Bloody Lonely Planet

January 18, 2014 10:03 PM

On taking a train from Shanghai, and visiting tourist attractions in China
posted by paleyellowwithorange (6 comments total)

I read through it waiting for the gotcha, the M. Night Shyamalan moment. But it was a blog post. About catching a train to Suzhou. Okay.
posted by Jimbob at 11:01 PM on January 18, 2014 [4 favorites]

This read a bit like If All Stories Were Written Like Science Fiction Stories
posted by ts;dr at 11:04 PM on January 18, 2014 [2 favorites]

I don't get it. It's just a travel blog, right? What am I missing here?
posted by modernnomad at 11:17 PM on January 18, 2014

This is a typical entry for any "I know, I'll take a gap year/teach abroad and become a travel writer!" sort of blog.

I hate to be that person, but how is this "the best of the web"? It's not even a particularly good iteration of the "I know, I'll...!" type of travel blog.
posted by Sara C. at 11:21 PM on January 18, 2014

When you read about visiting Suzhou online, people critisise it by being a disappointment, suggesting that it's not what people imagine when they want to visit a Chinese water town, and that the development has spoiled the old town. I have to disagree. We found it to be a cute
boatmen on the canalstown with those pretty views that you picture when you think about old China. Yes, it is developed. There is McDonald's and Starbucks and there are lots of factories and skyscrapers. But you can't expect people to keep things traditional just so we tourists can go and enjoy it and experience the 'China' that we have seen in the movies. There has to be compromise.

Errr... Well, the thing is, it's not just the foreigners' view - historically there is an old traditional saying well known in China: "up there is Heaven/Paradise, down here is Suzhou and Hangzhou" , meaning that these had the reputation of being distinctively pleasant cities amongst all ancient Chinese cities . the waves of Communist and "Communist"/capitalist development have eroded the distinctive character hugely, though of course with improvements in living standards.
posted by Bwithh at 11:23 PM on January 18, 2014

Strength of the link notwithstanding, if you find yourself in China, and you've got time, absolutely travel by train. Aside from the best sleep I've ever had, it's just a fantastic way to see the country. The 48 hour train from Wuhan to Kunming was one of the best parts of the year I lived in China, and following that, the 36 hour trip from Kunming to Guilin.

I haven't been back, and it's been so long, I don't even know what trains are like now, but the hard sleeper, middle bunk was the way to go. The top bunk didn't have enough room to sit up, so the guy up there would always sit on the bottom bunk. Middle bunk, plenty of space, no random stranger sitting on your bed all day.
posted by Ghidorah at 11:36 PM on January 18, 2014 [1 favorite]