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Cathy Gulgowski

@Cathy Gulgowski
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  • Let me tell you... Hangzhou is a food desert
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    Let me tell you... Hangzhou is a food desert 1

    So if anyone can tell me what's good to eat in Hangzhou, PLEASE let me know! My Sichuan-Chongqing stomach is about to explode. #FoodieTalk #DeliciousPlaces #FoodSavesTheWorld #HangzhouExploration #HangzhouCuisine

    If you're coming from the spicy food-loving world of Sichuan or Chongqing, Hangzhou might not be your cup of tea. Hangzhou’s cuisine (called Hang帮cai) tends to be light, fresh, and sweet—completely opposite to the fiery, numbing flavors we love back home. And trust me, it’s hard to find a decently spicy meal here unless you go to a chain restaurant.

    For those unfamiliar, Hangzhou is a city famous for its natural beauty like West Lake and Thousand Island Lake, but when it comes to food, well... let's just say it leaves something to be desired for us spice enthusiasts.

    Some suggestions that others have mentioned:

    • Try the Thousand Island Lake Fish Head Soup. It’s pretty solid, though beware—it comes in MASSIVE portions!
    • If all else fails, hit up McDonald’s or KFC and ask them to pile on extra spice.

    But seriously, if you’re craving Sichuan/Chongqing-level spiciness, maybe skip Hangzhou and head straight to Chengdu or Chongqing instead.

    General Discussion hangzhou

  • Latest Update: Shanghai-Fujian-Taiwan Group Tours Dead in the Water!
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    As expected.

    General Discussion taiwan

  • Quanzhou: The Mainland City That's Basically Taiwan.
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    Quanzhou is so boring...

    General Discussion taiwan

  • Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess!
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess! 7

    Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess! 6

    Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess! 5

    Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess! 4

    Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess! 3

    Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess! 2

    Shenzhen Has NO Bike Lanes?! WTF, It's a Total Mess! 1

    Sure, no problem! Now let me explain to you about Shenzhen – it is a place with plenty of good food to enjoy, but its transportation can be quite complex and somewhat challenging.

    Since I'm here for work, I now reside in Shenzhen, which is a large city in southern China known for its advanced technology. Thankfully, my accommodation is only two kilometers away from both the company and project location.

    Regarding the transportation:
    • Shared electric scooters, which you could ride simply by scanning a QR code, are abundant around the city and rather convenient.
    ○ However, it's priced at RMB¥3 for every ten minutes; that seems slightly expensive.
    ○ ⚠️ A word of caution! There are two things you must pay attention to when riding an electric scooter:
    • First, head protection is mandatory!
    • Second, carrying passengers on these vehicles is strictly forbidden!
    • If caught by the traffic police, even if for the first time, the penalty is RMB¥200; no second chances there! (This was told by a local friend of mine, though I haven't been arrested myself yet, hehe.)
    ○ Additionally, I tried taking the late night bus, at a similar fare of RMB¥3 per trip.

    In terms of urban construction and traffic experience:

    • The greening of cities in Shenzhen indeed deserves an applause, since greenery is everywhere. 👍

    • Nevertheless, the width of the roadside greenbelts feels too excessive, and bike lanes or "non-motorized vehicle lanes" are scarce.

     • Consequently, motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians all share one path, with private e-bikes or bikes everywhere as well! It's all pretty chaotic over here.
     • I can't imagine how people who commute by bike feel every single day, so frazzled and agitated.
     • Talking further, regarding the special walking path for blind people, it appears to be nothing more than a showpiece, with many portions occupied. Therefore, it may discourage blind individuals from going out alone.
     • Besides, the rules on signals in this city vary from where I previously resided such as Zhengzhou in the North.
          • At certain intersections where pedestrian crosswalks will simultaneously light up in two directions, all cars will need to come to a full stop and then wait, adding a layer of safety.
    

    • Moreover, in most cases, the vehicular traffic yields the way for the pedestrians. This is indeed worth some praise!

    A couple of petty complaints:

    • Overhead speakers on public buses still promote not to be obsessed with mobile phones, appreciating beautiful sceneries instead.
    • I wonder what scenery can be clearly seen when looking up - tall skyscrapers or the messy roads mentioned above. 🤔
    • Therefore, despite being an international metropolis with vibrant economy, this disordered setting certainly detracts from its allure and impression.

    Food Recommendations (you deserve them!):

    • For lunch, I tried "Fei Da Chu," a renowned Hunanese restaurant specializing in spicy dishes. It tasted spectacular!
    • In the evening, I sampled "Sinking Jade." Although mainly an institution dedicated to Cantonese dimSum and tea drinking, the establishment had fewer dining customers than expected, enabling me to enjoy their offerings without long waiting queues.

    Shenzhen Dwellers:
    • Shenzhen natives are wonderful- they have soft voices with pleasant accents and remain friendly even to strangers. It indeed made a great impact on my visit considering the quality of human relationships.

    Housing & Surroundings:
    • Located close to Yuanfang Tiandi mall in Longhua District, this complex is said to be among largest malls in Shenzhen! When I visited in the evening, it exceeded my expectations, being both spacious and brimming with famous brands.
    • Sadly, due to the short notice and tight schedule provided for the business trip, I haven't been able to explore areas too distant nor did I manage to appreciate all its features.

    General Discussion shenzhen

  • Guangzhou Getaway? Wanna Hear It From a Local?
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    Haha, some of the places often flagged in 'avoid this' posts are actually spots I frequent. I always think, 'Great, you all stay away!' Honestly, there isn't that much difference, and even if there is, tourists probably wouldn't notice. Waiting in long lines is really unnecessary.

    General Discussion canton

  • How Many Has This Noodle Bowl TRICKED?! Southerner's First Northern Oil-Splashed Noodles = Total System SHUTDOWN!
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    Wow, this kind of thing still happens? Taxis at Chongqing airport and train stations are supposed to use the meter. This is the first time I've encountered a taxi from a designated stand intentionally inflating the fare. If there's a clearly posted surcharge, that's one thing. But if they feel the wait time is too long, they simply shouldn't queue up at these places for passengers.

    General Discussion canton

  • Guangzhou? Yeah, I'm Good. Won't Be Back.
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    No, pats head, sweetie. Take your time with subletting the apartment. The important thing is not to stay up late; make sure you get good sleep. And hey, you're not leaving 'dejectedly' – you bravely gave it a shot!

    General Discussion canton

  • Beijing 'Gege' Glam: Your Guide to Avoiding the Costume Catastrophe!
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    I wore jeans.

    General Discussion beijing

  • Beijing: So, Street Sleeping... Can I Actually Do That?
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    I recommend this hotel. It's not too far from the subway station and it's near the Temple of Heaven.

    General Discussion beijing

  • Hangzhou Peeps: For Real, You ALL Like This?!
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    Okay, but I don't quite get the logic behind 'Since we're budget traveling, we decided to head to Hangzhou...'

    General Discussion hangzhou

  • My Hangzhou Travel Grab Bag
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    I don't think it's very far, probably around half an hour.

    General Discussion hangzhou

  • Shanghai Bound! What's your ONE "OMG, Don't!" tip?
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    Don't bother with The Bund at night. You can also see the Pudong skyline by taking a city walk along Suzhou Creek.

    General Discussion shanghai

  • Shanghai: A Friendly WTF Warning
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    You've hit the nail on the head, but you're describing folks with families and kids. For us recent graduates, the job market is already tough. On top of that, our entry-level salaries barely cover food and rent. Even after landing a job, finding a partner is difficult when you're all alone out here. And even if you're lucky enough to find someone, affording a house is still out of reach.

    General Discussion shanghai

  • WTF Does This Sign Say?! Urgent Translation Needed! #ChinaTravel #LostInTranslation
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    WTF Does This Sign Say?! Urgent Translation Needed! #ChinaTravel #LostInTranslation 1

    Hi there, friends planning to travel and have fun in Suzhou, hear me out!

    Just returned from the famous Liu Yuan Garden, a super famous classical garden in Suzhou. The scenery is indeed beautiful, but my experience buying tickets... Oh man, I almost wanted to perform a "I am torn apart" show right there on the spot!

    • Wish to collect paper tickets? Take note:

      • Buying physical tickets at the ticket window only accepts cash! I'm not kidding, this is cash-only even though mobile payments are popular everywhere!

      • Can’t you buy online? Yes, you can get electronic tickets through various apps, but you won't be able to get those cherished physical tickets then! You know, there are folks like me who enjoy collecting them as souvenirs. This practice really confuses people.

    • No cash? Oops, there's “surprise” waiting for you:

      • So thinking of changing cash at nearby stalls should work, right? But it turns out, they charge an exorbitant 12% handling fee! Wow, that’s worse than robbing!
    • Service quality... you know the drill:

      • I just don't understand why, with such advanced technology nowadays, everyone is using QR code payments; yet, here they’re sticking to old ways.
      • Besides, the staff at the ticket counter were quite cold in demeanor (not exactly uncooperative, but they seemed to be busy discussing something else on their computers or printing stuff while we were queuing, giving a rather unfriendly vibe). It was not until an elderly lady ahead in line insisted they help us purchase tickets as many others were eager to enter the garden, that they started dealing with us – albeit slowly and without a smile.

    ⚠️ Important! Important! Important! Reminder for those heading to Liuyuan Garden:

    • If you, like me, have a passion for paper tickets, remember: Make sure to prepare cash in advance!

    • Don't think about exchanging money at the entrance; that handling fee could really sting you.

    • How do you avoid this?

      • Prepare cash beforehand.
      • Or if electronic tickets are okay with you, do a prior purchase through official channels or reliable travel apps, which saves you a lot of trouble!

    I hope my complaint can help others avoid these pitfalls! Suzhou is still lots of fun, just that ticketing experience at Liu Yuan is... Ugh, I hope it gets improved soon!
    #LiuYuanGardenComplaints #SuzhouTravelTips #AvoidPitfallsGuide #SuzhouTourismTips

    General Discussion suzhou

  • This is NOT a Tourist Attraction! Seriously, Just DON'T!!!
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    The OP is 1000% not a local.

    General Discussion suzhou

  • Roasting Suzhou (Just a Smidge!)
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    I'm heading back to Suzhou now, anyone need a ride-share?

    General Discussion suzhou

  • Suzhou's So Pretty, But Honestly? The Commercial Overload Was a Total Letdown 💔
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    We've all escaped to the mountains in Zhejiang instead.

    General Discussion suzhou

  • Hangzhou: 3 Days, Ripped Off 3 Times!
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    There's more to this story, please see Part 2 (FYI, the OP isn't a pushover – those who deserved it have already faced the consequences).

    General Discussion hangzhou

  • So, THIS is a Hangzhou taxi?
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    You should try taking a taxi from Hongqiao Airport and telling the driver you're going to Hanghua. Let's see their reaction then.

    General Discussion hangzhou

  • Taiwanese Friend's Solo Trip Through Mainland China: City Takeaways (Part 1)
    C Cathy Gulgowski

    I was looking for this comment. You said it! / Take my upvote!

    General Discussion taiwan
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