My Wallet Cries: Dodged a ¥500 'Art Student' Bullet in Beijing! #ChinaTravelScams

[Madeline Hermann III]

Hello everyone! This is my first visit to Guangzhou, and I would like to share some tips with you, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the city.

I travel from Nanchang, another city in China. Before coming here, I had read a lot of travel guides about Guangzhou on the Internet, particularly about luggage storage because in Nanchang, storing luggage at subway stations is pretty convenient.

Some initial experiences and impressions:

• I had planned to check my luggage and start a "special forces-style" travel (a playstyle that fills your timetable tightly with activities and efficiently visits various places). However, upon arrival in Guangzhou, I found it difficult to locate luggage storage facilities at subway stations (or maybe I didn’t find them properly?). I walked around the area but couldn’t spot one, so I asked staff members who also weren't aware of their location.
• My search for a luggage storage facility took ages, while dragging my suitcase and carrying thick down jackets (Guangzhou is really hot compared to Nanchang; our cities differ by quite a margin), which truly exhausted me!
• Moreover, when I wrote on the internet that I felt the subway and buses reeked, many local friends reacted rather fiercely, accusing me of "bashing their region", thus forcing me to delete the post. I didn’t mean anything else but honestly express my own perceptions… A tiny bit disappointed, my mood for sightseeing was somewhat influenced.

️ Travel tips and reminders:

• Luggage storage: If you have a lot of luggage and plan to store it at the subway station, you'd better prepare as much background information as possible beforehand or consider other storage options. Unlike some cities where they are ubiquitous.
  • Precaution tips: Use a map app to search for “luggage storage” or consider using storage services at the train station, airport, or certain malls.
• Guangzhou weather: Guangzhou is generally hotter and more humid than inland cities; only thin jackets might suffice despite wearing down jackets needed in other places.
  • Precaution tips: Prepare for the trip by checking the local weather forecast and dress accordingly.
• **E-bikes:**There are so many electric bikes riding fast around the streets; sometimes they would push you to make way with a horn sound.
  • Precaution tips: While walking, observe the surroundings more carefully especially on sidewalks and intersections, to avoid potential dangers.
• Street encounters: today, a nice-looking uncle approached me on walking through the street, who I was dressed up very ordinarily with cartoon hoodies, long pants, and Martin boots – I quickly took off!
  • Precaution tips: Maintain vigilance, especially when traveling alone. If something makes you uncomfortable, just leave directly without lingering纠缠.

However, there were so many beautiful discoveries as well:

• I found the staff at some scenic spots so extremely friendly and enthusiastic!
• Today I visited Sanyuan Temple, which is a Daoist temple. It happens to be the birthday of Laozi (an important deity in Daoism), who even distributed "fortune cookies" (a kind of small pastry bearing blessings). I felt really lucky and cherished this experience!
• Also, I climbed Yuexiu Park and found it incredibly beautiful, which I love! Although I couldn't find the cats rumored to populate the park, I did see some kind-hearted people setting out cat food.
• Due to jammed subway cars, I had my first chance today to get so close to foreigners, finding no significant body odor on them after all; instead, they smelled very normal like us.

Now comes food exploring! #Cantonese cuisine

• I covered approximately 20,000 steps today! Do you guys have any authentic food recommendations? Such as Rice Cooked in Clay Pot (using a small sand pot to cook rice, with scorchy crust being delicious), Roasted Meat (e.g., roast ducks, char siu etc.), Boneless Chicken Steamed in Seasoning (a method to keep chicken original), Congee in Rice Flour Sheets (made by steaming thin rice flour sheets with meat fillings)… honestly speaking, I've been walking for quite a while but haven't seen many stores selling these dishes yet, am I missing the best way to open up Guangzhou?

I hope my experiences can provide you with some references, and I humbly seek guidance from you locals regarding more Guangzhou delicacies!

[Israel Koss]

Let me clarify! I've never actually stored luggage in Nanchang. You've all probably seen online what Nanchang's subway 'luggage storage' (or lack thereof) is like. The reason is, I haven't used subway luggage storage in Nanchang myself, but I often see others doing it when I take the subway, so I mistakenly assumed Nanchang had a policy allowing this. Also, please note, the people bringing suitcases onto the Nanchang subway are usually not locals, so please don't attack Nanchang residents. OMG! I just finished my exam, hadn't checked Xiaohongshu all day, and the moment I open it, I see so many people arguing here. Please stop fighting! Now that my exam is over, I can finally relax and have some fun! I've seen all your recommendations and plan to check them out tomorrow or the day after! Today's provincial exam was exhausting, my hand is practically falling off from all the writing... And why, even on this short break, do I still have group assignments...?