Stayed Home for Four Months and Want to Elope? Reunite with Your Bestie for a Light Luxury Weekend
During the pandemic, spontaneous trips might not be possible, but work continues and life deserves to shine!
On the weekend, my old college roommate and bestie happened to have a layover in Guangzhou for business.
We cherished just 20 short hours together — some eating, drinking, and strolling were a must,
but we didn't want to rush. So I simply booked her a hotel near the airport:
Xana Hotelle, newly opened this year right by the airport,
offering light luxury, comfort, and great aesthetics —
perfect for young people with an attitude. It's the country's first hotel chain with a dedicated women's guestroom area.
Better still, it's a brand under Jin Jiang Group, and as a member I could save quite a bit 😄 haha.
My bestie landed in Guangzhou in the evening. Our last reunion here was three years ago,
when we experienced the Weiyoutong Time Special Train together, the "city train with the best stories."
Now, after living in Guangzhou for so long, we've ticked off most of the sights and malls. We thought about visiting Baiyun Mountain but didn't have enough time,
so we simply strolled around the classic Canton Tower, Shamian Island, and the Sacred Heart Cathedral, then enjoyed some Cantonese cuisine before heading back to the hotel!
After all, layovers can be tiring — we'll take a more leisurely tour of Guangzhou next time.
Guangzhou is very livable, with its mighty river full of spirit!
Whether wandering slow through old lanes or gazing up at the Canton Tower, it's utterly relaxing.
Queuing for the Ferris wheel and taking in the river view truly brightened our mood.
Leaving Canton Tower behind, a half-hour drive took us to Shamian Island, a must-see top-ten attraction. I personally love these former concession-era commercial buildings. It was formed by alluvial sand from the Pearl River, hence the name. Though only 0.3 square kilometers, it has eight lanes and streets. During the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it was a key port and resort area for trade with China and the outside world. Now it's a 5A scenic spot.
The Sacred Heart Cathedral (Stone House) was a must-visit for my bestie. Located in the city center, free to enter, but closed on Mondays.
Costing 400,000 francs, it rivals even the famous Notre-Dame de Paris and is the largest Catholic cathedral in the Guangzhou diocese.
Time flew by – while I was still enchanted by the Gothic architecture, my stomach started to rumble, so we went off in search of good food.
My bestie is a northerner, but she absolutely loves Cantonese dim sum and all kinds of Cantonese dishes.
Dian Du De Jufu Lou is one of the most popular modern affordable tea houses. Every branch is bustling, and the Huifu East Road one is no exception. The kung fu tea service wins hearts immediately, and their dim sum innovates on traditional classics while being steamed fresh to order. Each piece is crafted with exquisite care by veteran chefs.
The wrapper was crystal clear, each shrimp dumpling plump with 3-4 whole shrimp balls inside, bathed in broth. It was so delicious I couldn't resist swallowing them whole — sheer satisfaction.
A simple yet scrumptious Cantonese tea house classic — the sauce richly clings to the meat, which falls right off the bone at the lightest touch. So good!
Crispy outside, fragrant but not greasy, with just the right sweetness. There's a saying that one durian equals three chickens, very nourishing.
The tiny pigeon is packed with nutrients. You could smell the pepper and cheese with every bite. I personally skip the dip and enjoy the natural flavor.
The restaurant has many other specialties worth trying: Thai-style pork neck with rice noodle rolls, golden sand red rice rolls, and more.
We also ordered grilled eel and fried crab claw... but I'll spare you the food pics, haha~ We hurried back to the hotel after eating!
They say a refined, comfortable hotel is like a song.
In Huadong Town, Huadu District, just a 5-minute drive from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport,
there stands an elegant yet stylish boutique hotel — Xana Hotelle (Baiyunshan Airport Branch).
Six floors high, with clean, straight lines;
Xana Hotelle, a cross-border boutique hotel of chic, light luxury, transforms you the moment you step into the lobby!
Because the hotel has a "No '2' rule" — it only welcomes two types of guests:
1. All goddesses
2. High-quality male gods who respect goddesses
Bold, right? So every guest is addressed as "Goddess" or "God" and receives comprehensive service.
Oh, and there's also an exclusive goddess high-heel runway~.
Just downstairs from the hotel are a hair salon, supermarket, a malatang eatery, and more — very convenient.
→ To Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport: 5-minute drive
→ To Wanda Tourist City: 10-minute drive
→ To Xiangcao Park: 8-minute drive
24-hour free airport shuttle, free parking, free self-service laundry
100 guestrooms in total (note: pets are not allowed, and no extra beds or cribs are available).
A hotel is a home away from home — both comfortable and soothing.
First impressions of Xana, first step into the lobby: everything was brand new and bright.
A warm cup of tea, a sterilized towel — small touches like these give each guest a feeling of comfort, prestige, and true happiness.
Scan the code, disinfect, check in... once everything was settled, I was captivated by Xana's signature blue:
Sofas, chairs, saucers, accent walls, display cabinets... a fresh and soothing palette everywhere.
I think all girls would react like me — unable to move on from these sights!
There's even a "Goddess Wall," perfect for a photo op!
In the lobby, the shared space is used to great effect —
you can relax, read, sip tea, enjoy wine, and even shop Xana-branded related goods and cosmetics.
Couldn't wait to take my luggage to the room — I just had to browse first!
These facial masks and custom bath amenities make great souvenirs or gifts, with superb packaging and unavailable elsewhere!
The lobby bar stretches in a large rectangular space, combining the Gan Bar and Life Aesthetics Shop with a strong sense of openness, so the whole visual effect is airy and pleasant.
The aesthetics shop displays a wide range of books and artworks, beautifying the lobby and enriching guests' leisure time. Doesn't this shelving wall feel homey and warm? So home-like!
The Gan Bar isn't huge, but it offers all the drinks, fruits, and snacks needed for a quick break — very functional, with the Life Aesthetics Shop right across. We mixed a cocktail and toasted to friendship!
After a long day, we could finally return to our room and embrace the big bed!
A quiet night, summer breeze, chatting with my bestie. Our thoughts flowed gently in the surround-sound room. I'd long heard that Xana Hotelle, with its signature pursuit of a refined lifestyle, pays attention to the tiniest details. Gently turning on the electronic humidifying aroma diffuser, touching the panel to play the room's built-in Bluetooth music and set it to nature sounds — soft wind, rolling waves... A De Rucci mattress lulls you into healthy sleep, Bluetooth music accompanies your bath, quirky disposable toiletries make washing up a joy... Enjoying that comfortable bed, sleeping soundly until morning~
The hotel really understands the hardships of business travel: you can scan the QR code for the "Cloud Attitude Life Aesthetics Shop" to shop, and purchases are delivered straight to your room — enjoy VIP service without stepping out.
The shower in the bathroom really spoke to me! The moment the water started, music came on —
it's like "unlocking your personal concert venue" 😄 Bathroom singers, let your voices shine!
A lovely day begins with the breakfast buffet: fruits, desserts, hot tea — all there!
Breakfast is 40 RMB per person (served from 7:00 to 10:00).
After 20 fleeting hours, it was time to part again. Our relaxing weekend was perfectly fulfilling.
In fact, whenever I need to escape the city's noise and find a little peace, I book a comfy hotel too —
to sleep in, refresh my mood, write a piece, and truly savor life's leisure.
Xana uses tranquility and nature's power to recharge travelers during their stopovers, energizing us for new journeys.
No longer will I worry about layover stopovers —
Xana, with its great location and wonderful environment, pampers you. Self-care means satisfying yourself, and satisfaction is being with everything you love.
A hotel this refined, light luxury, and comfortable is hard to forget!
Just as the hotel's travel booklet says: Small bliss, starting with being pampered by you.
