Xuancheng Peach Blossom Pond - A Warm and Healing Countryside Homestay Like Returning to a Garden Life

Peach Blossom Pond is a thousand feet deep, yet not as deep as Wang Lun's love for me when he saw me off. The scenery of Peach Blossom Pond in Xuancheng, Anhui is beautiful and pleasant all year round. The great poet Li Bai once wrote an eternal verse here. To let the children personally experience the scenic charm described in the poem, during a short holiday, I took my children and family to Peach Blossom Pond for sightseeing. We first strolled near the scenic area for a while, and when we passed by the Zhuyingju Homestay, everyone unanimously decided to stay here and rest.

Upon entering the courtyard of the homestay, the owner warmly came out from inside to greet us, with a smiling face full of simplicity and hospitality. Fortunately, although we had not made a reservation in advance, there were still vacancies enough for our family. The owner explained that their homestay operates year-round, with most guests staying for short periods, and they can normally accommodate guests whenever they come. This truly gave us peace of mind.

Zhuyingju is built along the street, with convenient transportation and a complete surrounding living infrastructure. Restaurants, homestays, courier services, supermarkets, and other facilities are readily available, yet it is not located in the center of a town. The surrounding environment is very natural and green, with green bamboo forests, quiet and serene, pleasant for living, and especially suitable for vacation and leisure.

The homestay is only a 5-minute drive from the Peach Blossom Pond Scenic Area, making transportation very convenient. It is a three-story, independent courtyard rural villa. Both the exterior architecture and interior decoration style are full of unique design. The horse-head walls, white walls, and black tiles characteristic of Huizhou architecture are distinctive vintage elements. They are intentionally paired with full floor-to-ceiling glass windows, enhancing the view and lighting, better connecting and shortening the distance between indoors and outdoors. At the same time, it creates a mixed style combining Chinese and Western elements, which is refreshing.

The public area on the first floor includes a separate dining room and an open kitchen. The spacious living room gives a more homey feel, and the textured decoration style creates a great sense of visual comfort.

It can accommodate up to 38 guests at a time, with 8 family rooms, 7 double-bed rooms, and a total of 15 rooms all decorated warmly, slightly luxurious, with a modern design feel. Many rooms use full floor-to-ceiling glass to open up the indoor view and better appreciate the outdoor scenery. The rooms face south, directly overlooking the natural landscape outside. Looking at the scenery through sheer curtains has a unique charm.

The style of the guest rooms seems to vary somewhat. The owner places more emphasis on comfort. The wall paint, wallpaper, flooring, and furniture used are all high-end products without formaldehyde or odor. The bedding, which is closest to the skin, is soft and luxurious, comfortable against the skin, providing an ultimate relaxed and cozy experience.

Additionally, there are very thoughtful and complete living amenities, including private bathrooms, high-end bedding sets, and hotel-level hygiene standards.

The homestay has an independent courtyard, which is almost fully open. It is separated from the surroundings only by a small sign wall and a short, low bamboo fence. It seems separate yet connected, embodying a new design concept where boundaries are not clearly defined. This greatly reflects the perfect harmony and relationship between humans and nature—close contact and mutual integration.

This is exactly the uniqueness of Zhuyingju, setting it apart from other homestays which are much the same, with its own distinctive principles. The courtyard is not very large. A straight cement path faces the entrance of the villa, with vegetable gardens and flower beds on both sides, and a terrace for outdoor activities and leisure.

On one side of the homestay, there is a winding path. Beside the path and diagonally behind the house are lush green bamboo forests. The environment is very pure and fresh. On sunny days, the bamboo shadows are dappled and cool under the forest, making it the best place to escape the heat. It feels like stealing a moment of leisure from a busy life, a rare and joyful freedom.

A 2-minute walk from the homestay leads to the main street, where there are many local specialty restaurants. Famous dishes such as Huangshan hairy tofu, Huangshan stinky tofu, stinky mandarin fish, stone ear stewed chicken, steamed ham, and Meigan cai braised pork can all be enjoyed. You can choose your own restaurant to dine in, and the flavors are very authentic.

During the few days staying at Zhuyingju, I truly experienced what it means to return to a garden life—the slow, simple rhythm of rural living, a joy and comfort that those who have long lived in cities cannot easily experience. Longing is not as good as action. Come quickly and find your own cozy world.