Fresh from Suzhou: My 'You've Been Warned' List!
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If you get there by 7:30 AM, you can pretty much get all the empty shots you want.
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Humble Administrator's Garden.
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If you wanted shots without crowds, you should've come five years ago. Before the pandemic, apart from the elderly tour groups during Qingming Festival for tomb-sweeping and spring outings, it was really quiet. You could look down Shantang Street and see fewer than five people. You're too late!
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I don't know why, but ever since the pandemic, all the tourist spots are packed! Before, they were pretty empty except during Golden Week and public holidays.
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Commercial photoshoots are really annoying, don't you think...?
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I agree... More regular tourists aren't really an issue, but it's annoying when commercial photoshoots are unregulated...
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Try to travel during off-peak times! Don't miss out on Suzhou!
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Is it crowded on weekdays?
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Any locals here? Is it crowded on weekdays? I'm planning to go on a Tuesday.
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Yes, super crowded! Just got back, and it was absolutely packed.
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When I go to Suzhou, I skip those overhyped 'influencer' spots. I prefer wandering the streets and alleys of the old town.
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Going from Shanghai to Suzhou tomorrow or the day after. Any recommendations?
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Just got back, and honestly, if you're from the Jiangnan region, I'd say don't bother. The gardens aren't as magical as textbooks make them out to be, and we couldn't really appreciate the architectural beauty as non-experts. It was incredibly crowded, and the construction tarps everywhere made the streets feel a bit grimy. The food was decent, though. Shiquan Street is definitely worth visiting – lots of cool and diverse shops to check out.
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And then came the worst part of my trip. I was just in Suzhou for two nights over the Qingming Festival. It so happened that 'Chengguan' (city management officers) were inspecting guesthouses and hostels. One of them stopped me without a word, demanding my ID, phone number, and room number. Even in uniform, how can you be so overbearing? He didn't question the middle-aged men with suitcases nearby, but he just had to single out me, a college student. I told him I had to catch a train and to let me pass, but he kept blocking me. Then, without even asking, he started filming me with his phone. I told him not to, and he got all sarcastic and snide... So what if I'm a college student, maybe a bit poorer, staying in a less fancy place? Does that mean I deserve to be mocked?
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I was already on the fence because of the high prices, and now I'm even less inclined to go.
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Avoid going during public holidays.
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You don't have to keep filming the crowds, you know? I just got back from Suzhou myself.
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Where is this?