A Unique Experience: Exploring Hangzhou's Xianghu Lake and Staying at Yuxianghu Wellness Resort

Golden October is the perfect time for a getaway. It’d been a while since I took my little Miaoman out. Hangzhou has always been a wonderful place for family trips—even though we've been there countless times, the city is magical, always offering new surprises.

Guess where I went? Can you tell from the photo?

West Lake in Hangzhou is world-famous. Many visitors to Hangzhou head straight for West Lake, but this isn't West Lake—it’s Xianghu Lake in Hangzhou, known as the 'sister lake' of West Lake. Many out-of-towners may not know about it.

Xianghu Lake is located in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou. It has a long history, dating back to its excavation during the Northern Song Dynasty. It is divided into upper and lower lakes and has been mentioned alongside West Lake since ancient times. The scenic area features spots like Yue Causeway, Xiang Causeway, Xiangpu, Lakeside, Chengshan, Yue Tower, and Kuahu Bridge. It boasts not only beautiful natural scenery but also rich historical and cultural landscapes.

In the misty rain of Xianghu, long green reeds sway;

Fresh wild rice cooked, sliding smoothly off the spoon.

After clouds disperse, as the moon tilts low,

The tide recedes, a boat rests across the water—lost in blissful unawareness.

These are verses about Xianghu by the poet Lu You.

'Endless lotus leaves stretch to the horizon, their green unbroken; under the sun, lotus blooms are exceptionally red.' This kind of scene can also be found at Xianghu, and it is truly magnificent.

A big difference between Xianghu and West Lake is that you don’t have to wait for fewer people to take photos—there are never many people around.

Compared to the bustling crowds at West Lake, Xianghu offers more tranquility and rustic charm. Some say the scenery at Xianghu can surpass that of West Lake, because West Lake is excessively noisy and lacks a natural feel, while Xianghu preserves pristine, unspoiled landscapes.

Thanks to extensive development in recent years, Xianghu now has well-equipped tourist facilities. Locals in Hangzhou prefer to spend weekends relaxing and vacationing here.

The sea of flowers at Xianghu is at its peak viewing season. It’s vast. Walking along the paths, you feel as if you’re drifting in a sea of blooms, with occasional birds swooping past.

In the middle of the flower sea, there’s a large expanse of golden cosmos, crisscrossed with paths for visitors. The flowers and the lake complement each other beautifully, making it a perfect spot for strolls and photos.

When traveling with kids, I tend to choose family-friendly hotels. After comparing factors like leisure quality, experience, and dining, I opted for Yuxianghu Wellness Resort in Hangzhou.

Yuxianghu Wellness Resort is nestled on the shores of Xianghu Lake. The abundance of negative oxygen ions turns it into a giant oxygen bar! Stepping inside, you immediately feel a sense of freshness—the soft, understated tones are very soothing and comfortable.

The lobby is grand, blending dark wood with arched Roman columns in a fusion of Chinese and Western styles.

As a family of four, we booked a family room. It had a 2-meter king bed and a 1-meter single bed, and the room was spacious.

Everyone has an inner child. The family rooms at Yuxianghu Wellness Resort are not only loved by kids but also bring out the playful side in adults.

From the cartoon-themed decor to the cute, soft furnishings, and the specially prepared children’s slippers and toiletries, every detail inspires a feeling of cuteness. Many hotels market family rooms, but few are as sincere as Yuxianghu Wellness Resort, which has created dedicated themed cartoon rooms for kids with such meticulous touches.

The thoughtful fruit and welcome card made us feel so warm and cared for—such a nice feeling.

Our two little treasures were overjoyed. With so many fun things, they didn’t want to leave the room. They especially loved the Octonauts-themed tent and insisted on sleeping inside it at night.

Next to the restaurant on the ground floor, there’s a kids’ play area with a bubble pool that children adore—a great place to let the kids burn off energy after a meal. After playing for a while, we went to enjoy the hotel’s afternoon tea. It was a delicate set of Western-style savory and sweet treats, paired with Chinese wellness tea.

What a lavish afternoon tea! My older Miaomiao immediately set her eyes on the red heart-shaped cake, though her little sister also wanted it. See who Mama feeds first? The two girls sometimes get jealous—look at the younger one's sly little glance.

In the evening, I read the poem ‘Like’ to my Miaoman:

My little oak tree won’t bloom, won’t bloom,

But I still like it.

My little cloth bear is old and shabby,

But I still kiss it.

My little cat is dirty and grimy,

But I still hug it.

If I’m not smart, and not pretty,

Would Mom still like me?

I really want to ask her this question.

After reading this nursery rhyme, I couldn’t help asking them: ‘Sometimes when Mommy scolds you or gets angry, do you ever worry that Mommy doesn’t like you?’ Miaomiao replied, ‘No, no—I know Mommy is just being good to us...’ I looked at Manman, and she blinked her little eyes and said, ‘I never think that way.’

The kids are so sweet and sensible, sometimes it breaks my heart. The two girls rarely misbehave, never rummaging for snacks; they wouldn’t even think to eat the fruit left on the coffee table. I kind of wish they would occasionally throw a tantrum—after all, the world is harsh, and overly well-behaved children don’t get candy.

This is a wellness resort. I visited their scientific health check-up center, medical aesthetics center, wellness retreat center, and innovative medicine center, all staffed by professional expert teams.

In the innovative medicine center, there’s a device for cryogenic storage of cells—it feels so advanced. This uses cryopreservation technology to keep cells in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, temporarily halting their growth while preserving their characteristics.

The cells are stored in these tanks, though these ones are just for display.

The waiting area is also very comfortable, with both Chinese and Western styles, so even waiting feels pleasant.

Now let me talk about my LIFE health check experience—it was truly amazing. Lying on a sofa chair for just half an hour, I was able to check over 7,000 body indicators, which can help with early prevention and health maintenance.

It was this high-end electronic device. Straps were attached to my hands and feet to connect to the machine—I’m guessing imperceptible micro-currents were used to detect various body data. After 30 minutes, my report was ready.

Different items were marked in yellow or red—red meant more serious issues, and yellow indicated things to watch out for. My report had quite a few reds and yellows. Then a health plan expert went through the report with me one-on-one, guiding me on what to pay attention to. The expert advised me to eat less, avoid staying up late, and not to get angry. The data was very accurate, pretty much in line with my regular check-up this year.

It was my first time experiencing such a high-tech program, and it really made me appreciate how advanced medical technology has become.

I also tried moxibustion and the jade energy room at the wellness center, which had a strong herbal scent. The center combines Chinese medicine diagnosis, therapeutic health treatments, traditional Chinese studies, and qigong exercises to offer medical-grade wellness services.

The center includes a Chinese studies wellness area, a qigong area, a wellness lecture hall, and a traditional Chinese medicine area.

I changed into a special robe and had a 60-minute moxibustion session, which was truly comfortable. Doing moxibustion more often in autumn and winter is very beneficial for the body. The therapist suggested I could buy moxibustion tools and do it myself at home.

After moxibustion, I went to the jade energy room. Unlike our usual steam rooms, it was more of a dry sauna, with a very comfortable temperature that didn’t feel stuffy. After a while, I started sweating slightly, and the sweat wasn’t smelly. It’s really important to expel dampness and cold in autumn and winter.

Having such a ceremonial wellness experience at the hotel made me face my own health. Our fast-paced lives, staying up late, irregular eating habits, love for sweets, and other unhealthy behaviors all affect our health.

Health is the foundation of everything. It’s important to maintain healthy habits, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and not bottle up negative emotions. Learn to regulate and release stress, and give yourself a break when needed.

In my eyes, a boutique hotel should be comfortable and secure, a place that occasionally surprises or makes you want to linger—not one of all-around luxury that makes you look up in awe.

This is what we often call ‘home away from home’—a particularly comforting feeling. What I’ll miss most about Yuxianghu Wellness Resort is the healthy and comfortable living experience, the nutritious organic meals, and the childlike, whimsical room design.

This weekend, at Yuxianghu Wellness Resort in Hangzhou, I seriously faced my own health and lifestyle for the first time. In today’s fast-paced world, we need to adjust, relax, de-stress, and enjoy life with our families.

By the rippling lake, amidst the woods of Xianghu, beneath the embracing hills—a secluded yet stunning escape. Go to Xianghu and unlock a new, healthier, and more rejuvenating way to vacation!