, the hotel manager messaged us via WeChat (a super-popular chatting app in China) to inquire whether we wanted to extend our stay as check-out time had arrived, yet we were asleep with our phones set on silent and did not receive any notification.
However, be cautious! Can you guess what happened next? The hotel manager proceeded to come into our room by simply opening the door using their spare key! Thankfully, I had placed the safety chain on the door before sleeping or else we would have been truly startled, thinking there was a burglar. What's wrong with making a call anyway? Who can guarantee one sees a notification instantly upon receiving it? This experience was terrifying.
Rental Vehicle Controversy
Before leaving, we read some guides which mentioned that there were no shared electric bicycles in Suzhou and renting one would be more convenient. Thus, we decided to find out about rental options.
After asking around at several places, we found the prices to be unappealing and the deposit fees costly. We then concluded that opting for a taxi was just as fine. As we turned away, beware! The shop owner behind us uttered quite an array of impolite words at us. We returned to question them about why they cursed us when we had done nothing to provoke such an act. They displayed an impatient demeanor and instructed us to leave after a minute of argument. This situation is absurd: they had no valid reason to insult us, yet they prevented us from even having the decency to discuss.
Annoying Shopping Encounter (One)
I recall this incident taking place near Hanshan Temple—the well-known temple due to ancient poetry referring to it as a place where night-bell sounds can reach passenger boats.
We observed a woman leaving a small stall while the owner continued to verbally harass her, which puzzled us. When we approached the stall after her departure to ask about the pricing of items, we deemed the price too high and left without purchasing anything.
Then, be wary! The owner started to verbally assault us as well! This was the first time encountering such conduct from a staff member in a shop. We immediately rebutted: "If we purchase or not is up to us; it's our own option! We don’t have to adhere to any forced purchases!" Afterward, someone invited us into another nearby store, but my gut instinct told me something felt off and that we should leave right away.
Annoying Shopping Encounter (Two)
Still in Hanshan Temple, I wanted to purchase a fan emblazoned with "Harmony Deities" patterns—Chinese traditional deities symbolizing unity and marital harmony.
I was not acquainted with specific meanings of this pattern and thus asked the aunt selling fans. But the seller met us with a disrespectful attitude, mockingly saying we should have done our research before coming. They were so condescending. In the end, they still couldn't explain what the symbolism of the fan really represented, I have doubts whether she understood its true meaning herself!
(Side Tip: Instead, visiting Xiyuan Temple is much more pleasant, with tranquil surroundings and cute cats there, offering a better experience.)Outrageous Taxi Driver Statements
At one point, in conversation with the driver during a taxi ride, he suddenly stated the phrase "Villages breed miscreants." This sentence could imply that regions considered lagging behind or underdeveloped have low-quality residents. He then began bragging about the prosperity of Suzhou at present, the raised salaries for bus drivers leading to improved quality and wealth within the region.
Back then, I questioned if there is a distinction between kindness and wickedness solely based upon money. I believe many rural people exhibit sincerity, kind-heartedness, etc., implying this statement to be highly self-righteous.
Bicycle Theft
In the evening, we intended to buy some items. With difficulty, we finally managed to find a bicycleshare vehicle and rode to a dessert place.
We thought we would enter briefly for purchases before leaving the store quickly hence not locking the bicycle. However, pay attention here! After entering the store for no more than half a minute, we heard giggling outside, and then the sound disappeared. I immediately sensed that something was wrong and rushed outside to see the bicycle stolen! It was really disheartening. I admit that my awareness of theft prevention was indeed lacking due to never experiencing the situation before where a bicycle had been taken away just shortly after being found, but these shared bike thieves are unbearable! Eventually, we were stranded far from our hotel.
Other Minor Gripes
For example, while eating fried chicken, the store did not provide disposable gloves, and at moments when shopping, we sensed hostility amongst vendors (what could be called as “saying things ambiguously and unsympathetically”).
Overall, this travelogue paints Suzhou with a negative brush, contrasting it against initial romantic expectations which seemed to shatter as soon as I landed. There were numerous frustrating situations encountered during this trip to Suzhou.