Suzhou: Your Official 'DO NOT EVEN' List!!!!!
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If you're dining alone, they'll arrange a table just for you.
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I arrived at 9 AM yesterday, and it wasn't too crowded. In one day, I managed to visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, Pingjiang Road, Guanqian Street, and Shantang Street. I also listened to Pingtan opera and took a boat ride. Today, the first day of the holiday, I went to Jinji Lake and Hanshan Temple before heading back in the afternoon. It was quite a whirlwind, 'special forces' style tour hitting all the spots!
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Wow, sis, you packed in so much yesterday! It was probably less crowded then; today it's even more packed. I didn't even visit that many places yesterday and my feet were killing me.
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For a hand-rowed boat ride, head to Tongli Ancient Town. I'd call it a less crowded version of Pingjiang Road, but with wider canals. There's also the Nanyuan Teahouse; buy a tea for 38 or 58 yuan, go upstairs, and listen to Pingtan. The performance is quite good, and the best part is it's not too crowded.
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Tongli feels a bit far, though.
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There's absolutely nothing good to eat in Suzhou.
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I agree! (Though I'm open to hearing otherwise.)
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I only lasted 20 minutes on Pingjiang Road before I couldn't stand it and left. It was insanely crowded and way, way too commercialized.
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Which months are less crowded?
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Let me start over, @QianZhiDao, let's try to get all sorts of Suzhou introductions in every post. Suzhou? It's basically a giant, fake ancient 'City God Temple.' Full of newly built 'ancient' streets, dilapidated post-liberation private houses, run-down old buildings hastily painted with black roofs and white walls, and mock-antique renovations everywhere! Then there's the endless stream of internet-famous bamboo-tube milk tea, mung bean soup, and cheap tourist trinkets like qipaos, silk scarves, embroidery, and fans, all probably wholesale from Yiwu! It perfectly satisfies the fantasies of those, say from the far northwest, who don't know the real Jiangnan (like Yangzhou, Jiaxing, Wuxi, Shaoxing...) and have only been fed the romanticized, brainwashing textbook verses about Suzhou. It's just crowded and full of tourist traps. And the moment you step out of what feels like an un-air-conditioned Suzhou Railway Station, you're swarmed by countless illegal taxis!
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@QianZhiDao, please don't block me or ignore my replies! It really wasn't me who deleted it; it was the original poster of the note. It's all buried now, and I'm quite frustrated about it too.
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Yes, that's right.
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Can anyone recommend a good hotel or guesthouse?
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Just arrived this afternoon. It's really nice – a duplex, and the environment is good.
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Went to Pingjiang Road in the morning. It wasn't crowded and was still very beautiful.
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Around what time in the morning is it not too crowded?
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I'm wondering if it's super crowded these days as well? Also, could anyone advise on where it's more convenient to stay?
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Staying near the scenic spots is best! You can book a scooter
, you know? Just ride and stop wherever you like—it's the most convenient way to get around.