Guanqian Street is decent; I just ate there recently.

Compared to the relaxed atmosphere in Kaohsiung, the laid-back vibe in Shanghai feels a bit forced. Unlike Hong Kong's inclusiveness, there seems to be a lack of human touch in the way respect is shown in Shanghai. The rigid and deliberate nature of it all was quite suffocating for me. \["Bar Experiences"] #Shanghai

Take these kinds of comparisons with a grain of salt.

I understand what you mean. Malls in every city have become very uniform. Even if you change cities, the stores are the same. I prefer to explore small, independent shops on the streets. Sometimes, you can find really nice, well-tailored clothes at a more reasonable price. It feels like finding a treasure, and it's more enjoyable than shopping in malls.

They won't listen to local advice anyway. They practically want to fall into these tourist traps. So yeah, 'avoiding Suzhou' is great! Maybe it'll finally give our old town some peace and quiet.

The one that really made me laugh out loud was someone warning others to 'avoid' a snow mountain in Yunnan because the wind was too strong, and then complaining that the local government wasn't doing anything to control the wind.

Hi there! Interested in collaborating?

Being an annoying person has nothing to do with nationality, right?

Honestly, it's much better than Hong Kong. At least there's a sense of basic courtesy and decorum; they know how to be outwardly polite. It's not like Hong Kong, where many people seem like yappy little dogs, ready to pick a fight with anything and everything.

Hey, friends who are planning to visit Wutong Mountain in Shenzhen, pay attention! Be careful with this homestay (a small inn run by local residents), as I had a really unpleasant experience and it left me extremely frustrated. I wrote a review but got backlash from them… This is my first time giving a negative review and the first time I felt so strongly compelled to share my issues with all of you.

• About half a month ago, my friend and I booked this homestay on "Meituan," which is a popular app in China used for booking food, accommodations, and movie tickets.

  • We were originally planning a "May Day" holiday trip (an important public holiday in China when many people travel) with our kids to relax at Wutong Mountain, one of Shenzhen's famous mountains known for hiking and sightseeing.
  • The place had relatively high ratings and positive reviews, making it a choice we thought was good for us.
  • However, upon arrival, my God, the scene was a disappointment beyond words, miles apart from what the photos depicted.
  • My original review would have been around 800 words, but Meituan only allowed up to 500 characters, leaving me trimming down the content repeatedly to submit the review finally.

• My stay was booked for May 1st and 2nd, while my friend's stay did not begin until the 2nd.

  • We had all made our booking reservations more than half a month in advance!
  • Surprisingly though, the owner replied to my negative review claiming that, "If you feel poorly served, why add a room last minute?"
  • How could they make assumptions on adding a room suddenly? Quite perplexing, right?
  • Instead of reflecting on their own shortcomings, they even dared to reply nonsensically back to me. Most hilarious of all, below their response, there seems to be an official response template they're referring to ("Sample responses when replying to guest complaints"), wow!

• This leaves me to truly question whether reviews claiming positives are falsified…

• In terms of detailed complaints, I initially intended to include pictures to highlight how this accommodation responds to genuine visitor feedback, but unfortunately, Meituan doesn't seem to display responses to negative reviews very clearly, depriving viewers of insight into customer treatment.

Pay extra close attention! Here is an essential reiteration about common pitfalls I experienced in this stay alarmingly:

• Terrible soundproofing: Clear audibility of neighbors' talking and movements, good luck with getting restful sleep!
  • You can either bring noise-canceling earplugs or consider changing your accommodation if you're sensitive to sounds.
• Loads of mosquitoes and bugs: Given its near-mountain location, mosquito swarming is already more prominent and it appears no particular measures are taken by this establishment.
  • Bring powerful mosquito repellent or opt for a lodge with screened windows and satisfactory anti-mosquito arrangements detailed in reviews.
• Poor concierge service: Our "concierge" here refers to the staff working at the homestay. Expectation of quick response times may lead to frustration with their delay in addressing your concerns and lack of follow-through.
  • Before check-in, reach out and test platform response efficiency and then address critical matters face-to-face during your stay.
• Facilities showing wear: These pictures may look decent, but the actual conditions are noticeably aged and uncomfortable in use.
  • Review other visitors' real-life pictures to avoid being misled by promotional images alone. Check reviews for discussions regarding the age of facilities.
• Misrepresentation of facts: Like in my case, they shifted the blame away from themselves despite it being their shortcomings causing issues.
  • Keep communication records and file complaints with booking platforms against unfair treatment. When reviewing feedback, watch out for lodging's aggressive responses, indicating red flags.

Hopefully, my experience helps you in some way.

Wutong Mnt # Wutong Homestay # Wutong Travel Tips # May Day Wutong # Travel Lodging # Lodging Trap # Shenzhen Travel Tips # Wutong Route

So, where do you think is more fun, sweetie?

I used to feel that way too, but some recent events have been too disheartening.

I bought my lantern festival ticket on Xianyu for 45. My friend dragged me here, but it's actually quite a large-scale event. Line 4 runs slowly, so I usually take Line 18 to Hengli and then grab a Didi.

Wow, talking about the roads in Guangzhou, I really have a lot to say!

• Some of these streets are incredibly narrow, which makes driving or even being a passenger a bit nerve-wracking.
• And then there are those overpasses — that’s the freeway-like structures built above ordinary roads.
  • In the blink of an eye, wham! You're up on one!
• Even when following your GPS, restaurants seemingly within sight might still require you to navigate through confusing directions as if the GPS itself is at a loss.
  • If you're not from around here, getting the cardinal directions straight becomes impossible.
  • A misstep can lead you back onto one of the overpasses again — oops! Only to find that you've added several extra miles onto your journey when you finally descend.
  • With a growling stomach, your temper flares; it's real!
• The entire city feels crisscrossed with overpasses, while roads below are tiny and narrow, sometimes quite chaotic. This is indeed a headache!

Reminder for friends visiting Guangzhou (especially if you plan on driving yourself or taking taxis frequently):

• Be cautious about the “overpasses”!
  • Why be cautious? These overpasses are built above surface roads, resembling expressways within the city. Should you accidentally take one, you may find yourself far off track to your destination, leading to more detours just to get back down.
  • How to avoid trouble?
    • Pay extra attention as you near overpass entrances while using GPS. Look out for signs indicating “overpass.”
    • When taking a taxi, if the driver asks whether you want to take an overpass, you might consider the best option based on your schedule. Sometimes, overpasses speed things up, but choosing incorrectly or having inaccurate navigation may result in longer routes.
    • In reality, exploring Guangzhou city using the metro is really a smart choice — convenient and less likely to lead you astray!

How do you bargain? Do you just directly ask if they can make it a bit cheaper?

Honey, I really wouldn't recommend visiting Shanghai during Chinese New Year or peak tourist season. Shanghai is more of a cultural city, meaning visits are often about shopping and experiences. But during CNY, many interesting shops are closed, leaving not much to see beyond a few buildings on a street. And in peak season, you'll face insane queues everywhere, which builds up your expectations, only for you to be disappointed. I've tried most of those 'internet famous' spots, and honestly, none are worth that kind of wait.

You don't get Shanghai. When you get in the car, don't talk to them and sit in the back. Don't worry if they take a longer route unless you're in a real hurry. If they ask for directions, just tell them to follow the GPS. If the fare is higher than expected when you arrive, complain directly.

Wow, attention to those heading to the famous classical garden, Zhusong Garden in Suzhou for its evening activities!

• When looking for a place to store your bags on the opposite side of Zhusong Garden, be especially careful!
  • When we arrived, there was a shop right across from the main entrance of Zhusong Garden.
  • Initially, when we stored our items, they assured us that the shop would stay open until the closing time of Zhusong Garden at night.
  • But what happened? Around 5:30 PM, we tried to drop off another small bag but got the sudden notification "We are closing! Please collect your belongings!"
  • To justify themselves, they claimed that their previous statement about "closing" referred to "closing during daytime"! Oh my goodness, who uses day’s closing time as a reason to avoid after hour storage service during the night? This is ridiculous!
• Finally, we had to find another nearby store to store our bags again.
• Guess what? At 8 PM, when we entered the Zhusong Garden, the shop that claimed it had to close just recently was still fully operating! How infuriating!

️ Important Notice / Avoid Pitfalls Guide ️

• What's wrong: Near popular attractions like Zhusong Garden, especially during the night, some shops might play some tricks on you by claiming that their closing time for their storage service will be later than expected to get your business, or they use various excuses to urge you to take your belongings out early.
• How to avoid:
  • Clarify Store Closing Time: Double and triple-check their closing time. You can ask them “We plan to stay till around X o'clock at night here, will you still be open at the time?” to make sure they're not playing games with you.
  • Compare Nearby Shops: If you don't feel convinced or their answers are vague, check other places. We didn't have this problem at another nearby store.
  • Take Pictures as Evidence (Optional): It would also help to take a picture of any written information about store hours if they say so explicitly. That could be used in case any disputes arise.
  • Keep Your Eyes Open: If a store seems eager to rush you to leave quickly, you should be cautious.

I hope my experience can help save you some stress and leave you happy memories of your trip! #Bag Storage #Zhusong Garden Night Excursion #Travel in Suzhou #Travel Tips

Why would they complain about a trip to the airport? Usually, it's trips from the airport or train station that are too short that make drivers complain. That's because they've often waited in a long queue and are hoping for a more lucrative fare.

Same thing happened to me. As soon as I got in, the driver said, 'You navigate yourself.'