I'm planning a trip from Shanghai to Suzhou and want to visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, Pingjiang Road, and Shantang Street. What's the best route?

Visited Hangzhou last April, and West Lake remains one of the highlights. The serene atmosphere makes it perfect for leisurely walks.

I think the food in Taichung is delicious.

Sure thing, I'm experienced with this topic! Let me handle it and clear things up for you!

• Hey everyone! I've thought about writing this post primarily because there are always people who leave comments under my posts about Taiwan, arguing: "Hey, which place is actually more developed?"

  • Honestly, that's not really what I want to focus on discussing.
  • What I really want to do is show people how life in Taiwan truly is.

• I’ve realized that some individuals may have only stayed in Taiwan for a few days or just seen the superficial aspects before making hasty judgments. This way of viewing problems can be rather shallow!

  • Often times, these seemingly different places require more understanding and consideration to truly understand them.
  • Culture Tip: Here, the term “two shores” generally refers to mainland China and Taiwan. Due to historical and geographical reasons, they’ve developed their own unique lifestyles and urban landscapes. Directly comparing who’s more advanced often overlooks these unique features.

• Today, a friend put it simply and succinctly in a few sentences describing some of the key differences between cities in mainland China and Taiwan.

  • I want to share this here to help friends who are interested in learning more about Taiwan.

• I genuinely hope that everyone can look at mainland China and Taiwan with a more open attitude.

  • After all, a little bit more understanding can only reduce misunderstandings, leading to better coexistence and relationships.

• If there are any other topics related to Taiwan that interest you, feel free to leave comments below for discussion or message me anytime!

  • Don’t forget to follow if you like it too!

#Taiwan #Travel #Beijing Daily #Two Shores #Couple on Two Shores #City Culture Difference #China #Taipei Travel #Taiwan Travel #Understanding #Cities

Come hiking with me!

This group seems to fall into two categories: The majority are people accustomed to a simpler, perhaps poorer, way of life, for whom delicious food means oily, salty, and spicy. Concepts like nutrition, health, hygiene, or even the city's appearance aren't really on their radar, nor do they particularly care. Then there's a much smaller group who haven't lived that way; they're drawn by curiosity, novelty, or the desire to experience something 'authentic' or 'down-to-earth.'

You're right. If the admission fee were 50 yuan or less, it'd be an absolute steal. But it's over 200 yuan.

Sunset glow over the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link.

You could just sleep on the street where people line up for the flag-raising ceremony, from 9 PM to 3 AM. You could even sell your spot like a scalper and make some money for the night.

So, it turns out it's not considered a 'nuisance' after 6 PM. No wonder when we went at 7 PM to ask them to stop drilling, they completely ignored us and were so arrogant, basically saying, 'Go ahead and sue us if you've got the nerve!'

Where did this ship come from?

Really? I've used Didi so many times. It's always: first, they confirm the last few digits of my phone number, and second, they say 'I'm here.' I've never been refused a ride or gotten into an argument. However, when I travel, I have been refused a few times. No offense to any particular place, but I remember this happening in Chongqing – perhaps the trip was too short, and the driver wasn't happy with such a low fare. When I returned to Shanghai, I even remarked how much better ride-hailing is here, as they never refuse a ride, no matter the distance.

The temple doesn't allow incense burning?

It's near Shin Kong Place in the Industrial Park. A 58-square-meter one-bedroom apartment for ¥220.

You're so right. As someone born in Guangzhou, I feel this deeply. I really want to move to a quiet little town.

Lately, most of the people I've seen spitting have been young. By the time I think of saying something, it's already too late. One person even spat three times in a row, and when I confronted him, he just stayed silent. This disgusting habit needs harsher penalties to improve.

Hello, everyone! I've been living in Hangzhou for three years, and this year I started the habit of cycling around West Lake for 80 minutes every day.

However, there was a frustration yesterday - an uncle in front of me was smoking while littering with phlegm on the floor. I couldn't help but say something to him, but he quickly took off. Sigh, let me write this article and share my thoughts hoping that we can work together to make the West Lake area better when cycling.

• While riding by the West Lake, I’ve encountered various situations and would like to share some reminders, especially for those who are visiting Hangzhou for the first time:
• ️ Caution! Parking to take photos, be careful with your shared bike!
• Once I tried taking a beautiful photo of West Lake, and left my bike unattended for about 5 seconds, only to realize that it had already been scanned and taken away!
• Therefore, if you are using a shared bike, please remember to lock it after taking pictures. Otherwise, it may be taken away from you.
• The section leading to Hulin Yintai (a bustling area along the West Lake), riders can barely make progress because it is so crowded.
• ️ Watch out! The person in front may be smoking and spitting!
• Indeed, their phlegm might seem to be flying towards your face! （I have voiced concerns, and it makes them uneasy. I hope my concern to keep cleanliness has some effect.）
• The road up to Lingyin Temple (a famous mountain temple) features extremely steep incline. If anyone is able to ride up, I find that astonishingly impressive.
• During peak hours (noon and evening), a large number of food delivery guys ride by at high speed. To catch the delivery time, they constantly honk (the “beep beep beep” sound) to pass. Now, I try to avoid these times, and I suggest mutual respect too.
• Sometimes, cyclists may slowly ride side by side, appreciating the scenery and making it hard for others to go through. This can actually drive people crazy.

• A friend's reminder is particularly important:
  • ️ Friendly Reminder: Protect Your Knees!
    • Cycling is very enjoyable, but you should also avoid going all out, since pushing too hard can lead to knee damage. Personally, I keep it slow and steady feeling good. When cycling for a long time, everyone needs to judge their own limits.

Also, hangzhou experienced sudden temperature drop yesterday so winter has finally arrived! Have you worn your caps and gloves to stay warm when heading out to cycle?🧤 It's important to stay warm!

I came as a tourist too. Spent over 1000 RMB one morning for worship. The people in Hangzhou are actually quite nice; they kept saying to spend within your means and that nothing was compulsory.

Hello everyone who is visiting Hangzhou!

It's the May Day holiday again! I can't help but feel anxious for you as Hangzhou becomes flooded with people. Want to play around Hangzhou elegantly without going through the crowds? Of course, follow the advice of a local!

Honestly, some tourist activities are not something I could easily stand... Always choosing crowded places to visit, they complain about how "Hangzhou is just like that" and "the West Lake is nothing special" after being tired from one day of sightseeing. Sigh, really don't know what else to say.

Now then, let me share my ideas on how to enjoy yourself gracefully while experiencing the beauty of Hangzhou.

Idea 1: Off-Peak Leisure Trip

Step One: Date with Sunrise

• First, get up early! Before the sun rises and make your way to the West Lake.
• At this time, although there'll be more people than usual, it’s far better than during the day! You may observe the sunrise at popular destinations like the Jade Mountain or the Su Causeway, Bai Causeway.
• Highly recommended: Experience the "blue hour" of the West Lake when the sky takes on a serene blue glow before sunrise — perfect for rejuvenation and healing. The pictures are beautiful too, and best of all, it's not crowded.

Step Two: Sweet Naps Are Best After an Early Morning Journey

• After enjoying the beautiful scenery early, you might feel a little exhausted, right? It's best to head back to your hotel to catch some Z's.
• During May Day, Hangzhou usually gets quite hot, so walking around in the sweltering sun during the daytime is truly miserable, not to mention taking pictures won’t look great due to harsh sunlight.

Step Three: Sweet Afternoon Tea Time

• Woken up but still feeling the heat outside? Find a tea shop to spend your afternoon!
• Hangzhou's teahouses are notorious for their competitive service and high-quality products (because they’re in fierce competition). By searching on your review app, you’ll find plenty of good options. Enjoy coffee, drinks and snacks and wander around without exhaustion.

Step Four: Gentle Sunset

• As the evening cools down, watching the sunset by the West Lake is incredibly soothing. At this time, you may go to Lake Front (that area along the east of West Lake near city center) to see the sunset.

Step Five: A Subway-Savvy Commuter Hack

• (Important note! ) After viewing the sunset, don’t head to the Longxiaoqiao subway station! It's extremely crowded!
• Instead, walk to Ding'an Road subway station, which will have far fewer crowds. Besides, this route offers unique architecture and some great restaurants to pass by on the way.

There you have the first approach, following which surely, you won’t feel overwhelmed, and the experience will be much better!

More Possible Scenarios and Strategies:

Morning Activities where people are few and spots beautiful, slow and steady wins:

• The entire West Lake deserves an early morning walk around, each corner providing a different appeal.
• Along Grand Canal, say Xiaohe Straight Street, Dadaolu History Street and Dachun Ridge Bridge itself offers unique Jiangnan style charm.
• Near Hangtang River or Binjiang District, you may glimpse open riverscapes.

Daytime Sightseeing Tips:

• Firstly, stay cool inside hotels, or find comfortable tea shops, cafes.
• If you intend to continue exploring West Lake, avoid its core visitor zones (such as Broken Bridge, Bai Causeway, Su Causeway).
• Consider going to Yang Gong Dyke, with places like Hangzhou Botanical Garden, Guo Zong (a beautiful Jiangnan landscape), Mao Abode, Bathing Heron Bay, Turtle Pool, offering quiet scenes.
• Check out Xianghu Lake, another major pool not far from West Lake, with fewer crowds and charming sights.

Evening Plans:

• Watch lights shows at Civic Center or Qianjiang Centric City (that place with the Big Lotus Stadium) for urban illuminations.
• Early bedtime is recommended, truly because other natural attractions are hard to see clearly at night except for urban lights.

Based on my suggestion, during the May Day holiday, you'll experience Hangzhou’s unique beauty comfortably avoiding exhaustion.

Hangzhou’s beautiful spots extend beyond these — ancient civilization like Liangzhu Ruins, wet landscapes around Xixi Wetland, hills of Qing Shan Lake, Fuchun River or more cultural sites deep within West Lake such as Lingyin Temple, Fahai Temple, Tiger Spring, Bamboo Forest Path, Qijie Smoke Trees... these need some leisure and appreciation, wait till another visit when you have more time to further explore!

I've heard they're not supposed to refuse fares. And if they've waited in a long queue, especially at the airport, they're definitely going to say something if the trip is very short. To be honest, ride-hailing apps and the subway are pretty convenient nowadays.