Suzhou: A Local's Guide to Not Getting Screwed.
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Alright, no problem! Here’s a “Survival Guide to Suzhou from a Local Perspective,” ensuring that you understand and enjoy your experience, preventing any culture shock or discomfort!
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I know my words may not sound pleasant. Those with sensitive hearts may wish not to read on. If you only want to argue, whatever you say is right. Okay?
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Let me start with hairy crab noodles (dumplings covered with sauce made from fresh hairy crabs):
- Take note: In Suzhou, freshly harvested hairy crabs, a very famous freshwater crab variety, are only available from August to November. Think about it — can the so-called fresh crabs in other months truly be genuine? Most likely they are frozen.
- Will you really relish the fishy taste of frozen crabs? Only in high-end restaurants with good reviews should you try them, if you must; avoid those cheap roadside eateries selling bowls for just several tens of yuan at scenic spots.
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Then let's talk about the Suzhou traditional dishes:
- We locals have been growing up with this sweetness in our dishes. For example, we always put some sugar while stir-frying vegetables; otherwise, they don't taste good without sugar.
- Another popular dish is the cold green mung bean soup, containing green mung beans, glutinous rice, and mint water.
- Warning: If you cannot stomach sweet foods such as sweet noodles, sweet buns, and sweet meat dishes, choose suitable restaurants yourself. Imagine how terrible an experience if you travel with pain plus indigestion! Don’t risk it, and don’t blame us for bad taste, because locals don’t consume spicy food either but we still believe spicy food is delicious.
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About famous scenic spots:
- Suzhou Museum must always be reserved in advance!
- You may encounter too many tourists at Zhanzhen Garden (a famous garden). We prefer Lotus Garden or Wangshi Garden, which get less crowded.
- Indeed, Suzhou gardens all provide same scenery, but they offer the experience of moving landscapes. If a crowd blocks every step, what’s the fun?
- Honestly, if you don’t appreciate traditional Chinese gardens much, it’s better to go to Xiyuan Temple (a temple) to take photos with the ticket price of CNY 5, a good value for money!
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Travel season:
- Reminder: never come to Suzhou during major national holidays! It gets very crowded. We locals avoid unnecessary outings on weekends, even for grocery shopping.
- Believe me, really, crowds here are terrible! If you want a pleasant vacation, it's best to visit on weekdays. Just heed my advice so you won’t experience crowds upon arrival; the experience is terrible. Even we locals opt to stay at home then!
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About taxis:
- Some drivers downtown might have a bad attitude especially in congested locations in the city center. I get frustrated while driving there too.
- If you run into a rude driver, use Service Hotline 12315 to complain! Use your phone and be vocal.
- Better use public transport such as metro or bus to save your time and temper.
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Taste preference:
- If your taste buds prefer heavy flavors especially something hot, then you will likely be disappointed in Suzhou. Bring some spicy sauce from home, just in case.
There aren’t many unique dishes from other regions here. Most side streets near scenic spots sell tourists souvenirs and taste mediocre. However, some local small eateries (we call them “small restaurant”) serve delicious yet authentic dishes; you could find some by luck.
- If your taste buds prefer heavy flavors especially something hot, then you will likely be disappointed in Suzhou. Bring some spicy sauce from home, just in case.
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Weather:
- Warning: Do not visit during winter, especially rainy days. Although temperatures are mild, dampness invades your bone marrow and feels like rain is seeping into every crevice of the body, leaving toes numb.
April around is suitable, with little rain and mild temperature. I recommend avoiding summer since its scorching heat is intolerable.
- Warning: Do not visit during winter, especially rainy days. Although temperatures are mild, dampness invades your bone marrow and feels like rain is seeping into every crevice of the body, leaving toes numb.
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Traditional pastry shops:
- A few old women who operate pastry shops may sound unkind, and some do have a bad attitude. We locals admit this, and they do not become nicer when visitors speak in the Suzhou dialect.
- Occasionally, we retort back in response.
- Consider this: usually, such shops tend to price competitively while providing authentic dishes. Some places offer good service and amenities, but costs are much higher. Choice is yours.
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Old town experience:
- Old City area is narrow and congested. This is due to restrictions on urban planning to protect the many ancient buildings and heritage sites. If you prefer wide avenues and new city zones, almost all cities in China are the same. Suzhou’s parks and new city areas are like this as well.
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In conclusion, if you feel uncomfortable with these honest opinions read above, it might be better not to visit Suzhou; spending money yet having a bad travel experience is fruitless. #Avoid_traps #Survival_guide #Pitfalls_of_Suzhou_travel #Suzhou #Travel_survival_guide_to_Suzhou #Avoid_pitfalls
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I've summarized the snacks and restaurants everyone recommended. Feel free to add more to the list. I'll be deleting discussions and off-topic posts, so please start a new thread for those. My personal recommendations: Zhu Xinnian for their tangtuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) and tangbao (soup dumplings), Yaba Shengjian (pan-fried pork buns), Paopao Wonton & Shengjian, Xin Zhenyuan Shengjian. There's also a tiny pastry shop behind the market at Shantangjie Metro Station selling shuangniangtuan (double-stuffed sweet rice balls), luobotuan (radish balls), cimaotuan (glutinous rice balls with water caltrop), and huangsonggao (yellow pine cake). Also, Jiangnan Yachu at Suzhou Center. Others recommended: Zhu Xinnian's fried fish noodles. An egg-filled pancake stall south of Renmin Bridge. White cut chicken from the market at Shantangjie Metro Station. Zhu Xinnian's shengjian and tangbao. Xiaoyuanlou on Baita West Road. Near Soochow University Tiancizhuang Campus on Moye Road: Yimengshan Fried Chicken and Chuanyu Yijiaqin. From Wangtianjing Alley: date paste cake (lard flavor). From Guanqian Street: youzanzi (fried dough twists, seaweed flavor). Luxihe's original flavor crispy mung bean pastry. Lüshantang Wontons on Fengmen Road. These are all user recommendations. Some users have disabled comments, so I can't @ everyone individually. Thanks for your understanding.
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Your recommendations are all great! I'd add Gu Ting Restaurant; I think it's delicious too.
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What?! Are crab roe noodles really not good? I'm heading to Suzhou on April 19th. Not planning on Humble Administrator's Garden or the museum since I know they'll be crowded. I have a sweet tooth, so any other restaurant recommendations? Don't worry if I don't like the food; I won't complain. The whole point of traveling is to try different things!
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Honestly, the museum is worth a visit. Book your tickets early and go as early in the day as possible; it's less crowded then. As for food, check out the comments section – many users on social media have already shared their recommendations.
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The OP's points are very fair, let me add a few thoughts. Tourists come to Suzhou seeking their ideal Suzhou, not necessarily the Suzhou locals live in. So, a thousand tourists will have a thousand different ideal Suzhous. Why does everyone fixate on crab roe noodles and the Humble Administrator's Garden? Or immediately order Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish? That used to be a dish for special occasions; would ordinary Suzhou people eat it regularly? How about learning about the 'Eight Aquatic Delicacies'? People flock to Humble Administrator's Garden, but why not the Lion Grove Garden next door? Is it the higher ticket price? Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street are free, so they're packed with tourists, affecting residents' daily lives. Old Suzhou locals are being forced to move out. If Suzhou loses its local people, is it still Suzhou? What's the point of tourists coming then?
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Yes, I feel like today's Suzhou has been 'standardized' and somewhat demonized. I still remember when I was a child, we'd visit the gardens, order a cup of green tea or a bowl of lotus root starch in the teahouse, and quietly gaze at the scenery outside, enjoying that centuries-old tranquility. When people travel, they should seek what they truly desire. Is it just about 'checking in' at those inexplicable Insta-worthy spots to prove they've been there? Do you have to eat Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish? Most people aren't used to sweet and sour fish. I don't travel often, but when I do, I do my research to find what's characteristic of the city, or I just wander aimlessly, with no specific goal, just to unwind.
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It's like not eating spicy food is a crime nowadays, and speaking Suzhou dialect is considered xenophobic.
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But many older people can't speak Mandarin, or they speak Suzhou-accented Mandarin, which is basically incomprehensible.
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Sis, will it be crowded during the summer holidays in June or July?
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Yes, it will be. Lots of families with kids. The problem is, Suzhou gets incredibly hot in June and July. People from the north might not be used to it.
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I was just telling my husband yesterday, as soon as the holidays hit, I'm going to see a flood of posts warning people to avoid Suzhou again.
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Seriously, it makes me mad seeing those. I've said it a million times, but they just have to go and do it.
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Having been there, I totally agree! After my trip, I really miss Suzhou's pastries. They have a flavor you just can't find in the north. I miss them!
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Especially the variety! As a local, I only eat one kind: 'huangsonggao' (yellow pine cake). It's sweet, not oily or greasy. Older folks like 'zhuyougao' (lard cake), and they even like to dip it in egg batter and fry it.
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Ningbo folks say nothing; they just silently steer clear.
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Haha, 'Gangboning' (Ningbo people)!
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Seriously, I keep seeing posts warning about Suzhou... and then people talk about crab roe noodles. Where are you going to find fresh crab at this time of year? It's definitely all frozen!
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Sis, what can I wear for May Day? What's the temperature like?
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Excuse me, I'm planning to take an elderly person in a wheelchair. Where would be a good place to see Suzhou's scenery? I was originally thinking of Humble Administrator's Garden, but your post has made me reconsider. So, any suggestions on where to go?