An Experience at The Lalu Nanjing: Where Six Senses of Beauty Meet Every Mood
I've always believed that living your own life well and staying true to yourself is happiness.
Don't force others to accept you, because whether they do or not, you can still live in the way that brings you joy.
Returning to Jiangnan in the misty rain, I came to realize that the longest road is the one heading home.
I. Even if I let go of the world,
Please don't let go of me.
Just as I will always want
To listen to the sound of your footsteps,
To hear you open a door.
This is a hotel that is hard to judge by the standards of regular international five-star chains, or by the needs of a typical business traveler with personal preferences. Unlike so many "cultural-creative" hotels that are more show than substance, this is – in my eyes – a true cultural-creative resort, a place that just feels right to me.
Location & Transport: The hotel sits at 208 Yangzijiang Avenue in Nanjing's Jianye District. A metro line is being built nearby and is set to open next year; for now, the nearest bus stop is Qinghe New Apartments, about a 1km walk. The hotel is 46km by car from Nanjing Lukou International Airport, 13km from Nanjing Railway Station, and 19km from Nanjing South Railway Station. Though tucked away in the Hexi area, Nanjing's excellent urban expressway network puts downtown hubs like Xinjiekou just an 8km drive away.
Design Style: I've yet to visit the The Lalu Sun Moon Lake or The Lalu Qingdao, but at The Lalu Nanjing the vanguard, minimalist aesthetic is instantly felt. I had long heard that The Lalu is renowned for its minimalist, Zen-inspired architecture, blending structures seamlessly with nature rather than forcing alterations. During my stay, I noticed the hotel's architectural elements rely heavily on four understated natural materials: raw timber, granite, glass, and metal. This creates buildings that seem to have "grown" from the landscape. Combined with the interplay of light, shadow, and water features, the whole property merges completely with nature. Since opening in 2018, it hasn't aged; The Lalu's forward-thinking, enduring architectural philosophy is truly admirable.
The public areas overflow with intricate details. The hotel's overall layout follows a traditional enclosed-courtyard design; stone creatures are scattered about; a bronze sculpture depicting Zheng He's treasure fleet greets you at the lobby entrance. Ascend the steps and you'll find celadon instruments for Ou music, plum blossoms and Taihu stones, ancient eaves tiles and vintage suitcases...
The cultural-creative layout of The Lalu Nanjing is built upon the region's deep and layered history. Using three pillars – historical aesthetics, Jinling nostalgia, and the arts of the Six Dynasties – plus two special themes (Taiwanese flavor and the Maritime Silk Road), it constructs a singular, unique soul through space and service. This is the exquisite subtlety that no other so-called "cultural-creative" hotel can replicate.
At check-in, you can relax in the lounge area while a staff member brings you a carefully prepared welcome drink – an amber-colored traditional Taiwanese winter melon tea. Small but full of character, this cup refreshes in summer and soothes the throat in winter, instantly waking your travel memories. True uniqueness creates lasting impressions. This old-fashioned Taiwanese treat, served in a specially crafted sea-green pulled-glass cup, forms the very first impression guests have of The Lalu Nanjing.
Celadon Ou Music (Water Vessel Music): Recreated from the celadon instruments of Tang and Song Dynasty Yue kilns, this is a national intangible cultural heritage and serves as the hotel's welcome music. The ensemble consists of porcelain chime bells, porcelain fangxiang, and porcelain plates, each hand-fired and meticulously tuned by a master craftsman.
(Performance time: Friday to Sunday evenings)
Eaves Tiles: Commonly called tile ends, these are the outermost tiles of the eaves, once used to protect wooden rafters and beautify the roof outline. They're also known as drip-tiles. Underneath the eaves, Nanjing life brims with vibrant, everyday vitality; even the logo of the Nanjing Six Dynasties Museum features a tile end. Tile patterns include lotus flowers, animal faces, and human faces. At The Lalu Nanjing, these tiles cleverly incorporate the hotel's palace-lantern logo and its owl mascot – wonderfully playful.
In a corner of the courtyard stands a whole bluestone carved with the twelve zodiac animal hitching posts, traditionally used to adorn homes, ward off evil, and invite good fortune. A little touch might just bring a stroke of luck.
The hotel borders the Jiajiang River and Jiangxinzhou Islet. Its sweeping outdoor lawn is planted with several prized black pines personally chosen by the chairman of the Xianglin Group. The pine tree on the Starlight Terrace also came from the foot of Mount Tai, far away – a costly transport and upkeep effort. The hotel spares no expense in uniting architecture with nature, a reverence that deserves as much praise as its respect for local history and culture.
Living in harmony with the hotel are not only these esteemed plants but also three resident mascot geese – Ke Ke, Le Le, and Guo Guo. They stroll daily on the Ten-Mile Grassy Lawn or play in the bamboo-grove courtyard pond, thoroughly content and not easily approached.
Room Views: Clean architectural lines and contemporary art adorn the rooms, creating a new level of culture, artistry, and lifestyle. Spacious interiors are framed by full-floor-to-ceiling windows, with a rectangular layout that makes the view especially expansive. Standing before the 180-degree floor-to-ceiling window in a river-view room, you see the lush green lawn close by and the mighty Yangtze flowing endlessly beyond. Step out onto your private balcony to enjoy a zero-distance view of the Yangtze River's unique emerald charm, where water and sky merge seamlessly. The room's wooden furniture and soft furnishings in muted natural tones are understated yet elegant. A tea table with tea sets and TWG tea bags awaits, allowing you to experience the realm of "sipping fragrant tea while smiling at life's dramas, and with a clear cup, calmly watching the world's hustle" – right here at The Lalu Nanjing.
Bath Amenities: Oriental fragrance, discreet and lingering, cleanse powerfully without a slippery feel, housed in ceramic containers – quietly practicing environmental care.
Bathroom Fixtures: TOTO electronic toilet with all the common functions. The bathroom features a wet-dry separation; the vanity has a double-sink humanized design. The pristine white bathtub claims the best vantage point in the room – I timed it: it fills in just five minutes, ready to wash away all weariness. When the bright moon hangs high in the vast night sky, you can soak up the dazzling riverside nightscape.
Bedding: Custom linens come from the Taiwanese brand "Bed's World." Starting as a professional retailer of world-renowned mattress brands, the company rigorously analyzes the sleep needs and habits of people around the globe, then finds mattresses that best suit Chinese body shapes – shoulders, waist, hips, and skeletal structure.
If you want to fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly while traveling, your hotel's bedding is crucial. Bed's World has a slogan: "Enjoy a sleep SPA every day." It perfectly sums up my real experience here.
Smart Devices: Philips TV, electric curtains and sheers. While multifunctional speakers in high-star rooms are now common, the custom wooden dual-speaker system here delivers noticeably better sound quality.
Facilities: Every The Lalu creates a dedicated space to display its own art collection and books, sharing travel stories with guests. The Lalu Story House is located on one side of the hotel's south courtyard, comprising a library and a historical exhibition area. Hotel guests can freely enter with their room card to relax, read, feel the city's charm and culture, learn about The Lalu's history, and soak in its cultural depth.
The Story House regularly curates books covering Nanjing and the world – history, humanities, lifestyle, art, and more.
You can savor books and shifting light during the day, letting your soul journey into a broader world. Even if you don't read, sitting quietly, letting time slip by, the air is filled with a serene, scholarly calm. Watch the sunset light glide across exquisite items, admire tabletop vignettes, and let your eyes fully rest. You can also step into the historical exhibition area, where The Lalu's past and future reside in faded photos and vivid images, touching the story of its beginnings.
(Opening hours: 09:00 – 21:00)
Nanjing is a city of many artistic bookstores. Beyond its hotel identity, I think The Lalu Story House stands as one of them.
Nearby Recreation: Wanjing Garden is just a wall away from The Lalu Nanjing. Part of Nanjing's Riverside Scenic Belt, it offers greenways for strolling and relaxing, plus European-style attractions like West Asian woods, Italian terraces, and a French countryside zone. Its most striking feature is a uniquely styled small chapel.
This isn't merely ornamental – it's a functioning Catholic church, served by pastors from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, used for gatherings, weddings, and more. The steel-wood structure has a serene façade and an interior filled with mysterious religious power, reflecting the architect's vision of unity in opposites.
Outside the chapel are a pond and lawn; sunny weekends are perfect for picnics and camping.
After Wanjing Garden, continue south for 500 meters to the China Green Expo Garden. This is the largest themed green park along the Yangtze in Nanjing's Hexi area and the biggest urban park along the river, a favorite weekend retreat for citizens.
The park is divided into zones: Children's Sand Play Area, Left Bank Flower Sea, Dutch Friendship Garden, River View and Water-Platform Area, Riverside Waterfront Boardwalk, Art Fountain Square, and Ancient Sun Palace. There are also cultural and tourism display zones for various provinces and cities, like Jiangsu Garden and Anhui Garden. Taking it all in slowly requires a full day.
The most recommended spot is the Dutch Garden at the southwest corner. In spring, it feels like stepping into a Dutch tulip town. Funded by Eindhoven, Netherlands, it features a small church, windmill house, farmhouse, and waterwheel house built in Dutch landscape style. Though flower varieties are limited, the sea of tulips and hyacinths in full bloom is spectacular. Bringing family here for picnics and camping is the most romantic thing to do in spring.
II. Sometimes perhaps I'm cruel,
Sometimes perhaps I'm naive,
Perhaps I've never truly
Become an adult.
But I want to hold your hand,
I want to walk with you,
To eat and drink with you,
Turning life into a poem.
At Ho Jia 9, the all-day restaurant, world cuisines come together; Soalian Chinese Restaurant specializes in Chiang family private dining, refined Taiwanese dishes, classic Huaiyang cuisine, and traditional Republican-era dishes; L Bar Lounge offers an outdoor picnic afternoon tea that changes with the seasons – all delivering creative spaces to delight the palate during leisurely stays.
Breakfast buffet is served at Ho Jia 9. The name comes from the Minnan dialect for "delicious" – Ho Jia = "hò chiah." The 9 represents nine different culinary stations.
The restaurant's décor is elegant and modern; window-side seats offer spectacular views. Through the classic-style windows, you see the lush Ten-Mile Grassy Lawn stretching out, perfectly echoed by the potted pine branches on the tables. At dusk, if the riverside sunset graces your feast, it becomes a truly sublime experience.
The breakfast spread is rich. Do try Nanjing specialties like duck blood and vermicelli soup, salted duck, and pan-fried beef dumplings. There's also freshly made jianbing, cross-cultural sushi, saury, and refreshing handmade soba noodles with an authentic taste. Add Western pastries, Chinese hot dishes, staples, fruits, and beverages – nothing is missing.
(Opening hours: 07:00 – 10:00)
For lunch, the natural choice is Soalian Chinese Restaurant across the way – "Soalian" being the old name for Sun Moon Lake. The restaurant is exquisitely decorated, with all the elements of a cultured life: music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea. Every wall painting tells a story: one color painting blending Western abstract and Chinese freehand landscape styles illustrates Sun Moon Lake's universal appeal. A collage made from torn stamps expresses a well-known cross-strait nostalgia. And a set of suspended temple architectural sculptures along the corridor outside the private dining rooms leads guests to whisper the famous line, "Four hundred eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many towers remain amid mist and rain."
Flavorful Cold Dishes: Osmanthus sticky rice stuffed lotus root in Huaiyang style, Zhenjiang crystal pork terrine – a Jiangsu classic, and fragrant spiced beef showcase exquisite traditional skill, perfect as appetizers or bar snacks. Plum-infused cherry tomatoes: Selected local tomatoes paired with an exclusive, air-freighted house-pickled purple perilla plum sauce. The plum fragrance is fresh, sweet and sour, quenching heat and promoting fluid, ideal as a post-meal palate cleanser that’s spleen-strengthening and grease-cutting.
Health Soup: Ribs and mushroom double-boiled tonic soup. Slowly simmered over spring water, the broth is crystal clear, the meat tender, the bones soft.
Urn-Roasted Chicken with Lychee-Flavored Dry-Fried Frog Legs: A duo of roasted chicken and frog legs. The chicken skin is roasted to a golden crisp, while the frog legs, using only the thigh, combine peppery and fruity aromas, tender freshness meeting crispiness.
Taro Crispy Duck with Diced Beef: Taro puree stuffed crispy duck is a classic banquet dish from Fujian and Taiwan, demanding intricate preparation. The duck is crispy outside, soft and taro-scented inside, leaving a lingering fragrance. The beef dice brighten the flavors. This combination is perfection.
Braised Mud Carp with Cattail Shoots: June to August is cattail shoot season in the Yangtze-Huai region. Only the tender hearts are used; the mudfish are headed and deboned; ham sliced and dried bamboo shoots cut. Carefully chosen ingredients and meticulous preparation, even with a relatively simple cooking process, yield a delicious dish. Cattail shoots are not just a seasonal delicacy but also a dietary remedy; demanding high water quality, they are sweet and cool-natured, clearing heat and benefiting the blood.
Silver Cod with Soybean Crumble: The snow-white flesh of silver cod pairs with golden, garlicky soybean crumble, creating a rich texture and an appetite-stirring color.
Pan-Seared Black Pepper Beef Fillet: Perfectly cooked, black pepper and beef are the best partners; the beef dances on the tip of your tongue.
Stir-Fried Asparagus / Sponge Gourd with Double Seafood (cuttlefish & conpoy): The common trait of these ingredients is freshness, plus abundant nutrition – so this plate is naturally crisp, fresh, and refreshing.
Seasonal Sautéed Greens: In Jiangnan summers, amaranth is a home-style staple. Wok-fried amaranth requires precise heat control; delay the toss and the leaves turn tough. Amaranth has heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, making it a scientifically healthy side dish alongside rich meats and fish.
Kaohsiung Old Town Minced Pork Rice: An old-fashioned Taiwanese minced pork rice, one of Taiwan's traditional snacks. Stewed minced pork belly and sesame pork floss mixed with rice, then drizzled with mushroom sauce – the aroma is irresistible, so delicious you simply can't stop.
Yangchun Noodles: A famous Huaiyang snack, plain noodles in superior broth, with a splash of soy sauce, sesame oil, and chopped scallions. The soup is clear yet savory, light and refreshing. Not to mention this bowl comes with tender, springy beef brisket that makes it utterly irresistible.
(Opening hours: Saturday & Sunday 11:30 – 14:30, 17:30 – 21:30; Thursday & Friday 17:30 – 21:30)
Afternoon Tea: The floor-to-ceiling windows of the L Bar Lounge frame the Yangtze sunset. On fine days, enjoy an outdoor picnic afternoon tea, with a generous array of sweets that are both visually stunning and delicious.
As summer breezes arrive and lawns and trees reach their peak, sit beneath the shade on the Ten-Mile Grassy Lawn, getting close to nature while indulging in a refined outdoor picnic. On rainy days, you can still watch this vast private lawn through the lounge's transparent floor-to-ceiling windows – a charm all its own.
Multi-flavored éclairs, inspired by summer's fresh fruits – banana, mango, berries – blend with creamy sweetness, composing a fragrant, refreshing crescendo on the palate.
Soy-milk Magnum ice cream cake, soft and cooling, banishes summer heat in a single bite.
Specially crafted refreshing ice bread comes in cute shapes, using vanilla, coffee, mango, and durian to reflect the season's vibrant, flourishing life.
A giant salted egg yolk mochi pork floss bread hides layers of flavor, nutritious and satisfying.
Mango pomelo sago in a delightful cup, various passion fruit spritzers, or seasonal fresh fruit cups – whichever you pick delivers a refreshing kick.
Kale and quinoa chicken salad cone invites endless summer flavor imaginings, letting you enjoy a healthy salad with extra elegance.
Cucumber smoked salmon croissant sandwich, spicy lobster avocado sandwich – thoughtfully paired around seafood, each bite seems to cross vast rivers and seas.
Seasonal Fruit Platter: Mango, grapes, lychee, watermelon, dragon fruit. If autumn is the season of grain harvest, summer is the season of fruit.
Americano or Italian-style milk coffee, with latte art inspired by the hotel's palace-lantern logo, doubles the warmth and joy of body and soul. Or switch to a pot of black tea and savor it slowly – that's equally wonderful.
(Opening hours: 11:00 – 20:00)
Dinner returns to Ho Jia 9. To gauge an international hotel's culinary standards, Western cuisine is unmissable. Appetizer garden salad, creamy mushroom soup, main course pan-seared Angus beef tenderloin with seasonal vegetables, pasta course spaghetti in tomato meat sauce, dessert blueberry cheesecake and vanilla ice cream. Beautifully plated, soup rich, ingredients fresh. The seared beef tenderloin had me sensing tomahawk-steak quality; the dessert was sweet without cloying, with thick blueberry sauce and creamy cheese, vanilla fragrance lingering delicately in the nostrils.
(Opening hours: 11:30 – 14:30, 17:30 – 21:30)
Between Ho Jia 9 and Soalian lies a children's play area, complete with an ocean ball pit, slide, swing, and more. Parents can leave their well-fed kids to play freely here while they continue feasting at leisure.
III. Even if I protect myself,
Please don't give up on me.
Just as I will always want
To feel you slowly let go,
To feel that in a certain moment...
Hotel Spirit: It's said that in Taiwan, the Xianglin Group acquired the "The Lalu" brand for nearly NT$300 million (originally a historic building beside Sun Moon Lake; the English name comes from Lalu Island, the small isle at the lake's center). They rebuilt The Lalu Sun Moon Lake and set the record for the highest room rate in Taiwan at the time, making it a "must-stay-once-in-a-lifetime" hotel for many. For me, what I care about more is The Lalu's respect for and integration with the local natural landscape and cultural history, and the brand-new life experience it creates for guests. I may not yet have the means to enjoy luxury-priced hotels, but in pursuing the quality and value of life, lofty goals should be the motivation and direction of my personal efforts. To delight guests with the beauty of the six senses and timely, thoughtful service – this is the ultimate essence that makes The Lalu so dear to my heart. Although The Lalu Nanjing differs in the scale of its main building, its specific location, and surroundings from Sun Moon Lake and Qingdao, leading the hotel to switch to a design team more experienced with high-rises, the core brand spirit runs consistently through all The Lalu properties.
I believe that a true resort design should be long-lasting, like a treasured jewel that grows more valuable with age. It requires architects to position and design from the user's needs, adding clever ideas and creativity to produce ripple-like waves of wonder and emotion. From cultural-creative storytelling, the life aesthetics of six senses, to just-in-time service, The Lalu has touched countless guests over more than a decade from Sun Moon Lake to Qingdao, and now Nanjing, remaining timeless. The Lalu offers guests a fresh life experience and a broad-minded architectural refinement. From inside out, explore architectural aesthetics and slowly savor a leisurely life, allowing guests to immerse themselves in and appreciate the design spirit, and thereby to understand and feel the local natural beauty, profound history, and ancient civilization. This is The Lalu's life aesthetic. Only by truly experiencing it will you realize how richly abundant life can be.
Give yourself back to yourself, give others back to others. Let flowers be flowers, let trees be trees. From then on, though mountains and rivers separate us, even if we never meet again, never in life or death, there is no debt, no thought, no disturbance. An abundant life is not afraid of being alone with itself.
All original text and photos copyright belongs to @天蓝年代. Reproduction requires permission.
I am a specially invited photographer for AirAsia, Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Embassy of Canada in China; a financial writer; a multimedia journalist; a contracted travel writer; a contracted photographer; and a winner of Yunnan News Awards (Online Commentary Award, Innovative News Award).
