EDC China 2023 was held recently on October 2-3 over the Chinese National Holidays in Suzhou. This was the first time EDC had been held in China since a 3 year hiatus from the last edition in Guangzhou due to the pandemic. I’m a big fan of Insomniac and EDC, having been to EDC Las Vegas 7 times. As I live in Asia and already had a valid Chinese visa, checking out the festival was a convenient decision.
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Tickets
I was able to buy tickets in advance for 1580 RMB each for GA tickets + 3% service fee for international credit cards. WeChat Pay & AliPay were also available of course without the international fee. Fortunately, WeChat Pay and AliPay both have recently started accepting international credit cards. Tickets required inputting your passport or Chinese ID information.
Transportation
To reach Suzhou from abroad, the most convenient option is to fly to one of the Shanghai airports, or Wuxi Airport closer to Suzhou if there are direct flights. You can then take a train to Suzhou from one of the major train stations, such as Shanghai Station or Hongqiao Railway Station. The train journey is quick, convenient, and cost-effective, only being about 30 minutes and around 38 RMB or more. A taxi from Shanghai wouldn’t be too unreasonable either, starting from 300 RMB or so.
I didn’t find out until the second day, but it turned out that there were free shuttles from various locations around Suzhou, as well as a free round trip shuttle from Shanghai. While there was an English language website, it lacked detailed information about these options. For more comprehensive details, it was better to follow Chinese social media or use the WeChat mini program. However, the shuttles had to be booked for specific timeslots in advance, and some of the hotel shuttles required you to be a staying guest (not actually enforced)
Without the free shuttle, transportation would be somewhat painful. There was free parking if you were able to drive, but otherwise taxis would hit traffic closer to the event, and the drop-off point was around a 20-minute walk from the festival grounds. Leaving the festival also required a 20-minute walk to find a taxi and probably a long waiting time to actually get a taxi. Fortunately, a friend picked us up the first night and the second night we snuck onto the W Hotel shuttle.
Entry Experience
During the first day, there were longer waiting times at the entrance due to crowd control measures, creating lines where people would often get stuck for 20-30 minutes at a time. Ticket checks were performed at the very end, and although it was stated that an actual passport or Chinese ID was required, we found we could enter just with an ID number. However, the linking of tickets to ID number made it difficult to resell or gift tickets to others without the ID number.
Festival policies of what was allowed were similar to other festivals, such as no beverages or snacks allowed (I was allowed to keep my snacks). One noticeable difference was that no flags or totems were allowed, likely to avoid political trouble.
Music and Crowd Atmosphere
The music lineup at EDC China encompassed a mix of international DJs and local talent. There were four stages: Kinetic Field, Stereo Bloom, CircuitGrounds, and the boomboxARTCAR which are all from other EDCs. The stages were full versions of the stages from past EDC editions, and had high productive value and were very impressive visually. However, it felt like the energy of the crowd did not always match that of festivals in Europe or America, where everyone is more energetic and actively dancing.
Festival Grounds and Amenities
One significant drawback of the festival experience was the muddy festival grounds. Held on a grassy field, recent rainfall in Suzhou left behind muddy patches, despite the organizers’ efforts to cover them with carpets. We often found ourselves with dirty shoes as a result. Water was initially provided for free but ran out quickly, and the limited number of toilets posed an inconvenience, especially since there were only two areas designated for restroom facilities. While food and drinks were available for purchase on-site at reasonable prices, the selection of was somewhat limited and so-so in quality. Payment was only available through WeChat Pay or AliPay, no cash or credit card, but at least there was free WiFi to get around poor signal quality.
Art and Overall Experience
EDC China did showcase scattered art installations throughout the festival site, enhancing the overall atmosphere and providing visual appeal. The second day saw significant improvements in terms of logistics, with shorter lines and less crowding. However, this seemed to translate into a slight decrease in overall energy levels, causing the festival atmosphere to lose some of its initial vibrancy.
Final Verdict
Overall, EDC China 2023 provided a mixed experience. The first day’s logistical challenges brought the rating down to a 6/10, but the improved organization on the second day raised it to a 7/10. While the festival offered an enjoyable experience, I wouldn’t classify it as a must-do event. Despite it being fun , I would probably go to other festivals before deciding to return to EDC China in the future.