It really is beautiful! It's just a shame it was overcast today, and so cold I couldn't wait for the sunset and had to leave.

Is Kinmen open for everyone to visit now?

You're welcome! It's designed to be an easy and scenic route. Just a heads up, some recommended spots are more about the charming details than grand spectacles, so don't be disappointed if they're not all super grand, haha!

Can you even name a temple in downtown Guangzhou that isn't profit-oriented?

Sure thing! Here's the edited "Complaints Roundtable" for easy understanding by foreign friends, while also avoiding the pitfalls!

Title: #Avoid Pits in Beijing Travel #The Eight Great Wall Experience #Watch Out For Shopping Pitfalls!

Cough cough, dear travelers planning a trip to Beijing, sharing an extraordinary encounter from yesterday that can help you dodge problems and stay out of trouble.

• Yesterday, as we came out of the Gong王府, (a large residence of an imperial prince from the Qing Dynasty, very famous!), someone approached us offering to take our group up the Great Wall. Since we already planned on visiting, but hadn’t booked transportation, we decided to check it out.

  • The price seemed reasonable at 100 yuan per head. We linked with the contact via WeChat, (an essential Chinese chat and payment app) to discuss the details.

• This morning, at 7:30am, a small vehicle picked us up from a certain pickup point, transferring to a larger bus.

  • Then began the long wait … they keep picking people up and waiting, dragging on until 9:30 to finally set off to the Great Wall. (We had originally planned to be at the Great Wall very early in the morning and proceed at leisure, unhurried)

• The journey took one hour and half, arriving near the Great Wall attraction around 11am.

  • During the first hour in the coach, the guide kept talking without a break, emphasizing that this was not just a sightseeing trip; if one wants to travel, they must be prepared to spend money. Not allowing people to rest and repeatedly 'brainwashing', they pushed us into seeing a performance called 'Dragon Dance over Nine Provinces' (charging another 100 yuan per head).

• Finally arriving under** BadalingGreatWall** (the most famous section of the Great Wall near Beijing), it was close to noon.

  • The only 150 minutes (2.5 hours) given to climb the Great Wall was accompanied by continuous persuasion: “Instead of walking, take the cable car to avoid fatigue”. It should be mentioned however that our own walk was no big feat, and not particularly strenuous – quite manageable.

• At 2:30pm, we were taken again to another place for lunch (I suffered diarrhea later – the food quality… you get the gist).

• After the meal, the day’s highlight (or lowlight) arrived – shopping. The guide was an expert at persuasion, making me feel almost guilty for purchasing nothing at all.

• Beware! Don’t believe roadside solicitors for ‘one day tours’ in Beijing!

  • Especially those coming out at the entrance of tourist spots. They usually attract people with lower prices, but have the tour filled with extra expenses and shopping traps during the travel, wasting time, and providing a poor traveling experience.

  • How to avoid: Plan ahead and choose official travel agencies or consider public transportations such as train or the ‘tourism line’ bus to BadalingGreatWall, or a taxi/ride service.

  • Take note, the guides will urge you to purchase goods & services, yet you retain the right to decline!
  • They might promote various paid items or gifts. Remember that money is in your hands; if you don’t want to buy, you can freely reject them; don’t be moved by persuasive selling tactics, nor hesitate to refuse.
  • How to deal with it*: Stay firm regarding to what you want to pay for. If opting not to join the trips or purchase anything, politely but affirmatively decline.

• Severe warning! Later, you might be taken to ‘specified stores’ to shop once again!
  • Don’t buy anything here, mostly known as “Three No Goods” (no product name, no address of manufacturer, and no certificate of qualification)! The quality is extremely untrustworthy, and can even be double-priced.
  • How to Avoid: Should you land in a ‘specified store’, view yourself merely as a spectator. Look around but refrain from purchasing anything, and don’t give in to the guides’ empty words of “if you don’t buy, this that will happen.”

I hope my personal experience could give others a reminder. Enjoy your time exploring Beijing without falling into these common pitfalls!

Yo, friend, you're heading to Shanghai on May 3rd and 4th, right? I should let you know that it will just be around the Labor Day holiday (or right after), which means there will be a lot of people – so many that you'll doubt your ability to cope! But don't worry, I'm here for you!

• Crowd Alert! Prepare yourself mentally!

  • The time you've chosen means that at Shanghai's major tourist attractions like the Bund (which features a bunch of beautifully old buildings along the Huangpu River) and Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street (a bustling shopping street), people will flood in. Imagine taking a photo without seeing anybody – you'll find that pretty hard!
  • For popular restaurants, you might need to queue for one or two hours just to get a table.

• Caution: Travel Warnings & How to Fix Them:

  • Metro will be packed: Although it's your best bet for traveling around the city due to its lack of traffic, the subway trains' inside will be incredibly crowded. Prepare yourself for "sardine can" like conditions.
    • Tip: Avoid peak hours (8-9 am & 5-7 pm) as much as possible. Buy a 3-day pass to save time on queuing up at each station.
  • Taxis/ride-hailing services: During peak times and near popular sights, it may be difficult to get a ride and prices might soar.
    • Tip: Try multiple ride-hailing apps, or move to slightly less congested places before calling for a ride.
  • Ticket purchases: Bookings are best made through official App or website for major tourist sites such as the Oriental TV Tower or Disney Resort if you plan on visiting.
    • Tip: Snatch up tickets as soon as they become available online; line-ups at售票窗口会让你崩溃。

• Watch out for these "traps":

  • The 'enthusiastic' guides on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street: Some may try pulling you into shops that sell overpriced teas, silk, or local goods with poor quality.
    • Tip: Smile and politely turn them down if uninterested. Purchase souvenirs from licensed and price-marked stores instead.
  • Free tea art/art viewing shows: Beware of strangers inviting you to experience such shows for free; it could be a high-price trap hidden behind this offer.
    • Tip: There's no free lunch in this world. Politely decline.
  • Ticket scalpers: Steer clear of those selling tickets to tourist attractions or trains at inflated prices – purchasing here would risk your purchasing fake or overpriced tickets.
    • Tip: Buy directly from official or authorized sellers.

• Some small tips:

  • Consider going to less frequented but lovely spots, like the streets (Wukang Road, Anfu Road, etc.) in the former French Concession to explore specialty shops and sip some coffee. While people might still be many, your experience may slightly better.
  • Shanghai Museum is a good option, free of admission and has some waiting in line.
  • Don't forget to stop at some old-established restaurants for Xiao Long Bao (a type of steamed bun), but expect a wait.

All in all, approach the situation with ease, don't overload your trip with too much activity, and enjoy the urban hustle and bustle. Have fun!

How is Xiangcheng District? Is it considered a suburb? The company I'm joining is near Caohu. Is that area considered remote?

I came specifically to try Suzhou's local cuisine, hahaha! But I discovered most dishes are sweet. After three days, I'm still not quite used to it.

The beauty of 'a new scene at every step' is best appreciated when there are fewer people, allowing one to stroll alone and savor it slowly. But now, these tiny places are packed with so many tourists, it's just noisy and chaotic. Who's in the mood to appreciate anything? Even if you try, you're completely blocked by the crowds. Plus, you constantly have to watch your step to avoid falling into the water. And those railings on the stone bridges are a real eyesore. I have to specifically call out Lion Grove Garden – it's unattractive, not enjoyable, and they still dare to charge an entrance fee!

Relax, the plum rain season (Meiyu) hasn't even started yet.

I just want to say, the article is spot on.

@然糠自照 Uhm...

It's this particular building (Portman). It gives off such an intense, almost overwhelming vibe. Other places are generally fine.

That's what everyone who hasn't been to Lujiazui says.

Exactly. If my foot is hurting and the only seat available is a priority seat, I'll take it too.

Nanjing University? Do people even need to go on exchange from there?

Was the black bear big? Does it attack people?

I'm truly speechless...

Yes, there are plenty of youth hostels around these days.

Could you please help leave a comment on the networking/resource-sharing thread? That way, more people who could use it will see it.