Suzhou: Yeah, It's Good. Seriously.

[Ms. Wanda Kilback]

Alright, I did not intend to rant online, after all, it's just a trip, and encountering a few unpleasant events is expected. However, one of my friends commented saying, "what's the meaning behind your post title? Just leave!" Out of frustration, I deleted the comment right away! Now let me clarify why I may not consider coming back to Suzhou.

1. Eating experiences

   • We dined at a restaurant nearby Zhanzheng Garden(a renowned classical garden).
   • After we ordered our food, in less than two minutes, all the dishes were served at once, which felt like pre-prepared and reheated meals.
   • Not only were the prices high, but the portion sizes were also surprisingly small.
   • Note: We specifically ordered Mandarin Fish (an expensive freshwater fish), however, what was served was Sea Bass (comparatively cheaper). We were charged for the pricier Mandarin Fish.
   • We also ordered some stir-fried meat, yet the smell was off.
   • A sigh, I didn't want to ruin everyone's trip over this matter, so I didn't argue with the staff.

2. Transportation, especially regarding the tricycle ride

   • The number of tourists in Suzhou at that time was tremendous, with roads being single-way along with metro construction, making hailing a cab rather difficult.

   • After waiting on Didi (China's taxi booking app, similar to Uber) for a while, the traffic was excessively jammed, and no car came.

   • People around said that the way to Hanshan Temple (a famous temple in Suzhou) was congested.

   • Eventually, we sought help from a street tricycle (3-wheeler taxi rickshaws). Initially, the drivers said it was too jammed to drive, and they hesitated about taking us there.

   • We waited for about thirty or forty minutes, since the weather was scorching, so we had no choice but to take the tricycle.

   • There were two tricycles, a man and an old gentleman operated them. From the accent, the latter was a native speaker.

   • Caution: The elder driver barely spoke Mandarin Chinese, making communication quite difficult.

   • Initially, it was supposed that he would follow the first tricycle, but he lost track and continuously turned his head to ask us about the whereabouts of the first vehicle.

   • He kept complaining and cursing as the former driver didn't follow his expected route.

   • Serious Warning: Please note safety!

     • He kept talking to us instead of focusing on driving! This type of tricycle is notoriously noisy, it was challenging to understand him clearly.
     • We informed him to drive on the route he wanted originally, but he probably misunderstood us and continued to inquire about the previous route.
     • As a result, throughout the trip, it was me who was navigating the vehicle! Several instances were almost collisions with pedestrians, and numerous buses braked abruptly due to his erratic moves, honking loudly.
     • Although we gently reminded him several times, "Grandpa, slow down", he ignored these reminders!
     • When people obstructed the road ahead, he honked and overtook regardless. At several traffic lights with fewer vehicles, he directly disregarded them!
     • During that journey, my friend and I experienced a heart-racing unease! Mostly because we were carrying a little child, recalling still fills me with dread!

   • (Later, I discussed with my friend about how the elderly should avoid reckless driving at their age, as it's too dangerous.)

To add one last point, Suzhou itself is really beautiful. I am just sharing my less pleasant experiences during my stay, with no intention of targeting the city!

When venturing out, everyone must pay attention to safety!
Additionally, I kindly urge fellow local residents; do not take everything negatively, but rather welcome valuable criticism. Every place has its positives and negatives, if you were to visit another city and encountered such situations, wouldn't you feel irritated too?

#Suzhou
#Jiangnan Town
#Zhanzheng Garden
#Pingjiang Street
#Shizilin
#Hanshan Temple
#Jinji Lake

[Joanne Swift]

To be honest, I complained about the terrible traffic, and a few people with Jiangsu IPs questioned me. It scared me so much that I changed my ticket overnight to leave as soon as possible.

[Barry Kuphal]

I wasn't just complaining; I got ripped off and encountered safety issues, but I was still the one getting blamed, as if it was all my fault.

[Karen Bruen]

I've just booked my flights and high-speed train tickets. I was planning to go this week.

[Dana Sanford]

You can still go! Just plan your trip well, avoid those tricycle taxis, don't eat in the main tourist areas, and make sure to look after your own safety.

[Miss Alison Collier]

I won't complain about other things, but the traffic in Suzhou is genuinely terrible.

[Mrs. Beverly Glover-Crist]

Agreed... The traffic is truly...

[Morris Schneider]

Maybe I was just lucky, but everyone I met during my three-day trip was lovely. I stayed in Gudagu Lane... Oh my gosh, there was so much delicious food around there!

[Lula Schmidt]

Could you recommend some good restaurants?

[Helen Gleason]

Don't locals speak their own dialect? That's what makes a place unique.

[Jermaine Satterfield]

Oh yes, your 'uniqueness' is wonderful – like not following traffic rules!

[Jeannie Parisian]

Many food recommendations online are just advertisements – expensive and not even tasty. Like that 'Xin' something place, their pan-fried buns were pricey, and the taste was just average.

[Ada Muller]

And they have the nerve to say we don't do our research!

[Pamela Miller]

The scenery is genuinely beautiful, but the electric scooters really spoil the experience. A few days ago, it was a common sight to see them going the wrong way on sidewalks without slowing down. Even local drivers complain about how recklessly they zip around.

[Jeremiah Stamm-Carroll]

Exactly! And they still think we're trying to smear Suzhou's reputation. Who would deliberately say negative things for no reason?

[Candace McDermott]

We also took a ride on an elderly man's rickshaw. Initially, I hesitated because I felt they worked so hard, but the man said it was a chance for him to earn money, so I went with my son. We came out of the Humble Administrator's Garden and said we wanted to go to the Lingering Garden. Instead, he offered to take us for a tour around Pingjiang Road. He ended up taking us on a detour to Loumen Gate, then circled back to the Pingjiang Road entrance, charging 100 yuan per person. I paid 200 yuan and basically ended up back where we started.

[Dr. Israel McLaughlin]

So, the takeaway is: it's our fault for not doing enough research. If we get ripped off, we should just blame ourselves. We're not allowed to complain, and we definitely can't blame the place! Just have to chalk it up to bad luck!

[Ms. Alberta Moen]

Our taxi driver offered to take us to a silk factory 'for a look around'... We said we didn't have time, so we managed to avoid it. I actually quite like Suzhou; I'm just mentioning these few specific complaints.

[Lula Schmidt]

It's not that I dislike it; it's just that places I've visited once, I usually don't feel the need to visit a second time. Then I got attacked for saying that, so I shared these specific experiences, and I got attacked again. It made me start to question everything. I actually used to like Suzhou quite a bit, but after all the backlash, I've become indifferent to it.

[Ms. Wanda Kilback]

I've been here for four days now, and my experience has been great. Perhaps it's because I get up early and have never eaten in the main tourist spots.