This isn't meant to start a fight; if I offended anyone, I apologize. It's just frustrating to spend money and not get what you hoped for.

The author is pretty objective. No need to be sarcastic.

I've visited all the popular spots usually recommended for Taichung, like the Shuinan Economic and Trade Park, the National Taichung Theater, and the Calligraphy Greenway/Audit Village area. They are quite a distance from your hotel.

Have you noticed? They all require an internet connection and an account. Without a usable network and account, it's very difficult to use other methods.

Honestly, it's like that in any city. After a while, it all gets a bit dull. It really comes down to how you choose to spice up your own life.

Oh, I was wondering what was up with you!

My flight even got cancelled!

Guangzhou Line 1 looks a bit better than lines from the same period in Beijing or Shanghai; the maintenance is decent.

Oh! I always thought KFC was permanently closed. I've been there over ten times, and it's been open every single time!

I'm here looking for hotel recommendations. So, where did you end up staying?

Ladies and gentlemen, let me share with you a frustrating experience I had in Hangzhou:

• It has been almost half a month since I had a good night’s sleep, day in and day out, with noise everywhere!
  • Specifically, the constant sounds of construction work and renovations are making it impossible to find peace and quiet.
• Today is Saturday, and I was awakened again by the sounds of construction starting at around 7 AM – it was so loud that my heart jumped out at the start! I just couldn’t stand it anymore, so I complained to the city authorities by calling their hotline.
  • This “mayor’s hotline” is similar to your local public service hotlines – residents usually find it useful when they need to solve some problems.
• Can you guess what happened? They told me that in Hangzhou, construction work can legally last from 6 AM to 10 PM, including weekends and holidays!
  • Attention everyone who plans to visit Hangzhou:
    • There will be noise from construction sites as early as 6 AM and as late as 10 PM.
    • Yes, you haven’t misread the schedule – even on weekends and statutory holidays, you don’t expect silence at all!
    • Therefore, if you are sensitive to sound or want to enjoy some peace during your holidays, you should consider staying away from construction sites when booking hotels.
• Hangzhou, can you do better to attract visitors?
  • Just think about how hard it would be to rest after working into the wee hours or enjoying the nightlife – the constant sounds from construction would wake you up as early as 6 in the morning, without guaranteeing any basic rest.
  • Would anyone come to experience such a city? (It seems like Hangzhou is growing at breakneck speed – there are always ongoing construction projects everywhere and this might just be evidence of the “Hangzhou speed,” but maintaining a healthy lifestyle really is important!)

Great shot!

Going out in Hangzhou is basically all about eating.

I've stayed at other luxury hotels during peak season too, and I've never encountered one that makes you wait until 4:30 PM to check in. If you can adapt to that, I certainly can't.

Hello everyone! This is my second day in Suzhou, and I am currently located at Yuexi Metro Station in Wuzhong District (if you want to avoid the crowds in downtown areas, this is a considerate option). Since flying here from Shenzhen, I've noticed quite a few differences, and I would like to share some interesting findings with those of you who might be planning to visit:

交通工具

• Metro experience:

  • It is really not very crowded! Even at 6:30 PM, which is roughly during peak hours when people are returning home from work, there were very empty train carts with enough seats for everyone.
  • There were noticeably many elderly people on the metro and around the hospitals.

• ️ Entrances and directions:

  • ️ Note this well ! The signs for metro station exits use directions such as “East, South, West, North,” rather than letters A, B, C, or D as seen elsewhere.
    • It is said this design helps to determine the direction easily. If you are not familiar with it, make sure to check the map beforehand or ask someone, so you won’t get lost off in the wrong direction!

• Street Crowds:

  • There was even fewer people on the streets, with hardly any seen anywhere to be going about their business, making it appear unusually empty. The slow and unhurried lifestyle here is also visible.

• Crossing the road (Pedestrian lanes):

  • ️ A Special Warning: Be extra cautious when crossing roads! Some pedestrian crosswalks (we call them 'zebra-crossings') do not have traffic lights. However, strangely enough, vehicles sometimes slow down to let pedestrians go first before continuing.
    • In case you ever face a situation like this, I would suggest if the car slows down clearly to gesture for people to proceed, just walk across quickly; if unsure or if the car is moving fast, take the extra time to stay safe. An eye contact with the driver is highly advisable as well.

• Transportation Options:

  • Here, there are many shared electric scooters available, which go by the name of 'electric carts', making daily transportation much more convenient. For distances that one or two kilometers long that are neither far nor near, it's a much more comfortable and quicker way compared to walking or riding one to two metro stops.
    • While I am used to just taking the metro a station or two away, walking around takes about the same amount of time but can tire a person out easily. However, after cycling during this cool weather with a slight chill, I enjoy the feeling of wind blowing past my face.

• Eating out:

  • The cost of eating is very reasonable! You can still taste delicious noodles at a hot temperature for under 100 RMB (around $15).

• Autumn atmosphere:

  • Currently, along the roadside, many trees have turned into shades of yellow, red, and orange, bringing the vibe of autumn very clearly. The weather is also pretty comfortable; it’s not too chilly or unbearable.

#Living Aesthetics #Suzhou #Suzhou Tour Guide #Suzhou Travel Experience

There are so many more spicy dishes in restaurants these days. I really miss the time when spicy food wasn't so common.

When these roads were built, cars probably weren't even a thing yet!

Oh really? Besides a few trash cans, what else is there at the top of Feilai Peak?

Speaking of the May Day holiday, my friends and I went to Hangzhou for some fun – you know, that place with the beautiful West Lake. However, it was extremely crowded during holidays!

When booking our hotel, I asked everyone’s opinions one by one, and they all said "anything goes" or "just pick anything." Finally, we settled on a deal averaging only 140 RMB per person for a two-night stay which turned out to be a steal.

Upon arriving at the hotel, there was an awkward moment. The room wasn't quite what we visualized as a “loft” – contemporary and stylish, leading to an awkward atmosphere for a short while.

For dinner later, a friend started picking on me without hesitation; everything I opened my mouth to say was deemed wrong by her. She even went so far as to comment on my alma mater, competitions I had participated in, and awards I had received.

The following day, we headed to West Lake:

During morning time, things continued to go downhill as they made plans without consulting me beforehand, akin to a small retainer behind them carrying a camera.

I had no choice but to wait outside the souvenir shop after they left me there alone once we bought some souvenirs.

However, here comes the crucial part:
Tourist Safety Alert! Traffic Control in West Lake Scenic Area!
We didn’t realize then that the parking areas in the West Lake scenic area are strictly prohibited. Getting a taxi seemed quite challenging.

I thought that I could cross the road and ask the traffic police for directions or where to hail a taxi instead. But my friend believed my move was futile and complained about constant communication with me becoming troublesome.

To avoid further disputes, we just stood curbside waiting for a taxi, an action fraught with dangers. Ultimately, a kindhearted taxi driver saw us and informed us, "You can't park here. You should take buses to your destination."

Unfortunately, that turned out to be too much of a hassle for us and caused us to miss our dinner reservation time.

Fortunately, it was finally our turn to enjoy a meal. We ordered Dongpo Pork – a famous dish in Hangzhou, slow-cooked layers of streaky pork belly.
I mentioned that "the Dongpo pork should be mixed to serve better" and asked the waiter to help cut it into pieces.

They, however, refused: "No mixing needed, no need to split!" When I persistently demanded such modification, they said in mockery tone, "go right ahead, then," as a result I mixed it myself and their complaints ceased.

In the afternoon, we visited museums before getting on to the 'upper part' of the big West Lake. All along the way, I was guiding while they were chatting freely, sometimes my GPS faced some delays or signal problem, leading them to complain.

I tried to continue to stick to it, and it turned out that it was just them misreading the map route again, and they no longer said anything.

Afternoon time at the 'lower part of the lake,' people were countless!
Nobody talked to me there, I took the lead walking forward on my own. Then I went to the restroom (due to seeing nobody around, I assumed they were still ahead of me and that restrooms would be on another small street).

And when I came back from my restroom stop, they had completely disappeared.
But we had agreed the destination to be Broken Bridge, so I followed along the trail looking at the pretty view.
They sent a group text asking my location; I replied back through GPS coordinate that I was going to meet up at the Broken Bridge.

At this point, everyone was so numerous it was difficult for me to connect with my companions.
I eventually did reach the Broken Bridge and nearly left the area after having not seen any of them.
Then they replied and stated they would come over to Broken Bridge, yet not to look for me.
Fair enough, now I toured myself.

It's already six o'clock and masses filled the path. Feeling super hungry, I found myself some nearby food; the market offered various snack choices along the way.

They asked if we should get something to eat.
They stated they are not that hungry.
So that became my reply: "Okay, I'm eating!"
Surprisingly, then came the follow-up question asking why I ate first and did I have plans to join them.
I was already having my share of snacks, now how am I supposed to go over?
Thus, there was no possibility of meeting up due to the overwhelming amount of people around.
So, I went home on my own accord.

Ughh, they might have started mocking me in their group chat, and won't include me in next events.

Thinking of visiting Taiwan in December to see if it's really as free as they say.