When morning mist drifts over the ridges of Baimiwan, in the courtyard hotel renovated from the former Baimiwan Middle School, gray tiles reflect the Jiangnan mountain mists, and the old school desks under the phoenix trees are warming Zhuji's pre-Ming tea — here, the gentleness of Jiangnan and youth memories simmer into a slow-paced time.
Old classrooms have been turned into guest rooms, and the former teachers' office is now the "Tea Story Study". All 42 guest rooms retain the texture of classrooms, with mountain views visible through the windows: courtyard rooms open to scenery, terrace rooms offer star-gazing at night; family suites are perfect for parents and kids to reminisce about school days.
Nearby attractions also hold stories: a 11-minute drive to Xiaotianzhu (a classic spring outing spot for alumni), where you can make tea in ancient pavilions and listen to mountain breezes; a 28-minute drive to Xishi's Hometown, where you can pick tea by the Huansha River and cook "Xishi Tea Porridge"; head to East China International Jewelry City to choose pearls, then return to the Tea Story Study to make exclusive pendants with tea branches.
A little spoiler: Phase II will bring mountain-view hot springs, with mists curling around your shoulders as you soak; a petting zoo is also in the works — guess you might encounter raccoons, peacocks, or even little lions!
"The homestay was rebuilt from a middle school, very distinctive, and the nearby ecological environment is also good. It may be because of the new hotel and the publicity is relatively small. When I checked in, I felt that there were no other guests, which also caused it to be difficult to find staff when I needed service. If you value the middle school-style homestay experience, you can consider living, but don't expect too high service, after all, it is not a full service hotel. By the way, the hotel has a very good tennis court, at the foot of the mountain, the experience should be very good."