I've lived in Nanjing for years and haven't found the roads to be particularly bad.

It's such an impressive place. Am I weird or what? The first time I went to the Bund, I was truly impressed. So much so that I went every weekend for two years, and by the end, the novelty had worn off. But when I left, the amazement came back.

Wow, Suzhou is truly a wonderful place! I'll share my itinerary and insights with you in hopes of helping you have an equally fantastic experience!

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My walking route (for reference only; strenuous activity could strain your legs!
第一天:

1. Day 1: Suzhou Station → Suzhou Museum → Humble Administrator's Garden → Lion Grove → Pingjiang Road → Pre-Markets Street → Qili Jiatang
   • Note: This day involves visiting numerous scenic spots, mainly through walking. Friends lacking good stamina are advised to adjust their plan appropriately!
     第二天:
2. Day 2: Hanshan Temple → Xiyuan Temple → Tiger Hill → CityLink Mall (Chéng pǐn Bookstore) → Jinji Lake → Oriental Gate (also called the giant “long johns jacket!”)

**Must-visit scenic spots in Suzhou (highly recommended!)：

1. Suzhou Museum free entrance!
   • Notice: This museum is very popular, make sure to purchase tickets online at least seven days in advance. Tickets are released daily at 8 AM, visiting in the afternoon improves photograph quality with better lighting!
   • Background information: designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei, this museum features distinctive architectural style.
2. Humble Administrator's Garden price: 80 RMB
   • One of China’s four famous classical gardens, the Humble Administrator's Garden has earned its top spot. Make sure to arrive early for optimal photo opportunities among fewer crowds; this attraction will surely win your heart with the first glimpse!
3. Lion Grove price: 40 RMB
   • Famous for its unique rock formations, this scenic spot resembles a puzzle involving climbing around fake mountains, promising much fun.
4. Pingjiang Road free!
   • To immerse yourself in the picturesque setting of "bridges over flowing rivers, houses by water," this destination is perfect! You may choose to enjoy a gentle ride by hand-pulled boat (make sure to negotiate the price), attend local say-singing performances (which bear some resemblance to folk tales), or wear a Chinese robe as the backdrop for your perfect picture. The river water is so green it makes perfect photos!
5. Liu Garden price: 45 RMB
   • Also one of the four famous gardens, Liu Garden displays meticulous design despite its slightly smaller size and offers exquisite landscape scenery and architecture.
6. Hanshan Temple price: 20 RMB
   • World-renowned for an old poem, many Chinese people know "Night Anchorage at Maple Bridge." The temple itself is small; however, it ranks as one of the most famous temples in China, though I personally find Xiyuan Temple more enchanting.
7. Xiyuan Temple price: 5 RMB (really cheap!)
   • Highly recommend: This temple boasts cute cats everywhere! Enjoy a simple but satisfying vegetarian noodle soup, play with the kittens, or feed pigeons all for only 5 RMB—a real bargain!
8. Tiger Hill price: 80 RMB
   • This site has rich history and is designated as "Wuzhong's most famous scenic spot," where “Wuzhong” refers to Suzhou historically. If your schedule is tight, simply snapping shots will suffice without visiting fully.
9. Jinji Lake free entrance!
   • Important reminder: Arrive before 5 PM on Jinji Lake beach! Especially look for the monumental "frame" sculpture for a popular photo shoot. At sunset, the place looks incredibly beautiful!

️**Suzhou delicacies (a must-discover for food lovers!):

• Silent Man's Pan-fried Bao: Hot pan-fried bao with juice bursting out upon first bite, featuring springy meat filling! 🥰 (P.S. "pan-fried" refers to the crispy bottom of small stuffed bao)
• Wang's Twin Pagoda Pancake: This speciality cooked in a traditional oven comes both salty and sweet; enjoy it fresh hot for crispier dough!
• Tai Yanyuexin: A surprise to see this trendsetting milk tea shop in Suzhou! Treat yourself to a delightful sip!
• Su Yanxi•Suzhou Cultural Noodle Shop (Suzhou Museum location): Well known for noodle dishes near the Suzhou Museum, its noodles are springy and tasty, perfect either with the red broth or clear soup. Try signature dishes including sour sweet "Squirrel Perch", a seasonal fish-shaped dish with tangy taste.
• Su Xiangxing•Suzhou Style Noodle Shop: Located in Shiquan Street, this noodle shop offers highly preferred cuisine for visitors after the beautiful small garden visit. Dishes of choice are: stewed pork noodles, crab yellow noodles with seasonal availability and a higher price tag.

A small accommodation recommendation:

• Stay near Pre-Markets Street or Pingjiang Road. Both places are located within Suzhou city center; easy access to major attractions saves time and energy! Start exploring with fun-filled shopping and eating immediately upon arrival.
• I've frequently stayed at Inn Alley Art Hostel. Conveniently close to subway station and scenic spots, offering a clean and tidy environment within Pre-Markets Street at reasonable cost!

Transportation advice:

• Suzhou attractions are relatively concentrated, easily accessed by taking Metro, providing great convenience
• Other than subway rides, feel free to grab a small electric bike (e-bike) for local exploration, but keep safety measures and abide traffic regulations in mind!

P.S. All prices mentioned are in RMB and might be subject to change at present time.
Have a safe trip and enjoy your journey in Suzhou!

Here's my sharing of the impressions from a self-planned trip to Taiwan, for those who are planning on going there:

Firstly, Taiwanese men tend to look well put-together, wearing clothes with deliberate style.
(We mainland Chinese boys really could learn a lot from this: at least keep the hair clean and free from oiliness, okay?)

Not just the boys, girls also speak in a gentle and soft voice, which is particularly pleasant. Listening to them talk made me feel much more relaxed and I would unconsciously slow down my speech too.

Their pace of life feels slow and leisurely with almost no one seen rushing on the roadways.
Even the motorcycle-riding food deliverymen don't appear to be in any hurry.

All kinds of tea milk tea shops litter the streets — so many unfamiliar brands not seen in mainland China!
The prices are similar, approximately NT$60-70 per cup (roughly RMB15). Surprisingly, their tea milk tends to be lighter, with a stronger tea taste. Moreover, boys AND girls both seem to love tea milk, seen everywhere with a cup in hand.

Convenience stores like 7 Eleven and Family Mart are everywhere too. It feels like most people solve their daily meals there!
And the flavors inside the stores' drink coolers, sandwiches, and all kinds of boxed meals (termed "Bento") taste really good!

On food: fried chicken cutlet is unmissable!
The meat is tender and juicy, not dry at all and served on the bone as well — if mainland China had this kind of cutlet, it would be amazing! Overall, their cooking style is light and slightly sweet. Their beef noodles are also delicious but tend to be on the salty side.
*Meal tip: Order "half tendon half meat" to enjoy a richer texture!

Japanese restaurant-style and Teppanyaki grills were also many and good, without high prices.

Traveling by rail (similar to our high-speed rail) is also interesting:
No real-name system is needed to buy tickets.
If you only purchased a non-designated seat ticket, you can take any train on the day with that ticket and sit anywhere if there is an available seat, otherwise standing for a while. But the carriage is pretty quiet and everyone remains considerate.

Taiwanese Railway Bento Boxes (Taiwan railway's boxed meals) seem quite well-known, cheap yet delicious. Many people will deliberate queue to purchase it as they ride on the train, probably their one form of customs or ritual?

Taiwan streets almost don't have garbage bins!
I walked several streets carrying my empty tea milk cup with no place to dispose of it, ending up taking it back to my hotel before dumping it. Hence, it might be best to carry your own small trash bag.

Taxi and Uber drivers were all extremely polite, overall seem good-natured.
Especially taxi cabs, which are spotless inside without cigarette smell (mainland China taxi drivers should learn from this!).

Taipei seems to be filled with relatively old-looking buildings and hotels with similarly aged facilities at not cheap prices.

In comparison, Taichung left an especially good impression on me!
With high value for the price, comfortable climate and delicious food.

If I have the opportunity to return to Taiwan next time, I must stay longer in Taichung.
Intending to find a room overlooking Sun Moon Lake, stroll around the old streets, try out the local snacks, etc.

I'm in this exact situation now. What should I do? Just keep letting them postpone it and then go for the shoot?

I'm in the car and I'm practically melting, it's so stuffy in here!

True devotion and spiritual practice aren't defined by whether a place is dilapidated or luxurious, nor even by whether it's a temple. If you have Buddha in your heart, you can practice anywhere. Even in the most worldly places, if one maintains a compassionate and enlightened mind, then divinity can be found everywhere.

If you want to have a really good experience, chartering a car is still the way to go. DM me if you're interested. No hidden fees, no scams, all prices clearly stated.

There's a comforting, authentic, down-to-earth feeling to it. So real.

30°C! Time to bring out the cute dresses!

When I went, there weren't many tourists. It wasn't difficult to get a taxi; my ride request was accepted almost instantly.

Just got back from Suzhou. The local delivery riders are a trip! They're all blasting music from speakers and grooving while they ride.

See you today!

You should appreciate a place for what it offers. When in Suzhou, aren't you there for its famous gardens with their 'scene-changes-at-every-step' design? You can't expect to find the kind of vast, desolate landscapes of Western Sichuan here, can you?

Haha, same here! I transferred back to Hangzhou after working in Beijing for two years. Beijing is nice too, but I just couldn't get used to the dry climate.

Given Zhejiang's climate, pretty much any park should be beautiful.

Any recommendations for good places to eat?

There are many mainland Chinese in Taiwan now. You'll generally find a welcoming atmosphere; it's not really an issue. You're welcome to visit Taiwan!

Oh my god, this incident really sends shivers down my spine! When I was in Taiwan before, I visited a place that felt oddly strange at the time. However, I didn't dare to reveal any details about it online.

• But guess what? Recently, I saw news saying that in the construction site where I once went, someone actually fell from a great height and died!
• To be honest, that place was simply a mess:
  • It seemed to me like certain rules were thrown out the window because of some reasons (possibly to meet the deadline?), and everything was left in utter disarray.
  • I also heard that some projects were contracted by suspicious organizations with murky backgrounds, and the workers would often fight each other.
  • Meanwhile, the workers were hired from all around the world, from all walks of life. But the issue was that many local engineers had problems even communicating in basic English, leading to huge communication barriers and misunderstandings.
  • In short, strange things happened there every day.
• Indeed, I couldn't believe that no one had died in such a chaotic place, thinking it was purely a blessing of Taiwan’s relatively good management system.
• However, it turned out that less than two weeks later, someone actually did lose their life…
• At the exact spot where the accident occurred, I used to work in a similar position before. Now every time I recall that day, I get cold sweats all over my body.

️ Special reminder to those planning trips or working in Taiwan:

• Stay safe! Especially if you see disorganized construction sites with poor management, make sure you stay away from them! This is no joke.
• If you plan to work in Taiwan, particularly physically-demanding jobs or construction works, ensure that you carefully check the safety of your working environment and whether it has essential safety measures. Do not risk your life just to earn some money!

I will upload some photos taken by me at that time just for record, but I won't post more graphic ones to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.

Solo Travel # Taiwan # Construction Sites in Taiwan # Workplace Safety Accident # Life Overseas # Working Overseas

When using public transport, try to let passengers exit before you board. (This is to avoid unexpectedly encountering people rushing to get off; sometimes you might even get chided and told to let those on board alight first.)