Autumn Charm on Beishan Road in Hangzhou: Stay at 'Qingchan Huachu' Boutique Hotel and Savor Meijiawu Cuisine

📍 Hangzhou · 👁 5969 reads · ❤️ 32 likes

Qingchan Huachu Boutique Hotel

Address: Stay at No. 1-1 Manjuelong (intersection of Hupao Road and Manjuelong). Qingchan Huachu is a garden restaurant and a light-luxury hotel hidden among tall trees. When night falls, 'Qingchan Huachu' in the quiet Manjuelong is especially eye-catching.

The courtyard design features a wooden platform in the center, surrounded by a flowing brook. Dotted lights twinkle around, giving the courtyard a glittering, dreamlike atmosphere in the evening.

The restaurant's exterior has an exquisite red-brick structure with long black windows that add elegance and grandeur. This garden restaurant truly stands out.

The courtyard offers a lovely setting for an open-air afternoon tea.

The hotel lobby is on the second floor,

stylishly and refreshingly decorated,

with some comfortable sofas,

paintings on the walls,

and a multi-purpose room inside.

Tea sets are placed in the lobby.

You can rest a bit while checking in.

Art pieces are displayed in the rest area,

as well as quite a few dolls.

The rooms are well appointed;

you can enjoy the outdoor scenery through the window.

This is a twin room,

with comfortable bedding and a fairly soft mattress.

A safe box is provided.

On the wall hangs an ink-splashed painting—a Jiangnan waterside scene.

A petite and cute desk,

configured with a black brick wall.

Many green plants in the courtyard blend the environment with nature.

There are also some wild fruits on the trees.

Zhangle Tea House · Qingci

| Zhangle Tea House · Qingci ^📌 Helpful TIPS

Convenient transportation:

1 (Bus) Take bus 121 or 103, get off at Meijiawu, and you're there.

2 (Self-driving) Navigate to Meijiawu; the parking lot is right next to the restaurant. In summer, the daily rate used to be 20 yuan, now it's 10 yuan for the whole day. No. 91 and 93 are connected, so be sure to ask which is which to avoid going to the wrong place.

Environment: It's a natural setting; outdoors, a small stream gurgles by at a corner. On a fine day, sitting outside is best, even if the temperature is a bit low. Once you taste the chicken soup, your whole body warms up. The air is fresher outside.

Although it's a farmhouse restaurant, it has a distinctive character, with many flowers planted and bougainvillea in full bloom.

Service: The lady boss is very warm-hearted; she comes to ask if the dishes are good. The chicken is carefully selected—free-range birds raised on the mountain for a while, so the chicken soup is incredibly delicious.

Colorful lights are also arranged; when lit in the evening, they twinkle beautifully.

Recommended dishes: The house-special free-range chicken hot pot is a must. According to the lady boss, their free-range chickens are raised on the mountain behind, making the meat exceptionally tender and the chicken tightly textured.

Why I love it: The restaurant has a creative idea—the chicken hot pot is simmered and enjoyed at the table, kept warm by a small stove underneath. When you've almost finished, you can lift the pot with a hook, then sip the broth and eat the chicken. My friend and I devoured the whole chicken, leaving only bones. You can imagine how delicious it was.

| Chicken Broth Hotpot ^ I haven't had such good chicken in ages. The chicken is truly delectable—the golden broth is fragrant and flavorful. Bowl after bowl, I drank the soup and had two big portions of rice with it.

| Sweet Peas ^ Fresh green peas stir-fried with yellow corn kernels create a refreshing, smooth vegetarian dish.

| Steamed Mullet ^ The mullet was freshly caught and killed upon our arrival, so it's incredibly tender and silky. Cooked in the Hangzhou style with scallion oil—steamed, then topped with soy sauce, chopped scallions, and mashed garlic, and drizzled with hot oil. This preserves the fish's delicate flavor and leaves a fragrant aftertaste of fresh scallions.

In winter, Huagang Guanyu is the season to admire red maples.

By the lake, there are brilliant red reflections.

A quiet stone arch bridge forms a circle; the red maple on the bank adds a touch of glory.

The reflections in the water create a delightful picture.

On the calm surface, wild birds dive headfirst to catch fish, occasionally surfacing, adding a lively touch.

Even the boats clearing fallen leaves look so idyllic.

Red hues can be found everywhere.

The most crowded spot is the Red Fish Pond,

where more maple trees are planted.

A riot of colors unfolds before your eyes.

The silhouette of Lin Huiyin

becomes a Jiangnan ink-wash painting.

The maple leaves at the entrance are gradually changing color.

The best viewing period will be December.

As the weather turns colder, the sycamore leaves along Beishan Road start to turn yellow.

The withered lotus at this time still holds a beauty of decay.

The view from Xiling Bridge is splendid; the whole sky is filled with autumn colors, and in the distance, Baoshi Mountain is a riot of colors.

I love strolling under the sycamore trees

and savoring the most beautiful season of Beishan Road.

Each building along Beishan Road has its own history,

waiting for you to discover and understand its story.

In the sunlight, Beishan Road is warm and romantic;

dappled light and shadow filter through the tall sycamores.

In the distance, Chenghuang Pavilion.

A popular spot for photos and wedding shoots.

Many old houses along Beishan Road have been renovated into boutique guesthouses, so you can truly stay beside West Lake.

Visitors bask in the sun,

rest on benches,

or take photos to capture the beautiful memories.

Follow the steps to Xixia Xiaozhu.

Such a guesthouse is the best place to overlook West Lake.

A long, quaint flagstone path leads halfway up the hill.

Soon you arrive at Xixia Xiaozhu.

On the white wall, stone windows are covered with green vines.

A traditional curved-eave building.

This is the best spot in Hangzhou to admire ginkgo trees. When the ground is blanketed with golden ginkgo leaves, it's a sea of gold.

Xixia Xiaozhu has several century-old ginkgo trees.

Under the blue sky, the leaves are beginning to turn yellow.

In such a lovely setting, you can take a rest.

Fresh flowers (fragrant lilies and cute daisies) decorate the surroundings.

It's rare to find an environment like Xixia Xiaozhu, so close to West Lake.

Starbucks Beishan Store

The Starbucks on Beishan Road is arguably Hangzhou's most beautiful café.

Housed in a quaint two-story building, the outdoor space is especially pleasant under the sunshine.

Starbucks prices are not high now—thirty-something yuan lets you sit for an entire afternoon.

Paired with a cake, it's perfect.

The building is a brick structure from the Republic of China era, blending Chinese and Western architectural styles.

The exterior is brick-concrete, while inside is a traditional Chinese wooden framework, harmoniously combined.

The high Chinese-style wooden ceiling doesn't feel oppressive at all; the wooden lattice glass windows on all sides bring in plenty of light.

Lamps suspended from the ceiling give off a warm, cozy glow, and the whole room is filled with the aroma of coffee.

It attracts many coffee lovers.

Go up the long wooden staircase to the second floor.

On the walls, coffee-themed illustrations.

The wooden balustrade in the corridor casts shadows under the sunlight.

Warm and simple,

they also sell chocolates and candies.

Starbucks mugs are quite nice,

with novel and chic designs.

Does this array of cups tempt you to buy?

Starbucks cakes

are now a staple for office workers.

The outdoor air is truly nice.

Beishan Road's autumn charm is enchanting.

After coffee, take a stroll under the sycamores

and soak up the cozy winter sun.

The tall plane trees...

I'm truly in love with Beishan Road.

| Maopu ^ Scenic Spots & Activities

The autumn scenery at Maopu water village is as beautiful as a painting. Stepping into Maopu, you'll find a wonderful natural environment; though the water area is not large, the scenery is exquisite.

Walk along the Old Pilgrimage Path to reach Maopu.

The setting sun is magnificent; golden rays filter through the trees, covering everything in a layer of gold.

Follow the wooden walkway to find the ancient bridge, which is now closed. As sunlight streams through the trees into the arch of the bridge, the whole archway gleams with golden light.

Maopu has several pavilions, and I love resting in them for a while.

Sunlight dances through the woods, and the old bridge reveals different charms.

The autumn sky at Maopu is naturally beautiful; here you can enjoy ginkgo groves, dawn redwood trees, and reed beds.

The dawn redwoods are turning golden.

Aquatic plants in the water.

Painted boats glide across the water, creating ripples. In the tranquil waters, egrets perch among the trees.

Maopu is a place I visit often because it's not far from West Lake. ️ At Maopu Wharf, you can see a bronze statue group depicting pilgrims in ancient times arriving by small boat. Compared to other scenic spots, Maopu offers more of a water village's rustic charm and natural beauty.

On the water, wild birds sometimes swim leisurely or dive to catch small fish.

Transportation & Accommodation

(1) By bus: Take bus 27 to Maopu stop.

(2) By boat: A new painted boat service has been introduced, with tickets starting at 6 yuan per stop. Maopu is one of the stops; boats run every half hour.

(3) Self-driving: Maopu has a parking lot with paid parking, 10 yuan per hour.

People stroll as if moving through a painting.

Food Recommendations ️

Maopu has many dining options: farmhouse courtyard restaurants, elegant tea houses, and chain eateries.

You can also take a painted boat to experience what ancient pilgrims felt as they sailed to Maopu Wharf—a different perspective on the lake.

The scenery is as picturesque as a framed painting.

Helpful TIPS

Although Maopu has wooden walkways, they are not wheelchair-accessible, adding to the wild, rustic feel.

Not far away, cotton rose flowers bloom.

The sky sports different hues.

The Old Pilgrimage Path is a tranquil space.

Maopu's cruise dock.