Wang Xiaoyu’s Annual Travel: A Journey Through Shanghai, Suzhou, and Nanjing (2020.8.14-2020.8.23)

Duration: 9 days, Time: August, Average Cost per Person: 5600 yuan, Companion: Solo, Activities: Foo[...]

Duration: 9 days, Time: August, Average Cost per Person: 5600 yuan, Companion: Solo, Activities: Food, Shopping, Photography, Culture, Free Travel, Bohemian, Gourmet Guide. The author visited these places: Shanghai Yu Garden, City God Temple, Wu Kang Road, Bund, Lujiazui, Jing’an Temple, Zhongshuge Bookstore, Oriental Pearl Tower, Suzhou Museum, Eslite Bookstore, Old East Gate, Jinmao Tower, Shanghai Urban Development History Exhibition Hall, Nanjing City Wall, Nanjing Museum, Shanghai Old Shaanxi Inn, Nanjing Confucius Temple, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Qinhuai River. Published on 2020-08-26 00:28. This travelogue is divided into several parts: itinerary strategy, food, hostel recommendations, medium-intensity sightseeing strategy, eco-friendly travel, precautions (tips), expenses, interesting encounters, and reflections.

Part 1 – Itinerary Strategy:
Overall arrangement: 5 days in Shanghai – 1 day in Suzhou – 3 days in Nanjing.
Since I visited Suzhou in 2017 and missed the line for the Suzhou Museum, this trip focused mainly on the Suzhou Museum, with a greater emphasis on Shanghai.

Day 1: XSPACE Fuji Image Public Space Photo Exhibition ‘Middle School Students in the 1980s’ – Meeting with friend Mi Dan – Guang’s Space Xinhua Bookstore (Missed the Shanghai Museum appointment).

Day 2: Yu Garden – City God Temple – Wu Kang Road – Bund.

Day 3: COVID-19 test (Travel Story/Incident 1) – Rest – Lujiazui, this moment was very touching.

Day 4: Jing’an Temple – Zhongshuge Bookstore – Oriental Pearl Tower.

Day 5: Cross-border E-commerce Product Selection Conference (Unexpectedly, missed the Shanghai Museum reservation).

Day 6: Suzhou Museum (Exhibition News: Zou Xiuying Embroidery Exhibition) – Eslite Bookstore.

Day 7: Meeting friends (Interesting Encounters) – Old Town – Xiao Bookstore – Zhonghua Gate City Wall.

Day 8: Presidential Palace – Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall – Night tour of Old East Gate.

Day 9: Chinese Imperial Examination Museum (Jiangnan Gongyuan) – Old East Gate.

Itinerary Strategy Tips:
Arrange the itinerary based on personal needs (destination resources such as exhibitions and performances) + core attractions (ensure all the most desired spots are visited) + physical strength (adjust the pace accordingly).
Most attractions now require advance booking, especially museums which should be booked 2-3 days in advance. If unable to book, there are often remaining tickets around 8 am when booking starts, so be quick!

Medium-intensity sightseeing (guided tours + careful observation):
Guided tours: Purchase audio tour services on Ctrip + rent self-guided tour devices at attractions.
Note: For the Presidential Palace, it’s not necessary to rent, as the 20 yuan device only recognizes 2-3 out of 10 points and cannot be switched manually, making it really worth asking for a refund.
Similar attractions to the Oriental Pearl Tower: Shanghai Tower (with Duiyun Bookstore inside) / Jinmao Tower.
The Oriental Pearl Tower is recommended to visit between 5-6 pm, as it transitions from dusk to night scenery within an hour.
The first floor’s Shanghai Urban Development History Exhibition Hall is truly liked, with vivid restorations of modern life scenes (with sound effects), clear and complete visiting signs, and comprehensive visiting points, making it a very favorite exhibition hall.
Wu Kang Road was originally known for its architecture, but when I went, no one was looking at the buildings, they were all taking photos…
Compared to other museums, the highlight of Suzhou Museum is the design by I.M. Pei. The architecture is truly beautiful, and it seems to have less of a heavy feeling compared to other museums, but on second thought, the exhibition halls are relatively comprehensive.
The special feature of Eslite Bookstore: There are more original foreign language books from Hong Kong and Taiwan, with each section having these books, so be sure to look for them while browsing (I asked the staff for help).
Be careful on the Nanjing City Wall, as there might be centipedes in the grass (a huge centipede’s antenna touched my arm, giving me a big scare).
Old East Gate is highly recommended, not only for its many authentic and delicious foods but also for its exquisite old buildings, which are worth a visit.

The cross-border e-commerce exhibition on Day 5中午 was purely coincidental. I met a trendy accessory seller at the hostel in the morning, and after a brief chat,It was just a pity that I missed the Shanghai Museum… Regrets: Did not take the time to appreciate the Bund’s architecture, nor took the ferry to see the night view, did not visit the Shanghai Museum/Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum/Nanjing Museum.

Part 2: Accommodation – Hostels:
Accommodation requirements: Safe, convenient, clean, and hygienic / Meet interesting people / Strong interactive and inclusive public areas, hence hostels are the first choice.
Shanghai:
– Shanghai Duoyuan Youth Hostel, 4-person room for 3 nights at ￥308.
– Shanghai Old Shaanxi Inn, 4-person + single room for 2 nights (￥86 + ￥186).
Suzhou:
– Suzhou Yiqi Yiqi Wetland Deer Youth Hostel, 1 night at ￥61 (Travel Story/Incident 2).
Nanjing:
– A Forest (Nanjing Confucius Temple Store), 4-person room for 3 nights at ￥270.

Since the attractions in Shanghai are relatively close to each other and within 1 hour from the airport/ high-speed train station, the accommodation location is roughly near the Bund (convenient). Both of these hostels in Shanghai are near the Bund, within walking distance, and there are many good places to eat nearby. The main reason for booking two different spots is to experience different hostel atmospheres, environments, and cultures.

Duoyuan:
Closer to the Bund, more convenient transportation. Study area with floor-to-ceiling windows and a row of books on the table, perfect for studying/working in the morning and evening, with a strong study atmosphere (with people preparing for civil service exams/submitting papers). Comfortable scenery (the drawback is that ventilation needs to be improved). The public area is lively with werewolf kill and other board games (I, who go out early and return late, did not join). Overall atmosphere:年轻化.

Old Shaanxi:
Can accommodate foreign guests (met friendly foreign friends). Clean, enthusiastic reception staff. A terrace on the fifth floor for drinking and chatting, enjoying the morning and evening breeze, decorated with flowers and hedges, pleasant. There is also a small study activity room on the fifth floor, billiards table. The walls of the stairs from the third to the fifth floor are filled with messages (in various languages) and drawings from past guests, full of stories and emotions. Mainly for studying and working. Within walking distance to the Shanghai Museum. Overall style: mature (mentality/age of guests).

Deer:
Convenient transportation near Suzhou Museum and Humble Administrator’s Garden, about a 15-minute walk. There are also affordable and good restaurants nearby, clean and hygienic, with a literary youth style (various white wall backgrounds, elegant and simple font decorations, the first floor hall is great for working and studying, there is also a projection lounge relaxation area on the first floor), two floors. There are also desks for studying and working outside the rooms on the second floor. Both sides of the corridor can be used for washing (one side with a very artistic mirror design). Note: my personal experience, encountered some minor harassment (Travel Story/Incident 2).

A Forest:
Very clean and hygienic, good toiletries (well-reviewed by many). The public area is very fresh with different shades of green. Through the public area outside are sofas and small tea tables for chatting. The other side of the railing is the river, not sure if it’s the Qinhuai River, but the scenery in the morning and evening is beautiful, the sound of the river water is very relaxing. There are residential buildings on the other side of the river (the street is a riverside building). From 8-9 pm there are boats coming and going on the river. Enthusiastic reception staff. Many first-time hostel guests (for example, my two roommates). A wide range of guest ages, including families with adults and children, but not very noisy. The atmosphere is very good, everyone meets and smiles. Some friends also met here and became friends.收获～There are also people studying/using computers～I like it, and there is also porridge and toast for breakfast, and in the evening, the handsome guy and pretty girl at the front desk also cook from time to time. Overall stay experience: comfortable, gentle and considerate, the terrace is suitable for calming down and thinking.

Hostel Tips:
Even if you have checked out, most hostels can store your luggage, which is convenient for picking up your bags after a day of sightseeing. Hostels also have a mix of people, not to the extent of affecting safety, but girls should be aware: some hostels may encounter harassment and catcalling (you can inquire/warn in advance about similar situations to avoid a### Shanghai Food Experience

#### Restaurants and Dishes
– **Popeyes**: Introduced by my friend Xiaomi, the first Popeyes in Shanghai, the special bone-in chicken is really juicy and delicious.
– **Da Hu Chun Sheng Jian**: Xin Bai Lu Aegean Store
– **Xiao Yang Sheng Jian** (chain)
– **San Ma Lu Restaurant**: Local Shanghai cuisine, only ordered the signature iron plate perch. They were very accommodating even when I ordered for one.
– **Xiao Shao Xing**: A place frequented by local Shanghai uncles and aunts, offering a warm and communal dining experience.
– **Dong Fa Dao Tea Restaurant**: Always crowded, but the delicious dishes make the wait worthwhile.

#### Personal Experiences
– **Popeyes**: The special bone-in chicken was a recommendation from a friend and it did not disappoint.
– **San Ma Lu Restaurant**: Enjoyed the signature dish without any discrimination for dining alone.
– **Xiao Shao Xing**: Shared a table with locals who insisted on sharing their food, starting a wonderful day.
– **Dong Fa Dao Tea Restaurant**: Despite the crowds, the quality of the food made the wait worthwhile.

### Suzhou and Nanjing Food Highlights

#### Suzhou
– **Xiao Yuan Lou**: Known for its cost-effective and delicious offerings.
– **Yong Feng Food Collection** (Eslite): The braised pork rice was divine, while the salt and pepper chicken was average.

#### Nanjing
– **Xiao Li Tang Bao**: Duck blood soup, soup dumplings, shaomai, and wontons were generously shared by friends and were delicious.
– **Jiang Nan Li**: Located in a mall, the fish soup and baked bacon potatoes were highlights.
– **Zhu Hong Xing**: Signature three-shrimp noodles with fresh shrimp and a light taste.
– **Guan Fan Guan**: A private kitchen with a quiet bar and an open-air terrace, offering a great experience, though a bit pricey.
– **Old East Gate**: A must-visit with a variety of old brands specializing in one type of food. The jasmine flower snacks and salted duck are recommended.

### Interesting People and Experiences

Before the trip, I consulted with several friends in Shanghai, including @wuli Mi Dan, @Xiao Xiao brother Tian Yu, @Huangshan trip Ling aunt, and @Archaeological personnel Ye Long. During the journey, I met various interesting people:
– Hostel encounters with Peng classmate and Wan classmate.
– A girl who helped take photos at the Oriental Pearl Tower.
– Beautiful Qingquan little beauty and Nice Yan Ning.
– Trendy boy who took me to an exhibition.
– Nice chat sharing Nanjing food and attractions with Er Ye.
– First time staying in a hostel with Yunnan Hanfu little beauty Xin Ran, who also took photos for me and went out for a walk and dinner.

Special mentions:
– Wuli Mi Dan, who reminded me to download software, took me to play, chatted, shared life, took photos, walked in the bookstore, and brought a small gift.
– Aqun and Xiaozi, who took me to breakfast, celebrated my birthday early with a cake, shared recent dynamics, walked the old city’s alleys, and introduced me to Xiao Bookstore. They also gave me film and lent a tourist annual card.

### Expenses

The total cost of the trip was approximately ￥5600, with the largest portion spent on shopping/gifts, followed by travel, transportation, accommodation, and meals/tickets. Here’s the breakdown:
– **Shopping + Gifts**: About ￥1800
– **Transportation**: Total of ￥1324 (plane ￥478 – high-speed train return ￥443, Shanghai-Suzhou-Nanjing high-speed train total ￥140, city Didi ride ￥263)
– **Accommodation**: 9 days for a total of ￥911.55
– **Meals**: About ￥900

I used accounting software to organize expenses in real time, which made the travel review process more convenient. Commonly used small programs were organized in a floating window for easy access.

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**Part 5 – Summary & Insights**

*Be serious when busy, play open when playing, enjoy every moment of the present.*
Make quick decisions and don’t get entangled; seize your time to save your procrastination, and achieve twice the result with half the effort.

*No one can tell you how your day should be arranged, where your future should go.*
Look more, listen more, think more; find your own way, and keep moving forward, adjusting in time.

*Focus, only when you are undistracted can you gain something.*
The wild flowers on the side of the road really can’t be picked. There is gain and loss; grab the main, and what should be given up should be given up.

*Remember to leave some leisure time for yourself, there may be unexpected gains.*
Try hard for what you want to do, such as my face-to-face meeting.

*Chicken soup ends, also remind myself,*
The book list really needs to be listed and read well & learn to ride a bicycle.

*Don’t judge, observe calmly.*
If you have any curiosity and questions, you can also leave a message.
(For those interested in travel stories/accidents, you can also call, it’s already written but it’s a bit wordy so it hasn’t been put up).
I will reply when I see it, and I don’t like excessive judgment (judge).

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