Poor accounting major

See? There's a Taiwanese IP right below you.

Fuzhou is even more boring.

Independent travel for individuals was never really open in the first place. I myself went to Taiwan on an exhibition visa.

Alright, allow me to give you my impression of this place. If your children are younger than junior high school age (typically kids under 14 or 15 in China), truthfully, this attraction may not be worthwhile for you.

For starters, it seems more like an educational centre designed for school field trips. High schools often make use of such places to make their classes more engaging. It's not exactly the go-to amusement venue for a family outing.

And let me give you another jarring piece of information: tickets for adults cost more than those for children! Seriously, what adult would find this fascinating? Kids are supposed to gain knowledge from it.

This experience didn't work out well for us for a few reasons:

• Too Much Like School, Lack of Play:

  • It emphasizes science explanations heavily. That's great for senior students who grasp the relevant concepts, but not so much for younger children.
  • Most little ones seemed overwhelmed by rushing through the exhibits, not absorbing any information. They were desperately searching for something fun amidst all those serious-looking machines.
  • I witnessed a few kids hitting the equipment out of curiosity, probably believing it was some kind of game. They had no idea about the scientific principles behind it.

• Not Very Interactive:

  • There wasn’t much you could do to actively engage with the exhibits. The so-called “interactive” ones felt rather lacklustre.

• Snack Trap!

  • Don't get me started on the cotton candy -- it’s way too pricey!

Here Are My Hot Tips and Warnings for Fellow Travelers:

Age Check:

• Heads Up: If your children are young (elementary school age – roughly 6 to 11 years old – or younger), they'll most likely be bored.
• Why? This centre focuses on older students who can grasp and enjoy the more detailed scientific explanations.
• How to Avoid Disappointment: If you have younger children, choose an amusement park or a playful museum instead.

Expectation Management:

• Heads Up: Don’t expect this to be a highly interactive, Disneyland-style science museum where every exhibit is a fun game.
• Why? This is more academic, aimed at explaining science principles and sometimes featuring static displays.
• How to Avoid Disappointment: For older kids, present the visit as a learning opportunity over sheer enjoyment.

Cotton Candy Alert:

• Heads Up: Be prepared for the inflated price of the cotton candy.
• Why? Due to tourist demand, prices can rise.
• How to Avoid Disappointment (for your wallet): Bring your own snacks or prepare yourself for the higher cost if your child really wants that candy cloud.

The layout I'm seeing here is hilarious, hahaha!

Cold! 🥶 A damp kind of cold.

Postponed from late March to May. What a drag!

In Feng Shui terms, Beijing is associated with Water and Earth elements, and their energies are quite strong here. People for whom these elements are inauspicious will definitely find it uncomfortable, regardless of their financial status or whether they're a local.

All big cities have traffic jams, but Beijing's congestion is on another level.

Haha, the cost of living is pretty high, huh?

I've been here for 6 days. Initially, I also felt it was a bit of a 'food desert.' But yesterday, I tried Hangzhou cuisine for the first time, and the Vegetarian Rolled Chicken (Su Juan Ji) was delicious! I plan to try more today. Maybe it's because I'm from northern China, but I don't find West Lake boring at all. I spent three days just exploring the nearby attractions (I take my time and sometimes just sit and enjoy the breeze). I've also checked out a few different night markets on various evenings, and they were fantastic to wander through. I could happily spend two hours at the City Balcony just chilling and enjoying the breeze. Everywhere I've been is so clean, the people seem really upbeat, and there are so many pretty, fair-skinned young women – I'm seriously envious! Hangzhou is truly my favorite tourist city I've visited so far.

So, if you can't get used to the food, it just means Hangzhou is terrible, right? Brilliant deduction!

Apologies for jumping in, but wishing the OP much success! For anyone interested, I've got discounts for high-end salon chains (like Wen Feng/Hao Feng). We offer: dry cleaning, hair services (wash-cut-style, treatments, perms, color), beauty care, massage, etc. Unbeatable prices: A wash-cut-style (reg. ¥60) for just ¥15! A premium cut (reg. ¥90) for ¥22.5. A precision cut (reg. ¥128) for ¥38. Tech Director's cut (reg. ¥188) for ¥56. Salon Manager's cut (reg. ¥388) for just ¥97! Group discounts too, e.g., a signature Yishiman perm/color (choose one, reg. ¥2000) for just ¥300. DM me for these, other services, or info on discount cards (like a 16-session dry/wet cleaning card, or 30-38% off cards for ¥1000-¥5000 value) and online top-up! [Rose emoji]

I just want to try those butterfly pastries all you Shanghai folks say are amazing. A 4-hour queue, though!

Didi in Shanghai is absolutely terrible. (I take short trips daily and endure so much frustration.)

It was midday, took a Didi in Suzhou. Parking wasn't allowed where he stopped, so we spent ages looking for the driver. When we finally got in, he started yelling at us, complaining about why we were taking a cab at noon. He kept scolding us throughout the ride. Seriously, if you don't want the job, don't do it! He even claimed we forced him to take the order.

Definitely steer clear of crab roe noodles from places like Li Baixie; old-school Suzhou locals don't really eat those 'glutinous-textured' trendy dishes. If you want to try a local specialty noodle, go for Three-Shrimp Noodles (San Xia Mian) – it's a long-standing classic. Crab roe noodles have only recently exploded in popularity; we'd barely heard of them before. For traditional rice cakes (gaotuan), get them from well-established brands like Zhu Hongxing, Huang Tianyuan, or Wanfuxing. Make sure to eat them warm.

Oh my god, I feel the complete opposite! Guangzhou is great, I'll definitely come back. When I'm with a group, I always get a 7-seater. It's super fast, and the drivers' service is way better than in Beijing.

I feel Kyoto is a bit more untouched and tranquil.