May Day Getaway Plan | Stay in a Hidden Hui-style Retreat at the Foot of Mount Jiuhua

📍 Address: Limao Mountain at the foot of Mount Jiuhua, Qingyang County, Chizhou, Anhui 🚗 Transportation: 4-hour drive from Shanghai/Hangzhou, 2.5 hours direct from Nanjing, with scenic views along the way to keep the journey interesting! Attention to those who want to avoid crowded tourist spots during May Day holiday! I accidentally discovered this secluded hotel hidden at the southern foot of Mount Jiuhua—Shi Yuan (Ten Courtyards). The texture of the ancient village has been completely preserved, yet modern design has quietly infused it with soul! 1️⃣ Stay in a genuine Hui-style ancient village! The hotel is newly built, converted from 10 independent courtyards, and they've even preserved a section of the old village outside the hotel! The original site dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, so the horse-head walls, courtyards, and "four waters returning to the hall" layout have all been preserved! The designers were incredibly thoughtful—they reinforced the old walls to maintain their original appearance as much as possible. Combined with floor-to-ceiling windows, the ancient charm coexists with transparency. Open the window to see bamboo forests and sea of clouds, instantly transporting you back in time. 2️⃣ Luxury wilderness experience at its finest I stayed in a courtyard room with a private yard. Wake up to birdsong in the morning, and in the evening, brew a pot of Huangshixi tea while watching the sunset sink into the mountains. The most amazing part is the rooftop terrace! You can see a complete view of the starry sky that's impossible to see in the city! 3️⃣ Things to do nearby ▪️ A 20-minute drive takes you directly to Lake Taiping, where the water is emerald green like jade. Rent a kayak and float in the middle of the lake, claiming the entire landscape for yourself! ▪️ Hidden inside the hotel is a phoenix-shaped conference center with exposed concrete structure that's incredibly stylish—taking photos here feels like being in an art gallery! ▪️ Culture lovers can visit Lingyang Ancient Town with its thousand-year-old stone paths and old archways. There's also an intangible cultural heritage oil paper umbrella workshop where you can try your hand at this traditional craft. 4️⃣ Culinary delights of southern Anhui I recommend the breakfast, all handmade by pastry chefs and especially delicious! For dinner, try the hotel's seasonal wild feast—the dried bamboo shoots stewed with free-range chicken is amazing!! I asked the butler, who said all ingredients are directly supplied by surrounding farmers, and even the rice has a firewood fragrance~hehe~ 💡 Tips: ✅ Definitely bring Hanfu or modern Chinese-style clothing! The hotel provides free oil paper umbrellas as props. ✅ Families should choose the courtyard suite—kids will have fun running around. The hotel also offers activities like bamboo shoot digging, mountain biking, children's sand pool fishing, and pizza baking in a kiln (reservation required one day in advance), perfect experiences to enjoy with children! ✅ Book your room early for May Day holiday. Some courtyards come with private hot springs—soaking in a hot spring while enjoying mountain views is the true vacation experience! Tired of check-in style travel? This place is probably the real-life version of "The Life You Want"