West Slope Staycation | How to experience Qiandao Lake in the off-season

🏠Accommodation: Xipo Qiandao Lake. Although we randomly chose our guesthouse from three options🎲, it was a pleasant surprise. First, thank you to our housekeeper, Xiaoqin, for her thoughtful service. The lake-view room we stayed in also had a great view. The afternoon sun was perfect, so we enjoyed afternoon tea. The infinity pool, French-style white rooms, and large lawn created a truly relaxing resort atmosphere. Perhaps the secret to the French style is the sunlight streaming through the large windows and the warm, white, comfortable rooms—all the elements were there, making it very pleasant. For dinner, we went out and chose a restaurant serving freshly killed and cooked Qiandao Lake fish head, which was delicious😋. It was Christmas season, and we enjoyed some mulled wine brewed by Xiaoqin—so satisfying! It was also a long time since I'd enjoyed listening to music and immersing myself in writing on a quiet night. 🚴‍♀️Cycling around the lake: This trip focused on a relaxing experience without visiting tourist attractions (and the downside is that it's super remote, 70km from the high-speed rail station, so driving is more suitable). We went cycling in the morning; bicycles could be rented from the guesthouse. I leisurely cycled around the lake for about 10km, especially enjoying the downhill sections (uphill was tiring 🐭). ⛰️Botanical Garden: The only attraction I visited was the botanical garden, which I highly recommend. The scenery around my accommodation felt slightly different from the central lake area, so I went to the botanical garden, which I hadn't been able to visit before. Unfortunately, the air quality wasn't great in winter, and the visibility was poor, but the azure lake, layered mountains, and falling red leaves created a unique autumn scene at Qiandao Lake.