A Two-Day, One-Night Healing Escape in the Clouds from Fuzhou to Xiapu

Leaving work two hours early on Friday, a few friends and I set off from Fuzhou by car, heading east along the Shenhai Expressway. During the two-and-a-half-hour drive, the scenery outside the window gradually shifted from city skylines to rolling mountains, and finally to Xiapu's iconic coastline. Our navigation led us to the "Cloud Soaring" homestay in a village clustered with guesthouses—a pristine white structure perched between green mountains and the sea, likely offering the highest vantage point in the area. Upon check-in, the host served us the distinctive white tea of eastern Fujian, steam rising from the glass, instantly washing away the fatigue from the journey. After settling in, hunger struck. Remembering the yakitori food truck we'd passed earlier, we walked to the viewing platform where the stall was set up and indulged in a feast. With drinks included, the cost per person was around 80 CNY for the girls. Back at the homestay, our "270-Degree Ocean View Room" featured floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. During the blue hour, the light and the small boats gliding across the water formed a natural, ever-changing painting. A friend leaned against the glass railing, savoring the sea breeze with a contented sigh. The next day, we woke naturally to birdsong and enjoyed a seafood congee breakfast before retreating to our favorite spots—my friend claimed the hammock to continue her novel, while I brewed coffee to jot down travel notes. We lazed until 11 AM when an unexpected coastal shower arrived. Cozying up in the homestay’s tearoom, we steeped a pot of aged white tea, paired perfectly with the host’s freshly baked savory snacks—crispy and fragrant. The rain soon passed. As clouds parted, we stepped outside to watch light play across the homestay’s infinity pool, where the water seemed to merge with the sea at the horizon. With other guests out exploring, we had the entire homestay to ourselves, snapping photos nonstop. Just then, a flock of seagulls soared over the ocean, drawing gasps of delight—a moment of pure magic. Only at checkout did we realize we’d never left the homestay. Yet the dancing light, gentle sea breeze, and sound of rain on the pool had already woven Xiapu’s essence quietly into our journey. Accommodation: ~250 CNY per person. Meals: flexible budget. Parking: Free roadside parking allowed on the seaside of the homestay’s street. Fuzhou to Xiapu: 90 CNY tolls, 0 fuel costs (thanks to our electric car—haha!).