A Green World, a Sea of Flowers: 24 Hours of Indulging Yourself at Shili Fangfei

Bai Yansong once said: Nowadays Chinese people find it harder and harder to feel happy, because without peace of mind there is no happiness. When you think about it, it's true. The pace of life in cities is too fast; with high pressure and many worries, especially in summer, the stuffy heat makes one irritable and restless. If nothing around you can bring inner peace, then it's time to set off on a journey...

The energy of nature is the most healing. Choose a beautiful place with mountains and water, stay for a while, empty your mind, return to simplicity, and relax. On this trip to Hangzhou, I discovered such a divine hidden gem — Shili Fangfei, like a lost paradise tucked away from the world. It consists of six small islands, and the village-style life here is simple and warm, waiting for every soul yearning to unwind.

A Hidden Village: Shili Fangfei

I first learned about this place while watching the May 29th episode of Zhejiang TV's 'Keep Running Season 4' — the show was filmed here. From the very first frame, I was captivated and knew I had to visit.

Navigate to 'Hangzhou Xixi Shili Fangfei Theme Resort Village' or locate 'Qingxingdu' when you come; it's accessible by both land and water, and guests usually arrive by boat. Their homestay ranks highly in popularity. Carefully crafted by Zhang Bei, this hidden village is built on the philosophy of 'New Life Aesthetics.' It's nestled within the Xixi Wetland Park Scenic Area in Hangzhou's West Lake District, relying on the wetland's natural environment and cultural ecology. It advocates 'the wisdom of improvisation' and uses beautiful things, beautiful scenery, beautiful accommodation, beautiful strength, and beautiful wishes to create a serene and vibrant village-style leisure destination.

The feeling of staying here is truly special. With gorgeous mountain and lake views and lush greenery everywhere, it feels as if the whole world is filled with green, and the air is even infused with a romantic vibe. Immersed here, your heart moves with the scenery and your mood relaxes with it; you feel deeply at ease.

I stayed on the most remote island of the village — Lihua Wu. The scenic route there brought to mind the poetic imagery of Lu You: 'When the water is full, herons can sometimes be seen alighting; where the grass grows deep, frogs chirp everywhere.'

These were the buildings where I stayed: winding paths leading to secluded spots, streams flowing around, cut off from the secular world, a place of profound tranquility...

Comfort and Warmth: Indulge Yourself

I stayed in a lake-view room on the second floor. All guest rooms at Shili Fangfei are called 'Fangfei Courtyard Residences.' Checking into a Fangfei Courtyard is like starting a 24-hour practice of self-indulgence. The moment I opened the door, a subtle fragrance greeted me. The interior design is mainly modern log style, giving a cozy home-like feel.

For family trips, there's a tatami area by the window bay; add a quilt and it becomes an extra bed. Sitting here sipping tea, reading, and listening to birdsong outside is a delightful pleasure.

The patterns on the tea sets exude the charm of the Jiangnan region.

The bathroom is designed with a separate wet and dry area. The large hinoki bathtub is perfect for an evening soak, enjoying a pampered bathing time.

Imported from Japan, the POLA honey aromatherapy shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel are silicone-free, gently cleansing without damaging the skin. The ingredients are safe even for pregnant women, providing deep moisturization and helping balance skin's oil and water.

The washstand is uniquely designed, specially equipped with POLA aroma essence golden cleansing hand soap and natural, all-purpose LOSHI horse oil body lotion, suitable for all skin types. The wall behind it is a full-length glass mirror, visually expanding the space and serving as a full-body mirror.

The hairdryer is the top-quality Dyson brand, which doesn't damage hair.

Since it was hot, the fridge was fully stocked with drinks, beer, and mineral water — and the best part is they're all free, so help yourself.

Gazing at the view outside while reading a book, you can calmly enjoy the moment; time becomes especially beautiful then.

Outside the room, there are swings for both adults and children, creatively decorated with tires.

A World of Vibrance and Authentic Emotions

Stepping out of the room, you can walk directly to the other four islands. Both land and water routes are available; if you want to go out by boat, just inform the butler in advance — boats run about every half hour. Personally, I recommend walking: it's good exercise and you can enjoy the flower-fringed paths all along the way.

I particularly loved the hydrangeas growing among the grass, exuding a lively and graceful beauty.

As you walk on, many small surprises await. All spaces here are layered, fluid, and mutually embracing. They can be bold and expressive or elegantly understated — fiercely independent yet deeply integrated, cultural yet modern. In this new spatial sequence, every space you desire is worth possessing.

The lake presents various miniature landscapes; willows sway, evoking a rich ambiance.

Further ahead is a path lined with pear trees — Pear Blossom Lane. From here, it's easy to reach 'Lihua Xu' Tea House or 'Liwo Small Cinema' on the island. For team-building, you can even rent an entire island.

However, the pears this season aren't ripe yet, still quite small. I heard that when they naturally ripen, guests can pick and taste them for free.

At intersections, considerate signs point the way to different spots so you won't get lost — the area is quite spacious after all.

The 'Pomegranate House' sells snacks like jianbing (Chinese crepes). Outside, many bottles and jars are displayed; this is the 'Gardening Shop.' Now, in hydrangea season, the shop is filled with hydrangeas cut by villagers in the morning — really beautiful.

All plants in the Gardening Shop are for sale; what you see is what you can buy, allowing you to take a piece of Shili Fangfei's beauty home.

Throughout the village, dozens of flower species are planted — the blooms seem to bloom just to enchant visitors.

The flora grows so well here partly because there's a small temple in the village called the Flower Goddess Temple. Villagers say the flower goddess here is especially efficacious. Beside it, there's a wish wall where you can write down your wishes and hang them to pray.

Walking on the flagstone paths, the scene of a little bridge over a flowing stream is deeply moving.

At the far end of the village, there's a vast Ten-Mile Peach Grove, jointly planted by the homestay owner Zhang Bei and her classmates from the first phase of Lakeside University. Each of them is a leader in their respective fields, so it's very commemorative.

The landscape is simply stunning; the large lawn here is perfect for outdoor weddings and banquets, creating a dreamy setting.

As you continue into the village, you'll see bamboo-fenced houses reminiscent of childhood homes, stirring up waves of nostalgia.

Passing through this alley, the clear sound of wind chimes leads you to the Flower Goddess Café. The place is so whimsically decorated, both indoors and out, that you can't resist stepping inside.

Inside, there are many beautiful vessels — cups, tableware, and glassware — said to have been carefully sourced from overseas cities at great expense, with the shipping costs alone considerable. It reflects the owner's supreme pursuit of life aesthetics.

To keep the stay engaging, many interesting courses are available for sign-up and experience. Just ask the butler about prices in advance.

Hand-painting is probably kids' favorite activity; they can paint a stone apple to their liking.

If you fancy any other items, you can purchase them on the spot and take them home.

In the back there's a 'general store' with a strong artistic vibe. White walls paired with raw wood bookshelves make its style every bit as chic as those trendy internet-famous shops.

My eyes finally landed on the dessert DIY. Sister Piao, the baker at Flower Goddess Café, said if I was interested, I could book a coffee or bread class in advance. I'd always wanted to try baking, so I chose the bread class and scheduled it for 10:30 the next morning.

Leaving the café, just around the corner is the Village Canteen. The canteen is also filled with the fragrance of flowers and has an elegant layout.

Dining in such an environment lifts your spirits wonderfully. They offer many set menus, so diners can choose according to personal taste, and you can pretty much sample local specialties.

When eating, I highly recommend ordering a pot of their secret-recipe plum wine to accompany the dishes. The taste is superb — I couldn't resist buying another pot after the meal.

I especially recommend the salt-baked chicken — it's truly delicious.

The presentation of each exquisite dish reminds you that food isn't just for sustenance; with perfect color, aroma, and flavor, it's a culinary delight.

Even the restroom after the meal is decorated with great artistic flair — a pile of deadwood paired with a lemon tree creates a unique beauty.

After dining, a stroll in the garden, and when tired, a leisurely walk back to the room. The lights along the way glitter like fireflies illuminating the path ahead.

Outside on the steps, I was lucky enough to encounter a golden shaded cat worth tens of thousands of yuan. I heard they especially love coming out to play at night — naughty yet well-behaved.

I have to say the service here is incredibly thoughtful. When I opened the door, just about to take a bath, I found that the butler had already prepared the turndown service at some point. The bathtub tray held a basin of mint picked by the villagers, said to be grown in their own yards. The warm message on the small card was touching, and every detail was meticulously tended to.

I think bathing with mint, which cools and soothes the skin, would surely bring me sweet dreams that night.

Nutritious and Adorably Presented Breakfast

Waking naturally to birdsong in the morning, the village breakfast is quite special. You need to book it with the butler a day in advance, mainly to manage the number of diners due to the pandemic. The butler will also confirm your preferred dishes the day before, so your breakfast better suits your palate and is more enjoyable. Plus, the presentation of the breakfast is absolutely stunning.

Soothing Bread Baking Class

After breakfast, I strolled around and then it was time for my appointment with baker Sister Piao. Returning to Flower Goddess Café, I washed my hands and began learning to bake.

Sister Piao said that making bread is something that cultivates patience and heals. When a finished product emerges and fills the room with a wonderful aroma, the feeling is so beautiful. The dough, when kneaded, is alive and needs to be experienced slowly.

Two other students joined the class, and everyone listened with rapt attention. We made three kinds of bread, and the anticipation while waiting for them to bake was contagious... And the bread class also includes a complimentary afternoon tea with coffee, desserts, fruit, and most distinctively, yellow rice wine popsicles and plum wine brewed by the villagers themselves — super amazing. The yellow rice wine popsicles are specially processed so even drivers can enjoy them!

During breaks, you can find a seat in the café, read a book, sip tea. Their ice cream desserts are also delicious.

Later, when the finished products were brought out, I felt quite gratified. I hadn't expected them to look so good. We had all marked our bread in advance, and the baking instructor said we could divide up this basket of bread and take it away — haha, we were super happy.

Because the bread smelled so heavenly, it even tempted a little girl at the next table. We invited her and her mother to come taste. We chatted and learned that this child was here filming with a movie crew; she's half Chinese, half German, which explained her adorable looks.

On closer inspection, she even resembled the actress Lu Jingshan. Her presence made the atmosphere even livelier, and the whole morning was filled with laughter and joy.

When it was time to leave, I was quite reluctant; the little girl even made a little heart sign at me.

After checkout, my 24-hour practice of self-indulgence came to an end, but the pampering experience and the feelings here stayed in my heart. Next time I come to Hangzhou, I'll definitely stay a couple more days. This place truly makes you forget worldly worries, allows life to return to its original form, and fulfills that dream of an idyllic pastoral life. It is not just a homestay or a village, but a spiritual world filled with the fragrance of flowers!