The weather right now in Hangzhou is perfect though—cool breeze, sunny days.

Your family doesn't seem to trust you much. When I travel with my family, once I confirm my plans, they believe in me and think I can solve any problems. But I understand that they might rely heavily on you due to unfamiliarity with modern tools and fear of traveling. So, it's not entirely your fault. Try to communicate better with your family.

Sure thing!

Usually, it's for business, visiting family, or studying abroad.

Kaohsiung?

I cried too.

Cities are at different stages of development; everyone needs to work together.

Hey, friends, have you ever wondered why so many people who come to Shenzhen seem like they've put down roots, never wanting to leave? What exactly is the charm of this place?

I'll tell you. A couple days ago, I was scrolling through my phone when I came across a post with a catchy title: "F*ck it, I’ll stay in Shenzhen for the rest of my life!!!" (Literal translation for impact)

Haha, I was immediately curious and clicked to take a look. It turned out that there were contrasting opinions under this post, creating an almost "heaven and hell" split:

• Some warned against it, saying urgently, "Leave right away! Don't come to Shenzhen; you'll regret it!"
• Others encouraged, "Absolutely you should venture here! Big cities offer great opportunities. Shenzhen has become my second hometown, and I'll never leave!"

Seriously, all kinds of opinions made me laugh, which also got me thinking: More than a year has passed since I came to Shenzhen. What's Shenzhen given me?

Do you remember when I just arrived in Shenzhen, dragging this big suitcase along with a large crowd, moving about in the magnificent "Shenzhen North Station" (which is a huge station, an important transportation hub too!)? Back then, my heart raced: "Wow, this really is a major city! Isn't even this train station way classier than those in small places from my hometown! I must thrive here and stick around."

• But hold your horses, friends! Let me issue a little Cultural Shock warning here:
  • Walking into the famous "urban villages" – these are packed apartment blocks and narrow alleyways where buildings are old – when entering my rented single room, I froze!
  • My mind was like frozen cold shower: "This… this is too small! It's nothing like what I imagined!"
  • Is this still the "everywhere-dense-in-gold" and "glowing and brilliant everywhere" Shenzhen I had in mind?

  • A reminder for those considering coming to Shenzhen:

    • Many people opt for living in urban villages to save money after arriving.
    • The advantage is that the daily expense is relatively lower and the traffic connection is still quite convenient.
    • However, the disadvantage lies in the cramped living conditions and the relatively aged facilities. So don’t idealize Shenzhen as flawless, be mentally prepared for accommodation, especially at first.

Haha, looking back now, I truly was ignorant. Even though I’m not yet a big boss, my life is relatively comfortable overall.

I've already moved out of that small "urban village" single room and am now cohabitating with my girlfriend in an apartment one-bedroom which costs about 2000 RMB monthly, twice wider now. As for my job, doing sales, I feel basically satisfactory. During good sales, I can make ten thousand or more in a month, and even if the conditions are average, I can keep stable around eight to ten thousand yuan every month. I feel that I've somewhat taken foothold in Shenzhen now, and I believe that with efforts, things will only get better, gradually achieving various goals in my mind!

Keep working hard on your path guys! I wish you grow increasingly stronger!

If anyone wants to share the experiences you encountered in Shenzhen from the beginning, such as adapting better now, please feel free to comment below!

Haha, come on over! The weather in Henan these past few days has been incredibly comfortable – cool, breezy, and dry.

Hey folks, if you're planning to visit Beijing, I want to share some of my "Beijing Survival Experiences" to hopefully help you get a better understanding!

1. Getting around in Beijing feels like moving between provinces – incredibly vast!

   • After landing at the airport, it takes ages just to exit and find your way around. The parking lot can be confusing, with little electronic signage, which may leave you desperately hunting for a driver!
   • I once landed in Beijing at 11:30 PM. It took me over an hour to figure out how to get to the correct elevator floor (due to a lack of directions) and eventually, two drivers became lost in the parking lot. By the time I left, it was already 1 AM.
   • My friend landed in Chengdu that same day but got home by 12:40 AM, what a contrast!

   • 出行时间要打足提前量 (Plan ahead for travel time): If you are traveling from the airport or going to another place in the city, expect the journey time to be much longer than anticipated. Allow extra time for finding transportation at the airport.

2. People here tend to be fiery-tempered!

   • It's common to hear food delivery guys arguing with restaurant owners, or people you've never met having heated disputes over trivial matters.
   • Perhaps because living in Beijing places immense pressure on everyone, making them feel tense every minute, so they only take small opportunities to vent without impacting others.

   保持平常心看待 (Take small conflicts in stride): If you witness a squabble, do not react strongly or take it personally, as it could be an outcome of the stress brought about by the bustling city life. Remember to stay level-headed.

3. Beijng's wind tends to be extremely harsh and dusty!

   • No matter how much effort you put into styling your hair before leaving home, the first gust of wind outside will ruin it immediately. Beijing’s strong wind offers no mercy for fashion!

   发型准备要到位 (Ensure your hairstyle is ready for the wind): Do not expect your sophisticated hairstyle to last long under Beijing’s harsh winds. Wear a hat, or tie up your hair to better withstand the spring dust storm.

4. Only during pleasant days when you can enjoy being outdoors.

   • It becomes unbearably hot in summer and equally cold in winter. And just when you’ve been eagerly waiting for spring and autumn, they fade quickly; you might not even finish trying on all ten sets of beautiful outfits within the season.

   选择季节出行 (Choose the seasons of travel wisely): Summer (June - August) and winter (December - February) can be extreme, so keep sun protection and warmth measures in mind. Spring and autumn (April-May, September-October), which are far more amiable, are quite short-lived, so plan travel arrangements promptly.

5. Some public facilities and street views are somewhat obscure.

   • For instance, Beijing South Station, a major railway station, lacks charging sockets. Also, there are no shared bicycles commonly seen in many other cities in China.

     出行需随身携带移动电源 (Remember to carry a power bank): Travel is often done via subway, bus, or taxi.

   • The famous alleys known as Siheyuan, although quaint, may contain hardware stores or apparel shops not expected by tourists, making local life the core attraction.

     逛街胡同时需注意 (Tread carefully while shopping in alleys): Not all alleys serve as tourist attractions, some act as local residential areas. Renowned alleys like Nanluoguxiang can be commercialized, but others retain their native charm.

   • Even places filled with crowds in the city center may have incredibly unprofessional and aloof storekeepers, driving customers away.

     心态保持放轻松 (Maintain a calm mindset): Don't get overly frustrated when confronted with bad customer service, just move on to another store.

Why would one choose to stay in this city? Well, perhaps the reasons outnumber by a thousandfold…

I knew it was Si Laoshi (Teacher Si) the moment I saw it! You really know how to find the best spots... You've truly captured the essence of Shanghai. I'm hooked on your profile; I just can't get enough. You're so skilled at photographing Shanghai, like a human GPS – your shots are incredible! I'm officially a hardcore fan.

Yeah, and it doesn't even taste good. Luckily, they don't stop you from bringing your own food.

Today, I took a cab from Suzhou Railway Station with my nearly 80-year-old grandmother. My plan was to drop her off at her residential complex entrance first (about 3km), and then I'd continue in the same cab for my own errand (another 7km). The car stank, and to make matters worse, the driver kept complaining that picking up our fare was a loss for him due to downtown traffic. In reality, there wasn't any serious traffic, just a two-cycle wait at one traffic light. When we reached that light, he actually told my grandmother to get out alone in the middle of the main road (not even by the curb!) and walk a kilometer, so he could then take me directly. He eventually did drive her to her complex entrance, but we both got out immediately. I decided to hail a new cab rather than continue with him.

I'm heading there tomorrow. It's 24°C in Nanjing and 23°C in Suzhou. A short-sleeved shirt should be fine during the day, but it gets cooler at night.

You call that a lot of people?

Mine was 350.

Yes, that's what it shows on the app.

Talk about clickbait! Trying to scare people away from Lingyin Temple just for views.

Acknowledge your feelings. Choosing to end the friendship might be a good outcome. Alternatively, you could have an open and honest conversation with your friends to understand everyone's true thoughts before deciding whether to leave or stay.

The buses also stop running really early; most are gone by 8 or 9 PM.