June 17, 2023
Mandarin Immersion (Part 34)
By Simon J. Lau
For my last major stop in China, I’ll be spending time in Suzhou. It was founded in the 6th century BC and is among China’s largest and most developed cities. It’s known for its canals, bridges, and manicured gardens. It’s been called by many as the “Venice of the East.”
In my opinion, this is the most romantic city I’ve visited in all of China. There are many restaurants and bars that line the canals, providing an intimate setting to enjoy time with a significant other. The old-school ancient city vibes also help add to the ambiance.
Another reason I visited was because my favorite Chinese TV show, All Is Well, was filmed here. Most modern Chinese TV shows are terrible. Strict adherence to censorship laws has seriously muted creativity. This show, however, was wonderful. It also featured many of Suzhou’s ancient canals and historic sites. It was beautiful! I couldn’t help but think that someday I had to visit. Now, here I am! I’m very pleased that this is my last major stop in China. It’ll make for a fitting end to a very memorable journey.
In coming here, I made the mistake of not buying my high-speed rail ticket sooner. It took forever to buy the ticket (much longer than usual), I was delayed by 3+ hours, and I had to upgrade my ticket to first class from second class. That said, I’m happy to report that first class is indeed a modest improvement over second class. There’s more space, better seating, and complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. I was surprised to find, however, that most of my fellow passengers were Chinese hipsters. Who would have thought? 🤷♂️
Unfortunately, this premium seating was offset by my basic accommodations. It’s hard for accommodations to be so basic or bad that I regret not springing for something more, but I regret it this time. 😅 The bathroom could use some TLC, and I couldn’t get the AC temperature down low enough to make the room comfortable.
I should note, I’m in a single room at a hostel, not a shared room. If I were 28 and not 38, I may have considered a shared room. However, considering how much I regret this single room, a shared room would surely have been far worse. Maybe I should consider this a win? 🧐
That said, I did find this to be funny. The bed above mine has the Winnie the Pooh character featured prominently on the mattress. Winnie the Pooh is banned in China because Chinese netizens have used the character to mock Xi Jinping. What do you think? Any similarities? 😅
Finally, I made my way to a local bar. When I arrived, there were no other customers, only the bartender/owner and me. Initially, she engaged me in modest conversation. However, quickly she turned her attention to her phone. This was a first for me in China. Every other bartender I’ve sat with in China has always spent time engaging me in conversation, especially when there were no other customers to serve. Maybe I’m losing my touch? No, I refuse. Not when I’m visiting the “Venice of the East!” I’ll try again and report back. 🫡
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