Poor Tourists, Richer Bills, Crappier Trips.
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Hello everyone! I want to share my "painful" experience from a recent vacation, and some insights I gained afterwards, hoping it can serve as a reminder for you all!
In the “May Day” holiday in 2023 (yes, that's when National Day holiday takes place), I was eager to go on a 4-day trip to Shanghai and Suzhou. Unfortunately, however, the Bund of Shanghai, with views of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the three famous landmarks (along the riverside), was crowded beyond description. The scenery was beautiful, but couldn’t compensate for the crowd. It was like a sea of people with nothing but heads everywhere you looked.
The Suzhou Old Street, a quite famous ancient commercial street, was even more exaggerating. In order to enter, people had to queue for two hours. I saw that situation and immediately decided to give up on going there!
Inside the famous classical gardens of Suzhou like the Humble Administrator’s Garden and Liuyuan, it was also extremely crowded. I felt that people were almost "stacked" together - chest against back of whoever was in front of them. The scene was truly indescribable.Since then, I solemnly promised myself: Next time, do not travel during China's public holidays.
Because, indeed, my suffering during the "holiday travels" was even worse than that brought about by working 9 till 5!
Important tip for friends visiting China:
Warning! Avoid going to popular cities and attractions during Chinese statutory holidays (such as the New Year, May Day or National Day). If you would rather seeing the sights than people's heads!- How can one avoid it? Travel on weekdays or at weekends. If possible, consider the slack season (for instance, during winter for some southern cities, or the non-busy spring-autumn seasons).
I found out later that most cities are worth traveling around in for 2 to 3 days. Now, I choose weekends or days taken off for annual leave, avoiding vacation times to travel (known as “counterflow traveling”).
The benefits of such actions are numerous:- Trains tickets, plane tickets? They're easily available and no need to fight for them!
- Hotels? Prices are normal and not crazy high like the last minute surges!
- Locations of interest? Crowds are sparse, making for a peaceful visit with plenty of time for photos without lengthy waits!
- Want to enjoy local delicacies? You don’t have to queue for long, making the trip all the happier.
It's rather tragic that us hard-working salaried workers:
- Earning less during our week days, exhausted from work, can only wait to use our vacations to travel
- But because everyone wants to go out during this time when crowds are larger, it renders travel costs higher and experiences poor! Just as they say "the rainy night adds insult to injury".
Instead, for those with flexible schedules such as freelancers, company owners, or retired seniors:
- They often enjoy better financial conditions and usually benefit from better services because they travel on the counter-flow. Their costs are also lower! Sigh, sometimes it appears unfair! But thinking about supply-demand relationship, the presence of many people does lead to price hikes, which is just how markets operate, unfortunately.
This made me ponder if we tend to follow the majority’s footsteps too much sometimes?
- As if a good university must be reached through the national entrance exams (which are highly competitive) and a stable job must be secured by working 9 till 5, all while everyone piles out for trips at the same holidays and enjoys shopping through live broadcasts online.
- Are these seemingly "mainstream" choices really the most cost-efficient?
What about approaching things from a different angle:
- For example, what if grades aren’t so great, but one excels in the arts or sports instead?
- Once experienced at work, could one’s knowledge and skills be transformed into content shared online, becoming a blogger or offering "knowledge-for-pay" (selling lessons or consultations based on your knowledge and experience)?
- Choosing to travel when its quieter and shopping in physical stores to pick out fitting items, could these alternatives make the journey smoother?
This reminded me of Simone de Beauvoir's (a famous French author and philosopher) views in “The Second Sex”. It feels like an upgraded version where:
- So-called "lucky people", might have simply been compelled from an early age to think independently according to their realities, continuously trying, adjusting direction.
- And the "unfortunate people" perhaps are those easily led by surroundings and crowds, rarely needing independent thought and so risk-free, yet easy to become mediocre and lose uniqueness.
#BusyHolidays #LifeIsAnExperience #Beauvoir #MeaningOfLife #Human freedom #JustJumpAndStayOnTarget
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What? Hotels for the rich cost way more than what you're talking about.
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I think what she's trying to say is that ordinary people, or those with less money, often have to travel during peak holidays, meaning they face much higher price markups than wealthy people who also have more flexible schedules.
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If you're rich, you can sip tea for over 400 yuan per person in Shanghai's financial district, no need to cram into Duoyun Bookstore (where coffee is at least 32 yuan). Or go to J Hotel for the night view – a four-course meal starts at 398 yuan per person, and you might not even feel full. Stay at Suzhou's Dongshan Hotel with direct access to Qi Garden; after they clear it for guests at 5 PM, you can sit by Taihu Lake watching the sunset. There's even an inscription by a Singaporean Prime Minister nearby – you can share his awe at the magnificent scenery. Or stay at Nanyuan Hotel and snap photos with a pavilion as a backdrop in its private garden. It's all about what money can buy.
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I couldn't tell if the author is rich or poor. The title made me think they were rich, but after reading the article carefully, I'm leaning towards them being poor.
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That's why it's better to travel during the off-season, not when it's hot and packed during peak times. Prices can be double or even triple the off-season rates, but the experience doesn't improve with the cost. In fact, during peak season, you see more 'travel warning' posts about bad service, huge crowds, and endless queues. We're not looking for overpriced, show-offy 'Instagrammable' spots; we just want service and experiences that match what we pay for. Have the comments here gone off-topic and misinterpreted the author's original intention?
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But some seasonal sights can only be experienced during peak season, right?
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The biggest difference between the poor and the rich is whether they have freedom over their own time.
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I stay in hotels that cost 3700 a day. What about you?
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37 yuan a day.
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I really don't dare to go out during public holidays.
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Totally agree, going out is just too exhausting!
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Honestly, you're a working adult now, so there's no need to write like it's a school essay—padding the middle with filler and trying to end on some profound note that you can't quite reach. It's like trying to take down a bull with a pocket knife.
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The 'rich people' in your title and the examples you provide don't align at all. Freelancers, retirees, and even many small business owners aren't necessarily wealthy; some might even be in debt. Your title should really be about how people with flexible schedules can get better experiences for less money.
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Freedom with your time AND your finances.
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When I travel back to China, I always go during the off-season. I stay in five-star hotels, and it's never too crowded wherever I go. Compared to those who can only travel during peak season, I find it offers much better value for money.
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Exactly. I always take my vacation days to travel during the off-season now. On public holidays, I just stay home, play video games, and sip tea.
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Once you have kids, though, it's a whole different story. You can often take them out of kindergarten, but not so easily with elementary school. Then you're pretty much stuck traveling only during school holidays.
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International schools are usually quite flexible with taking leave.