Stay at a Boutique Homestay Hidden in Wangjiayuan Village, Qiandao Lake, and Savor Innovative Local Cuisine

📍 Hangzhou · 👁 4042 reads · ❤️ 16 likes

Peach Carp New-Style Traditional Qiandao Lake Restaurant

Qiandao Lake is three hours from Hangzhou, and now it’s very convenient to get there. In December, I visited Qiandao Lake with friends. We first went to try some specialty dishes, then checked into a boutique guesthouse in Wangjiayuan Village——Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay. There are plenty of places to explore nearby; you can go to the villagers’ fields and pick fresh vegetables like radishes, coriander, leafy greens, and more. Villagers also raise free-range chickens in their vegetable gardens, feeding them garden greens.

Address: 2nd Floor, Home Inn, 69 Xin'an Street (500 meters east from the Sheraton Hotel exit). Parking: Park at the Home Inn's parking lot upstairs; one hour costs 5 yuan, which is reimbursed. Two hours is plenty for a meal—very considerate. Ambience: The restaurant is quaint and beautifully decorated, on the second floor. Murals line the staircase, so the walk up is never boring.

Once inside, it's a world of its own, with a distinctly Chinese flair. At the entrance stands a large dragon statue, dreamy lighting, and lovely lanterns embroidered with the characters "Peach Carp."

Stepping further in, you're in a leisurely Jiangnan alleyway: tiled roofs, silk umbrellas, warm lantern light, wooden lattice windows, and a mural of pink peach blossoms in full spring bloom.

|Mist Sea Lychee Shrimp Balls^

|Mist Sea Lychee Shrimp Balls^ Shrimp balls are shaped like lychees, and dry ice creates a misty, cloud-like effect. This dish is satisfying both visually and in taste—a truly creative dish.

Service: During the pandemic, you need to show a green health code and travel code upon arrival; all staff wear masks. The service is excellent.

|Stir-fried Greens^ The greens are of good quality, soft and tender with a soulful touch. Stir-fried, they retain a crisp texture and vibrant green color.

|Fish Tail^ If you like spicy food, have the tail cooked in a spicy style. It's chewy, flavorful, and fiery, with a taste that keeps you reaching for more.

|Nourishing Thick Fish Head Soup^ A large basin of Qiandao Lake's nourishing fish head soup truly catches the eye, with red tomatoes and tender golden tofu. The broth is rich and creamy, simmered for a long time to a milky white. A trip to Qiandao Lake isn't complete without sipping this soup.

The fragrant Qiandao Lake fish soup, milky white and delicious,

With added tomato, it brightens the color and aroma.

This very soup is what draws me, yearning, to Qiandao Lake.

Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

After lunch, we drove to Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay.

Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay is nestled at the foot of a mountain, with a small stream right at its doorstep.

Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

Address: Guzhuoyuan, Wangjiayuan Village, Qiandao Lake Town, Chun'an County. Transportation: 1. (High-speed rail) Guzhuoyuan is not far from Qiandao Lake high-speed rail station. Take the train to Qiandao Lake Station, then a taxi to the homestay. 2. (Self-drive) From Hangzhou, it's about two to two and a half hours by car. The homestay is in Wangjiayuan Village; the road gets narrower as you go, but you can drive through without worry—just go for it. Parking: You can park at the entrance or along the roadside.

Outdoor pavilion at Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

Setting: Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay comprises three standalone villas with a deep, layered Chinese courtyard design, planted with plenty of flowers and plants—a smiling tree (michelia), a bayberry tree, and many roses.

The kitchen at Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

The three villas of Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

The platform built at Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

In summer, you can fire up a barbecue under the pavilion,

all beneath the great mountain.

In the center, there's a swimming pool with lounge chairs beside it. Bring the kids in summer for a swim—a perfect family getaway, utterly relaxing here.

The villa is decorated in a European style, with spacious rooms and high ceilings, complemented by a wrought-iron spiral staircase.

The middle floor of the villa serves as a grand reception hall, elegantly furnished with plush European sofas, a coffee table, and display cabinets. Rooms are arranged around the central living area—standard twin rooms on the 1st floor and family rooms on the 2nd.

Sofa in the room

Room amenities: The room is simply appointed with bedding, a TV cabinet, and a bedside table. Bed: A European-style cream-colored wooden bed, though the mattress is a bit hard and basic.

Sculpture at Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

Vegetables planted at the homestay entrance

Decorative painting at Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay has plenty of greenery planted

Courtyard of Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay

Service: The owner is from Northeast China, quite straightforward. Once we got acquainted, he let us visit another vintage homestay with Chinese-style architecture, which is even more exquisite. Since there are no restaurants nearby, the owner lets guests use the kitchen for a fee, and also provides breakfast. It's best to stock up your car with goodies—you can retreat here for two or three days, breathing the air of the layered mountains. Nearby attractions: (1) Stroll around Wangjiayuan Village, which has a rustic charm. (2) There's also William Castle—an architectural surprise.

Amidst the mountains,

you'll spot a castle.

Its exterior has largely peeled away,

a sight so surprising—a castle hidden deep in the mountains.

The three spheres on top serve as lightning rods.

The overall design is grand,

and it's dubbed "William Castle."

"William Castle"

After returning, we headed to another property of Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay—a courtyard in Chinese style,

also converted from an old house.

The bedroom decor is quite stylish;

I loved the view outside the window.

Spacious and bright bedroom,

high-end bathroom,

fitted with Chinese-style cabinets.

Such a cozy room,

so cute and blending with nature,

perfect for afternoon tea.

A chic little lamp,

small ornaments at the entrance,

a children's play area—

sit here with the kids, very safe.

Downstairs activity area.

The most eye-catching piece in the room is this cabinet,

inlaid with shells depicting figures,

all from Chinese folktales:

Xu Xian and Lady White Snake,

exquisitely lifelike.

The owner keeps a Norwegian Elkhound.

Walking in the mountain forest, the air is especially fresh.

| Chun'an County ^ I drove with friends to Chun'an, i.e., Qiandao Lake. This time we went to Wangjiayuan Village in Chun'an County. It's about two to two and a half hours from Hangzhou by car, with lovely scenery all the way. After passing through the central area of Qiandao Lake,

we arrived at Qiandao Lake High-speed Rail Station; then it's a 15-minute drive to Wangjiayuan Village.

Why we loved it: A babbling brook runs through the village, with a covered bridge built over it. At the village entrance, there are many ginkgo trees; they had shed all their leaves, but that didn't stop us from getting up close with the fallen leaves under the trees. Friendly tips: We were heading to Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay in Wangjiayuan Village, and took the chance to visit the village. It's over 30 km from the center of Qiandao Lake, but quite close to the high-speed rail station.

Wang Ancestral Hall in Wangjiayuan Village

Senior canteen in Wangjiayuan Village

Greenhouse-grown vegetables

Must-see: Wangjiayuan Village isn't large, but it has a cluster of ancient trees, including camphor and cypress. Inside one large cypress, bamboo grows—a symbol of "having a well-thought-out plan" (literally "bamboo in the chest").

Walking path built in Wangjiayuan Village

Qiandao Lake Riverside Park

After spending two days at Guzhuoyuan Boutique Homestay, we headed to the main urban area of Qiandao Lake for lunch.

Qiandao Lake Riverside Park

Qiandao Lake Fish Feast Stove Fish Restaurant

Atmosphere: The Fish Feast Restaurant has a unique vibe—a two-story brick building that feels like the 1980s. Furniture includes chests of drawers, and there's a dance hall, a cinema, with appliances like black-and-white TVs and cassette players.

We ordered a stewed free-range chicken, which was delicious. |Stove Pot Chicken^ The rooster's tall comb adds to the dish; the chicken becomes increasingly fragrant as it stews, richly seasoned with quail eggs, potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, and more. The chicken is chewy, the potatoes soft and tasty—everything simmered to perfection. Here you can enjoy a superb stove-cooked chicken. |Stone Pot Tofu^ Tofu and minced meat arrive in a sizzling stone pot, keeping them hot. The tofu is savory and flavorful. |Mountain Seasonal Vegetables^ These are alpine baby cabbages with black fungus, sweet and crisp.

The dining table itself is designed as a traditional stove, with a big pot that can stew fish or chicken.

|Crispy Corn Chips^ A favorite in Qiandao Lake—these corn chips are incredibly crispy, with a fresh corn aroma and the added fragrance of preserved mustard greens.