A few days ago, I walked around Nanjing Road at night. Thinking about leaving the next day, I felt really sad. From the city's greenery to its traffic order, I found Shanghai to be better than Beijing in many aspects.

@Butterfly

I didn't get a good shot. Can we follow each other? I'd love to get a photo from you to post on my Moments (social media).

Any Suzhou locals here who can shed some light? Do you guys experience this kind of thing with drivers too? I absolutely love your shengjian (pan-fried pork buns), but running into a driver like this is truly heartbreaking.

My city/region (IP location) has been so thoroughly criticized by tourists, I'm almost convinced they're right.

To be honest, I don't really like talking politics... After all, we can't change each other's minds, so it's better not to discuss it...

Something funny happened at a night market. An old man struck up a conversation with us, saying he liked Japanese and Koreans the most and hated mainland Chinese. My friend replied, 'Well, we're from mainland China.' The old man was stunned for a moment, then tried to backtrack, saying, 'Oh, I mainly dislike elderly people from the mainland.'

Perfect for a stroll with the kids.

Just went last night.

First, you might need to define what you mean by 'low energy' and why you feel tired. But let me share a phenomenon common among Beijing's hard-working crowd, something that resonates with me: delayed gratification. Most young 'Beijing drifters' have this mindset – they prioritize career success and financial stability before allowing themselves to enjoy life or indulge personal desires. That's just the Beijing environment. Compared to cities like Shanghai, Chengdu, or Guangzhou, people in Beijing seem to care less about food, fun, or fashion; it's mostly a two-point commute between home and work. Just look at the people on the subway versus the restaurants on the streets – the difference is obvious.

When you're feeling down, go climb the Great Wall. Seeing that magnificent, winding structure makes you realize how small you are, and somehow, the depression lifts.

Hotels in Tianjin are expensive too.

Like I've said, the only expensive things in Shanghai are accommodation and taxis; everything else is reasonably priced. You're specifically choosing to compare housing. Shanghai is a major international city, and if you compare it to other top-tier global cities, even its housing and taxis are relatively affordable.

Oh, but if you head south from Navigation Park, near the World Expo Center, there's an unobstructed view. It's also less crowded, so you can get right up to the railing.

They've posted something in the coffee shop that has very little to do with coffee, seriously.

Wow, Suzhou is so pedestrian-friendly!

I suspect we encountered the same driver.

The scenery along the Wuxi section of Taihu Lake is great, but those climbs... I'd see a hill and just sigh. The blue bike lane was full of parked cars, and the two vehicle lanes next to it were also incredibly congested. Glad I finished safely without a flat tire.

Suzhou was more fun back in my childhood, during the 80s and 90s. It really had that authentic 'Old Suzhou' charm.

This is awesome!