I looked them up, and the quality doesn't seem great. The pictures on their website show obvious flaws, which suggests that their quality control or website management is not up to par.

It's truly beautiful!!

No wonder I find Xiaohongshu so positive and cheerful.

Exactly, I absolutely love Taiwan! Before they stopped independent travel, I was planning to visit at least once a year.

The Guangzhou-Shenzhen misery Olympics begins now.

Shenzhen is just one giant industrial park. It's okay if you're there to work like a dog, but for tourism? What's there to see?

Hi everyone, my friends who are visiting Guangzhou! Recently, I have seen a lot of posts complaining about Guangzhou's tourism. As an old-timer "Old Guang" who grew up in Xiuguan (a representative old town district), I'm happy to offer you some genuine tips.

• Regarding food and drink ("Food in Guangzhou" is not just for show!)

  • There are plenty of good eats here - rarely will they disappoint you (I won't be overly optimistic in case I'll get slapped, hahaha!).
  • I sincerely advise against spending several hours waiting in line at popular Instagram spots like ***-Sheng, ***-Deng, ***-Ju, etc. Not that they’re not good, but there are many places with comparable taste levels all over the city!
  • So feel free to find a place near where you're staying, or playing around, even if you get stuck in traffic and want to get out for some breathing room.
  • If you're really unsure which restaurant to choose, open the Dazhong Dianping app (similar to Yelp or Google Maps' restaurant reviews in your area) and browse nearby maps for highly rated options. Trust me, their flavors usually don't disappoint.
  • For the street-lined Civility Road and Xihua Road, along with trendy small food shops that suddenly become popular, it's ok to explore them if you're passing by, otherwise, there's really no need to go out of the way to visit them especially.

• About Canton Tower (also known as "Little Waist!")

  • Want to capture a panoramic view of Canton Tower? Lots of spots can do the trick! No need to head to Haisisha Island (a small island in the middle of a river) or Huacheng Square (a large public square - I used to work nearby and enjoyed its beautiful night scenery every day).
  • My recommended photography spots include Hutuo Bridge, Ersha Island (an environmentally friendly inner-island of river), Canton Tower Bridge, and Haini Bridge (a footbridge - reservation might be required now, check yourself).
  • Attention: Around the Canton Tower, especially during holidays and evenings, you've got to bear with the massive traffic jams. Should you insist on going, it's strongly recommended that you take the subway instead. The tram is also a good alternative - great scenic views along the way too.

• About Yongqing Ferry/Litchi Bay/Ening Road (places to experience the local Guangzhou flavor)

  • Ah, these were places I walked around as a kid. They are indeed very true to Guangzhou’s old-time atmosphere, but precisely because they represent Guangzhou’s oldest districts, their streets are quite narrow.
  • It’s simply impossible for them to accommodate a huge number of tourists.
  • My best time tip: very early in the morning, when there’s barely anyone around! Then the stone pavement will show its original charm, just like how I saw it back then as a child on my way to school.
  • So if you complain a place is overcrowded and cluttered, there's really nothing that can be done... once they get crowded, that’s that.

• About Shamian Island and White Swan Hotel (another historical place)

  • This was also a place I’d stroll after a meal in my childhood. Similar to those above mentioned Yongqing Ferry, it's another old district.
  • Tip: Early mornings are best for walks! Otherwise, you’re dealing with an overwhelming crowd.
  • Those wanting to “splurge” – you could stay at the White Swan Hotel (the first Sino-foreign joint venture hotel in Guangzhou, widely renowned!), or the nearby Shamian Victory Hotel (not sure about its accommodation quality however).

• About Shamian Cathedral (a very magnificent church)

  • This fully-stone-built Gothic church belongs in the league with Notre-Dame de Paris, Westminster Abbey in the UK, and Cologne Cathedral in Germany. Definitely worth the visit.
  • Important reminder: this church is not managed as a tourist site, it’s mainly for religious activities such as Christian worshippers' services.
    • Hence its operating hours are very limited.
    • Also be prepared for big crowds.

• About Baiyun Mountain (Guangzhou's "city lung")

  • Baiyun Mountain and Chimelong Wildlife World are the only two AAAAA-level national tourist areas in Guangzhou (this being China's top grade in tourist areas). Baiyun Mountain may well be the least expensive one of all national AAAAA-level scenic spots!
  • Fun tip:
    • Don’t crowd into the Nantai Garden entrance to take the cable car! There are other convenient entrances and hiking trails to Baiyun Mountain, where you will see way fewer people.
    • For non-accompanying elderly or children, a cable car ride is really unnecessary. Just use about an extra hour of walking instead.

• About Chimelong Tourism Recreation Area (fit for kids and thrill-seeking friends)

  • Undoubtedly a very worthwhile location indeed! But please...
  • Holiday warning: so overwhelming that you won’t believe! Yet if you must, be wise to pay some extra money on express pass bands, so you skip lengthy lines.
  • In fact, weekends are okay for attendance as far as crowd control goes. For those living within the province, it’d be better to avoid holidays when you want to see the fun.

I wish so badly I was a Northerner! Ugh, I hate that I'm not.

Looking for someone skilled at creating chic, edgy hairstyles.

It's boiling hot! I'm melting!

Awesome!!!

Huh? In Guangzhou, you have to climb stairs every time you use the subway. Is it like that in Shanghai too?

Honestly, there really isn't much to do. I've lived in Guangzhou for over a decade, and I feel like the most fun place here is my own home.

It feels like it hasn't been too crowded recently. You can usually get a reservation if you keep refreshing the mini-program around 5 PM every day.

Beijing in autumn is Beijing at its best.

Is it just me, or is Hangzhou kind of bad luck for me?

• Ever since I arrived in Hangzhou, my right eyelid has been twitching uncontrollable.
  • (Tip: In China, many people believe twitching in the right eyelid portends future misfortune and mishaps. Of course, this is nothing more than an old wives' tale!)
• But, I am not the kind who backs down easily, and I am determined to stay here despite these signs.
• And as things turned out...my wallet was gradually depleted and my bank account balance went down the drain.
• Also, I keep running into obstacles, leaving me feeling utterly defeated by all the problems that arise.

Friend, first off, during peak season, it's very common for rooms to be ready late. Another reason is the large number of elite members, as they often don't check out until after 4 PM, so many rooms can only be cleaned after they leave. I went to the St. Regis Qingdao before May Day, arrived at 3 PM, and didn't get my room until after 6 PM. The front desk and butler did inform me about this in advance.

The tour I booked wasn't expensive; I was just really unhappy with the guide's attitude, so I didn't push for a refund or anything. I've seen in other posts that you might need to call the 12345 hotline and the tourism bureau to complain. I haven't researched the details myself. You should browse more posts and look in the comment sections for people who successfully got refunds – maybe send them a private message to ask for tips.

That's so many places!

I was initially thinking of buying one for my daughter as a souvenir, but then I saw the price – 299 RMB!