Couldn't agree more

Are you from a finance background?

This is so good. No matter how things are, it gives a feeling of hope.

Apparently, we can't even afford tea eggs.

I think the photos from their Haizhu branch turned out pretty bad. The Tianhe one seemed a bit better.

The experience was absolutely terrible! Yuexiu Park also hosts lantern festivals, and they don't prevent people from entering during the day! It's already May Day, they know so many people travel far to get there, and it's still fenced off. The traffic situation was chaotic too! I'm never going back there again in my life.

It's so muggy and hot, you can barely breathe just walking around. And today, university students have their fitness tests – they must be on the verge of collapse!

Perhaps you're not fond of water, or maybe it's even considered inauspicious for you according to some beliefs. If that's the case, you might find Beijing quite uncomfortable.

Totally! I just took a walk around my neighborhood today and, oh my god, 13,000 steps already!

As a Beijing local, I can't stand hearing people say Beijing is boring. You're here ticking off landmarks, but we actually live here – it's a totally different experience. Every time I'm back, I can never get enough of wandering around Beihai, Houhai, and Gulou! And I absolutely have to get a bowl of Yanji cold noodles from Minfu at Xianmen .

What a lovely description! Is it far to bike from Yongfu Temple to Yanggong Causeway?

Plus, the AC felt like it wasn't even on; it was incredibly stuffy inside the halls.

Why does everyone find Shanghai so expensive? Is 'consumption downgrading' really hitting the whole country that hard?

For xiaolongbao, go to Lao Sheng Xing or Lao Sheng Chang. They're cheap, delicious, and Shanghai locals have been eating there since they were kids.

As if they'd even want to marry you in the first place.

I especially love it when it's not crowded. Line 4 gets so packed during holidays. It's really nice to walk by the lake when there are fewer people, though it's a bit cold now.

Yeah, the portions are small and the taste is just so-so.

Hearing the phrase "Spring has not yet arrived, and it's wonderful timing for Jiangnan (South of the Wu River)," I was tempted to come here and experience what they call the "real Jiangnan".

During this Spring Festival holiday, it seems as if everyone in China agreed to visit Jiangsu Province together. What attracted me was that poetic description of beauty. However, I, a person accustomed to the dry cold winter days in the north, almost froze to stillness in the south! You might not believe it, but with two layers of thick thermal pants on, my bones still felt cold. This damp cold is like a "magical attack"; even with down jackets and cotton pants, you can't withstand it.

Warning for Travellers: Friends who plan to spend winter in the South, especially those from the North, need to pack your thickest clothing! The winter in the South feels much colder due to the damp conditions, and most homes aren't equipped with central heating like those in the North.

Day One: Ancient City District (Gusu District), Suzhou
I stayed at a Jumei Hotel near Guanqian Street, which is only a five-minute walk from the popular tourist attractions. But surprisingly, the streets were filled with people, blocking even the broader roads. It was so crowded on the bridges that many people couldn't enter. I toured around following the crowd before deciding to leave promptly.
In the evening, I visited a restaurant listed as one of the must-eat destinations according to the online reviews and ordered crab roe noodles. However, the crab roe wasn't fresh at all; it tasted hard and had a fishy smell. That dinner was the trigger for a gastrointestinal infection that plagued me during the next few days.

Day Two: Lion Grove Garden & New Urban Area
I had reserved accommodation near the famous Lion Grove Garden, but the taxi driver could not get close to the door, and I had to walk about half a kilometer through the cobblestone road with luggage. Upon arriving at the doorstep of the garden, I found that there were so many queuing people in front of its entrance that even the nearby convenience store was jam-packed. I immediately decided to ditch the house rental plans and transferred to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the new urban area instead.
Trap Warning When Booking Hotels: On a travel app, I paid 400 RMB more than the prices quoted by hotel receptions. Plus, when trying to cancel the reservation online, I found out I wouldn't be eligible for a refund!
On the second morning, I had to wait for half an hour to enjoy breakfast in the hotel. Although I haven’t experienced such long lines at a hotel breakfast before, let’s put that aside.
Around noon, I headed for a trendy restaurant ‘Wuyue Rongji’, seeking a taste of a special fish dish - 'Squirrel Mandarin Fish' (cooked in an innovative style that looks like a squirrel with a sour-sweet flavor). To my disappointment, the dishes served up were unacceptably cool, and after returning to my hotel room, I got food poisoning – the gastrointestinal infection was fully triggered!

Another Tip: As a forgetful fellow, I went to another “Michelin-recommended” restaurant called ‘Jiangnan Cottage’ in an attempt to enjoy a meal. By asking for a reservation at 4 pm, I was told that a seat would be available after 8 pm and pre-booking was not allowed. Giving up once again!
Over the days, whether it was in shopping malls or restaurants, visitors were lining up like sardines in a can. Waiting for over an hour for every meal eventually turned my three-day stay into nearly two days of diarrhea agony.

Days Three & Four: Intercontinental Hotel & Ching Tat Bookstore
For comfort’s sake, I booked a room with a lake view in the Suzhou Intercontinental for the next two nights. However, around lunchtime the following day, a male attendant opened my door for no discernable reason! It turns out the staff believed I had already signed out without knowing my two-night booking beforehand… Albeit a gift was eventually presented for compensation, I just gave up.
It appeared I would always queue at hotel breakfasts.
While Ching Tat Bookstore next to the hotel is known as a popular tourist attraction, it felt like I had entered a traditional Chinese ‘street fair’ - with dense crowds everywhere! As mentioned before, there was limited chance to grab some food during the visit.

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I no longer wish to vent endlessly – here are some practical tips:

Travel Tips & Tips to Avoid Pitfalls:
1️⃣ Restaurant Booking: Ensure to make table reservations or arrive at least two hours before the estimated dining time.
2️⃣ Hotel Breakfast: Wake up early if you want to enjoy hotel breakfast leisurely without a rush hour.
3️⃣ Scenic Spot Ticket: All park entry tickets (like those to Zhanzheng Garden, Lion Grove Garden) need to be booked online a day prior.
4️⃣ Warm Clothing: Emphasized again – please put on your thickest cotton trousers and thermal underwear! The winter in the South feels significantly colder with moisture penetrating right into your bones.
5️⃣ Trendy Drinks: Don't bother with local big bamboo tubes with 'Suzhou' branded drinks sold everywhere – they don’t taste good at all, indeed odd smells are involved.
6️⃣ Food Guide: Don't take online 'must-eat lists' too seriously; personal preferences vastly vary, and some are mere marketing tactics.

I'd suggest avoiding guesthouses that cost less than 200 yuan.