Yeah, Hangzhou isn't all that exciting either.

What the heck, that's so messed up! It was just over 300 including breakfast when I first looked, but after I refreshed, the price jumped to over 500 and didn't even include breakfast anymore.

One should be curious about everything. Simply having gone and experienced it makes it worthwhile. Don't always fixate on whether it's 'cost-effective' or feel regretful. If that's your attitude, then don't bother going anywhere—just stay home. You could stroll through a field, pull some weeds, and after a few days, you'd actually have something to show for it.

That's possible.

Hehe, no worries! Having some regrets this time just means there's even more to look forward to next time.

How could you visit Suzhou and not get a photoshoot done?

The loudspeakers at the Children's Palace square really cheapen the place. I noticed it last time I passed by.

I've been posted in Beijing for 5 years, earning a Shanghai salary, which is really nice. The cost of living here is quite comfortable for me. I'm a homebody, so I don't really mind not going out much – online shopping solves everything. No need to worry about mold, and there's heating in winter. The only downside to Beijing for me is probably the lack of delicious food. Takeout is often bad, many restaurants are meh, dessert shops are pitifully few, the crayfish isn't good, and the BBQ is overwhelmingly salty. Luckily, mutton hot pot is there to save my life!