When You Start Trading Beer for Goji Berries: Time for a Wellness Trip

Think about it: how long has it been since you had three proper meals a day and an early bedtime? And how long since you set everything aside and truly relaxed? At the age when you trade beer for goji berries, the bank of life opens on the road. Let’s embark on a wellness journey together.

Summer is drawing to a close, giving way to the most beautiful season of the year. Fallen yellow leaves already line the roads—a single leaf tells of autumn's arrival. This is the third stop on our RV road trip: Hangzhou's Xianghu Lake. Tonight, instead of sleeping in the RV, we’re checking into the Yuxianghu International Health City.

Here's the itinerary for our wellness trip:

DAY 1: Arrive at Yuxianghu International Health City at 1 p.m. – Check in and go for a bike ride – Head to the health center to try the American LIFE energy intelligent testing – Enjoy a moxibustion session – Afternoon tea – Visit the Bank of Life and medical aesthetics center – Dinner – Return to the room to rest, take a shower, then visit the jade energy room – Sleep a beauty sleep!

DAY 2: Wake up naturally – Enjoy breakfast at the Western restaurant – Check out and head to Xianghu Park to explore – Stroll through the Financial Town – Return trip

Nowadays, life is far too stressful. Busy work leaves you gasping for air. Meals become erratic—one moment you're eating, the next you aren't. By the time you drift off to sleep, it's already the wee hours. If you're stuck in a state of sub-health, have you ever thought about getting a health checkup and then planning a healthy daily routine for yourself?

Otherwise, why not join me on a wellness trip first? Driving from Suzhou to Yuxianghu International Health City takes about 3 hours. Check in at the Yuxianghu Wellness Resort Hotel. I have to mention the iced lemon water at the front desk—it’s the perfect antidote to the lingering autumn heat, so refreshing. After dropping off the luggage and a quick tidy-up, we set off on a bike ride: pedaling through European-style romance while savoring Chinese charm. (Bikes are available for rent at the hotel~~~)

Much of the hotel’s style is European, with a romantic atmosphere always in the air. Yet some decor brings out a Chinese flair—arched doorways and pillars, calligraphy wall hangings... The blend of Eastern and Western elements is captivating. This is a rare gem in charming Hangzhou for leisure, vacation, and wellness.

We parked our bikes and headed to the Health Management Center, the hotel’s unique highlight. Centered on “health management,” it blends the essence of traditional Chinese wellness culture with modern, advanced healthy lifestyles. The center offers a one-stop health management program: after “testing, evaluating, and formulating” a plan, they use methods like “cleansing, regulating, and supplementing” to address your needs.

This was my first encounter with high-tech—the American LIFE Bio-Energy Intelligent Testing system. Simply put, it assesses your body’s sub-health level. In just 20 minutes, it can measure over 7,000 indicators, currently the most advanced high-end quantum technology in the world. I’ll be honest: my results showed I’m lacking B vitamins and need to regulate my digestive system. It even detected my thyroid issue—things I already knew. So for this high-tech gadget, one word: accurate.

After getting to know my body’s condition, I couldn’t wait to visit the Wellness Center. Its elegant and gracious setting was enchanting. The center has four main functions: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) wellness, practice-based wellness (like qigong), classical studies wellness, and a wellness lecture hall. The body needs detoxification, dampness elimination, meridian dredging, blood activation... The common ailments among young people today are neck and shoulder issues. I’m no exception—my shoulder periarthritis is quite severe. So I opted for a ‘Yangzheng’ moxibustion. As the Compendium of Materia Medica says, “Mugwort can cure a hundred diseases through moxibustion.” Moments of such relaxation are rare. At that moment, all I wanted was to empty my mind.

After relaxing, it was already afternoon tea time. A pot of wellness tea, along with both sweet and savory snacks. Sitting with a few close friends, chatting about the past, discussing dreams, nibbling fruit and sipping tea—what a blissful moment.

You’ve probably never seen a Bank of Life like this. In the past, we saved money; now, we store cells. You bank your young, vibrant cells now, and when you’re old, you can use those youthful cells. No wonder celebrities stay so youthful into old age! As the young lady explained, though I still didn’t fully grasp it, I found the high-tech concept stunning.

The hotel has not only its own medical check-up center but also an anti-aging medical aesthetics center that offers beauty solutions. Everyone desires beauty, but beauty always comes at a price. With today’s advanced science, you can change whatever you’re not satisfied with about yourself.

The afternoon filled my head with so much new knowledge. Time flew, and before we knew it, it was dinner time. Honestly, I hadn’t even finished digesting the afternoon tea treats before facing dinner. My body was comfortable, but I couldn’t neglect my taste buds. At the hotel’s Xiyixuan Chinese Restaurant, the three of us simply ordered a few specialty home-style dishes, and the flavors were really good.

Although Yu'er has grown up, she still can’t resist the lure of a playground. After a full meal, on the way back to the room, she spotted a small playground in the lobby. She said, “Mom, you’ve relaxed all afternoon, now it’s my turn.” Before she even finished speaking, she’d jumped into the ball pit.

The hotel currently has 326 guest rooms, each equipped with an air purification system to keep the PM levels at their best. In addition, the hotel has specially designed sleep rooms that can monitor guests’ sleep quality. A person’s sleep determines their health—after all, why else do we call it beauty sleep?

After resting in the room for a while to digest dinner, I took a shower and headed to the Wellness Center’s jade energy room for a steam. Lying on a 37°C stone slab, I closed my eyes and rested, letting the day’s fatigue melt away.

After a bowl of red date and white fungus soup, I knew I’d sleep well tonight. Honestly, at a certain age, we have no choice but to pay attention to our health. With elderly above and children below, we have to protect ourselves and grow stronger in order to protect our families.

Waking up naturally—isn't that something we all envy? Ever since having my second child, I’ve basically never woken up naturally, always forced to get up. Last night, I shed all my weariness, and today I’m full of energy again. After a delicious breakfast at the Western restaurant, we set off for Xianghu Flower Field.

Passing the outdoor play equipment, the little girl couldn’t resist swinging on the swings for a while. The smile on her face was the best gift for any parent.

Not far from the hotel lies Xianghu Flower Field, with its ten-mile lotus pond and lotus-scented breezes. Although the flower sea has withered and few lotuses remain, the distant lake and mountain scenery is still a beautiful sight. If you’ve got the energy, you can bike around Xianghu Lake and soak in the transition from summer to autumn.

Take a ride on a rowboat, gliding among the lotus leaves. Instantly, the verses of ‘South of the River’ come to mind:

South of the River, the lotus can be picked,

How broad and lush the lotus leaves!

Fish play among them.

Fish play east, fish play west,

Fish play south, fish play north.

Strolling with frequent pauses is the best way to travel. On an unfamiliar street, the ginkgo leaves have turned yellow—such a picturesque autumn scene. I love a certain saying: ‘Only after winding through mountains and rivers do I realize you are the essence of mortal life.’

Under a blue sky and white clouds, we crossed the Wangqiu Bridge (meaning 'Gazing at Autumn') from the flower field. The scenery along the way already carried hints of autumn, truly living up to the bridge’s name.

How I wish time could slow down. We passed by Xianghu Financial Town and made a brief stop. As its name suggests, this is where the financial industry gathers. Modern buildings line the lake, their quiet reflections shimmering on the water. The town exudes a sense of well-being, reminding you to slow down between work and life.

No matter how busy or stressed you are, you must learn to release and relieve it. Take responsibility for your own health. If you get the chance, go to the Yuxianghu Wellness Resort Hotel in Hangzhou and spend some time that’s both leisurely and healthful—just for yourself.