Traveling with My Best Friend: A Stay at The Lalu Nanjing to Experience the Refined Lifestyle of Socialites

Yu Dafu once said, “Autumn, wherever it may be, is always good.” Autumn is perfect for traveling around, with its most comfortable temperatures. The gentle sunlight carries a hint of soft autumn breeze, and the occasional light rain can stir up ripples.

Autumn in the south is indeed not as swift as in the north. The grass and trees wither slowly, the air is moist, the sky appears pale, and it often rains with little wind. But what we can do is seize this brief autumn season and fully enjoy the romance it brings.

The most meaningful thing I did this autumn was taking my best friend to Nanjing for a delightful weekend. We've been so busy with our daily lives that we haven't seen each other in a year. This time, I wanted to bring her to The Lalu Nanjing to experience the lifestyle of high society ladies.

The Lalu hotel is praised as a 'once-in-a-lifetime must-stay.' The Lalu Nanjing is like a serene boat on the land of Nanjing. Before entering the hotel, you pass through a large bamboo grove. Your state of mind gradually shifts from hustle and bustle to a leisurely comfort and relaxation, allowing body and soul to settle. Once through the bamboo, you can see the full view of the hotel.

Every brick and tile here has its own story. The sculpture at the main entrance is a Pixiu, a mythical auspicious beast. You can rub its head for good luck! The hotel adopts a three-courtyard layout, giving an overall grand and magnificent feel. Its minimalist style exudes a strong Zen atmosphere, while blending local characteristics, leaving a deep impression on me.

The room was full of surprises. We booked a river-view king-bed room and were welcomed with fruit and a cake upon arrival—the hotel is incredibly thoughtful. The room is very spacious and consistent with the hotel's overall style. My favorite feature is the oversized floor-to-ceiling window, a full 10 meters wide, through which you can enjoy stunning night views and the afterglow of the sunset right from indoors.

My best friend loved the oversized bathtub the most. It's made of artificial stone with an ergonomic design for comfort, and fills up in just 7 minutes. Even in the privacy of the bathroom, you can enjoy a natural ambience with light filtering through. She took a bath two nights in a row, exclaiming each time how blissful it was.

Beyond the comfortable stay, the food was equally satisfying. The hotel has two restaurants: Shuishalian Chinese Restaurant and Ho Jia 9 All-Day Dining. At Shuishalian, you can savor the renowned delicacies of Jinling. The Fenghua taro paste crispy duck, Puli Dongpo pork, and the spring water nourishing soup pot are must-tries—exquisite and delicious.

At Ho Jia 9, you can enjoy the most delicious buffet with a variety of seafood delights. There are also freshly cooked duck blood vermicelli soup and knife-cut noodles, guaranteed to fill you up. Of course, there are also freshly grilled steaks and foie gras—no need to go to a fancy Western restaurant; you can have it all right here.

At the restaurant bar, I ordered a specially mixed mojito. My best friend, who can hold her liquor much better than me, downed a margarita without batting an eye.

The hotel surprises far exceeded my expectations. Here, there's also an afternoon tea that every socialite must experience. For two, a French-style picnic afternoon tea set was just perfect.

The afternoon tea for two included an assortment of mini cakes, macarons, cookies, a French ham sandwich, and a variety of fresh fruits. We were stuffed, and just looking at it all filled us with happiness.

Since the weather was fantastic, we chose to dine in a trendy tent on the outdoor lawn. Basking in the gentle sunshine while savoring the exquisite afternoon tea—this must be the life of a socialite.

On the lawn, children were running and playing tag, couples were strolling hand in hand, and other guests were enjoying their afternoon tea just like us—savoring the delicate treats, watching the sunset glow, and feeling the soft evening breeze.

Finally, the must-try experiences at the hotel are the art of incense and the tea ceremony. Before coming here, I always felt these were far removed from me, as if they had nothing to do with my life. But after trying them, I felt like a whole new world had opened up.

Yuhua tea is named after Yuhua Terrace outside Zhonghua Gate in Nanjing, where it is produced. Today, Yuhua Terrace has over a thousand acres of lush tea gardens. Yuhua tea, with its elegant name and unique quality, stands out among China's green teas and has great charm. However, today we were not brewing Yuhua tea, but oolong tea.

Brewing a proper cup of tea involves procedures like rinsing the leaves, pouring water, covering the pot, and decanting the tea. After following these steps, a fragrant and sweet oolong tea is ready. The whole experience took about half an hour, during which I was completely immersed and forgot all the trivial worries of life.

After the tea ceremony came the incense art. The incense ceremony is a refined elevation of a historical traditional life art, popular among ancient nobles, scholar-officials, and literati. Through understanding scents, sensory perception, presentation of incense techniques, and disciplined practice, it is a high-taste cultivation that lets us contemplate life and gain insights, all within a relatively standardized procedure.

The tools for the incense ceremony are exquisitely crafted, with every small utensil provided: incense press, incense spatula, incense spoon, and so on. Holding them, you feel their substantial weight.

The incense ceremony is a great test of patience. You place incense ash into the burner and use the press to smooth it flat. If your mind wanders, the ash might fail to burn properly in the end. The moment you see the ash glowing, you feel a deep sense of pride, and you finally understand why ancients were so passionate about this art.

This weekend at The Lalu, we stayed in a high-end, impressive river-view room, enjoyed a buffet with a wide variety of dishes and exquisite afternoon tea, watched a celadon musical performance, and experienced the incense ceremony and tea ceremony. This was probably the most relaxing and pleasant weekend my best friend and I have ever spent together. We must do this more often!