Suzhou 苏州

Suzhou Canals
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Suzhou 苏州

(29 May'2005 to 31 May'2005)

Suzhou - Not a interesting town.

From Mongolia back to Beijing, I was trying to get a train ticket to Hangzhou on the very same day but I couldn't get any train ticket to Hangzhou on the same day or next day, don't know why, so I bought a train ticket to Suzhou for the next day (28 May'2005) and I stay in my V friend friend's house for one night then catch the train to Suzhou on the next day evening.

Old tree found inside the Suzhou Museum.
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That day in Beijing, I went early to train station few hours before the train departure, I went to café internet to spent my time there checking emails and reply my emails. When time for checking in, I went to the gate, five minutes before the train move, when I about to enter the gate, showing my train ticket to the guard, he stop me from going in, I ask why, he said; my train ticket was meant for next day, I quickly check the ticket date and it was true, the counter lady issue a wrong date ticket to me, I took my two big backpacks ran all the way to the ticketing counter request to change ticket, she refuse to change for me because the train about to leave, I told her I can make it and finally she changed for me.

While waiting for the counter lady to issue the train ticket, there was a man approaching me, offering me to carry my bag (not for free), I rejected and I took my new train ticket, ran all the way, going through the checking and scanning machine system and rush back to the gate. Along the way, there was another man working in the train station coming to ask me which train number, when I told him which train number, he said; quick the gate already close, then he ask me for train ticket before he can open the gate for me, I found it funny, when my first time went to the gate it was on the left side and how come this worker was on the right side of the gate, later when he knew it was a replace train ticket, he said; I must pay him for RMB100 first before he open the gate for me, I was so angry with him and scolded him (It was my bad experience with the stupid guy in the train station, he was trying his luck to earn my money.), at the same time I do remember my first time approach the gate was on the left side, so I took my train ticket from him and ignore him, and ran to the correct gate and enter into the gate, ran like a mad dog without stopping with my two heavy bags, as the train was just about to leave, when I was onboard the train, I slow down and walk. When I reach my cabin, my whole body and clothes was terrible wet after the run, it was more than 20kg of both bags added, crazy heavy and I ran with it.

Took a long journey, many hours on the train from Beijing to Suzhou over night on the train and reach the next day late afternoon. When I arrived Suzhou, it was my first time there, so I've no idea which direction to go, Suzhou was not the town I plan to go but because I can't get the Hangzhou ticket, so end up I was there and from there I plan to take a bus or train to Hangzhou.

When I reach Suzhou, I ask for the hotel rate, it was beyond my budget so I try to check in to their local hostel (which not allow for foreigners), when I gave my passport for register, they could tell that I am not local so they can't let me stay there, with no choice, I was walking further to look for another local hostel to try again.

When I walk for far away from the train station, I approach another local hostel, when the lady knew that I'm not local, she said; she can't let me stay but when she saw me carry my heavy bags so poor thing, so she allow me to stay in the local hostel. She treated me very nice, she offer me fruits to eat and trying to take care of me while I stay there.

I travel in China for many weeks in different provinces, I've never encounter any mosquitoes but when I reach Suzhou, there were a lot of mosquitoes, my room itself have a lot and I've kill some, they were all stick flat on the walls…ha..ha…

The book mention Jiangsu is most famous, Suzhou is in Jiangsu province but have nothing to offer, when I was there, I was really bore, most of the time I spent my time in the café internet to kill time. The place of interest is not very interesting at all, I visited two spot, I felt waste of time and not worth the money, therefore, I spent my money in the internet chatting with friends.

The worse thing was, when the night come, time to go to bed sleep, I had all the friends singing to me….mosquitoes flying around my ears so noise and I can't sleep, I've to keep on slap here and there to try to kill it during the light switch off, I suffer for two nights and I decided to left the town fast, bought the train ticket to Hangzhou.

Well, the book recommend Jiangsu province is famous but I guess not refer to Suzhou, so if the next time you go Shanghai, thinking of cover another town, you can skip Suzhou for sure.

Tips: I just came back from China (Dec'06 to Feb'07), I meet a lady who is working in Suzhou as English teacher for a few months over there, she also agreed with me that there is nothing much to offer in Suzhou.

To read on my Hangzhou story, click on next.