Instant Heatstroke! Right out of the subway... 🫠

[Johnathan Schmeler]

Oh my, let me give you a heads-up: I paid a visit to Suzhou last weekend (the ancient city not far from Shanghai, famous for its gardens and water towns). However, my experience there was less than ideal...

• Just a couple hundred meters out of the metro station, I started feeling dizzy.
• My smartphone navigation was not too reliable either; I had an incredibly hard time finding the "mínsù" (a locally-owned small inn, somewhat like a family hotel or bed-and-breakfast) I had booked online.
• After a long search, I finally found the inn and immediately collapsed onto my bed.
• I was feeling hot all over, dizzy, vomiting, with no appetite at all.
* Ordered lots of food and couldn't bear to look at it without my stomach turning in protest.
* Slept straight through the afternoon.
* Spewed when I went to take a shower that evening.
* Felt much more relaxed after the vomiting.
* Applied face masks for some relief and took medicine.
* A bit better now; my head doesn't feel as hot anymore.
• This whole experience was a real bummer; in such hot weather, traveling can be pure suffering.

!!! WARNING ON TRAVELING IN EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER & SOME TIPS !!!

• Watch Out for Heat Stroke!
  • Explanation: During summer, Suzhou (and many southern Chinese cities) can get extremely hot and humid; these conditions make heat stroke likely. That's exactly what happened during my trip—feeling dizzy, feverish, and nauseous.
  • How to Prevent:
    • Drink plenty of water, repeat!
    • Try not to be outside for extended periods during peak temperatures usually around midday to three or four in the afternoon.
    • Wear hats and lightly-colored breathable clothing.
    • Rest indoors with air conditioning when you start feeling sick such as dizziness or nausea.
• Phone Navigation May Be Less Reliable!
  • Explanation: In some old city districts, narrow roads and densely-packed buildings can result in poor GPS signal, making navigation less reliable.
  • How to Prevent:
    • You might want to download offline maps in advance.
    • Write down your accommodation address and phone number. Consult local people or call the inn's owner for directions if absolutely lost.
• About 'Mínsù'(Guesthouse/B&B):
  • It's a uniquely local style of lodging run by residents for visitors.
  • Points To Note: Some places of this type may be hidden away in tiny alleys, so they can be difficult to locate especially if your phone GPS malfunctions. Check reviews when you book, and remember to communicate properly regarding location and means to reach it.

[Zachary Hayes]

Hehe, the folks who visited during the plum rain season left grumbling, and now a new batch of people has arrived.

[Robyn Reilly]

Actually, the plum rain season is quite comfortable. It rains every day, but it's very cool. Once it's over, though, the heat becomes unbearable.

[Dr. Ruben Larkin MD]

Just don't come to the Yangtze River Delta in the summer!

[Madeline Hermann III]

Is Yangzhou hot in mid-August?

[Jeannie Parisian]

You definitely wouldn't go out during the day. Summer in the South is no joke.

[Lula Schmidt]

It's so intense! As someone from Liaoning, I've never experienced a summer this wild. It's almost 40 degrees Celsius in Suzhou.

[Hazel Brown-Stracke]

Come to Shanghai! It's by the sea, so it's cooler.

[Pat Pagac]

You mean by a sea of fire, right?

[Pamela Miller]

Everyone says they'll take the advice, but then they all insist on coming anyway. Once they get here, they all fall silent. Best to only venture out after 6 PM.

[Jesse Paucek]

I only dare to go downstairs for a quick stroll around my residential complex after 9 PM.

[Mr. Carlton Johnston]

Is that a guesthouse on Pingjiang Road?

[Mr. Ryan Hermann]

Yes, it's in an alley off Pingjiang Road.

[Courtney Hickle Jr.]

Make sure to spray on some cooling floral water (like a herbal mosquito repellent) before heading out.

[Sammy Schiller]

Excuse me, but are there any particular brands of cooling floral water you'd recommend?

[Kathryn Hermiston]

Quick, have a bowl of mung bean soup!

[Dr. Wade Boyer]

Oh great, here come the 'it tastes like toothpaste water' comments again.

[Ms. Thelma DuBuque-Rolfson]

The saying that Suzhou and Hangzhou are 'paradise on earth' has been around forever, fooling who knows how many people. In reality, this Yangtze River Delta area is one of the least hospitable places – you'll freeze to death in winter and bake to death in summer.

[Steve Beatty]

The saying 'Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below' refers to their beautiful scenery and cultural heritage. But if you insist on coming in summer, aren't you just asking for trouble (like 'lighting a lamp in a latrine – looking for sh*t/death,' as the saying goes)? I've visited Suzhou and Hangzhou many times, always in spring, and it was always a fantastic experience.

[Linda Dietrich]

Anyone who visits Suzhou in the summer is a true warrior. It's so stiflingly hot and humid, I myself am thinking of heading north to escape the heat.