Yichang Fanju 1790, Awakening the Moonlight of the Qianlong Era

This time in Yichang, I didn’t choose a chain hotel but stayed in a homestay with a story of a tower hidden in its name—“Fanju 1790.” It quietly stands on Wujiagang Riverside Avenue, just across the road from the Yangtze River. Opening the window reveals the water, as if time slows down here. 🛋️ Space | The elevator opens to a scene from "Yichang Prefecture Food Fun Map" Walking into the homestay lobby, the first thing that catches the eye is the intangible cultural heritage lacquer fan experience area, where various exquisite lacquer fans glow warmly under soft lighting. The host warmly invited me to try making one, and under the guidance of a young lady, I personally completed a unique lacquer fan. This experience, infused with Yichang’s intangible cultural heritage, is unforgettable. But the real surprise came the moment the elevator doors opened—a wall-sized antique-style painting of the "Yichang Prefecture Food Fun Map" slowly unfolded, with delicate brushstrokes depicting various local specialties of Yichang. 🌌 Room | Perfect blend of technology and comfort I stayed in the “Private Pool” Yangtze River View King Room, a 40-square-meter space filled with thoughtful smart technology: “Xiaodu, Xiaodu,” a single call controls all the lights, curtains, and air conditioning in the room. A 100-inch laser projection screen slowly descends; at night, snuggled in the bed equipped with imported latex mattress, watching a movie with the boat lights on the river as natural background lighting. Lying on the Thai-imported latex mattress, paired with custom Xinjiang long-staple cotton bedding, it feels like sleeping on a cloud. The smart toilet comes with temperature control and cleaning functions, showing quality in every detail. The entire floor-to-ceiling window is like a living "Ten Thousand Miles of the Yangtze River" painting, with cargo ships slowly sailing on the river and green hills on the opposite bank. At dusk, the sunset dyes the river golden red, occasionally a river gull flies by, breathtakingly beautiful. The number “1790” is not just the address—it comes from the year the natural tower in Yichang was rebuilt (the 55th year of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty). The homestay owner said they wanted to use this name to pay tribute to the city’s history. Location | Along the river, everything is just the right distance The homestay is on Wujiagang Riverside Avenue, just across the street from the riverside walkway. At six in the morning, I took a walk along the river and saw elderly people practicing Tai Chi under the natural tower, anglers casting long fishing lines, and several teenagers sketching by the shore. This is the most authentic life scene of Yichang. Food | A bowl of steaming Yichang flavor The host recommended “Jiangma Noodle House,” an 8-minute walk away, said to be a local favorite for over ten years. I ordered a bowl of beef bean thread noodles, rich in red oil fragrance, tender beef, paired with tangy pickled radish—one bite and you feel completely satisfied. If you come back late at night, you can buy a bowl of iced jelly from a small stall by Riverside Avenue, topped with hawthorn slices and crushed peanuts, sitting on the riverside stone steps slowly eating while watching the lights on the opposite bank gradually light up. Memorable moments: Experiencing intangible cultural heritage lacquer fan making in the lobby, bringing home a unique memory of Yichang Controlling the entire room by voice, making vacation so easy with technology Watching a movie on the 100-inch laser projector at night, with the real river view outside the window The host quietly reminded me: after 8 p.m., the lights on the opposite bank will light up, like stars falling into the river The first-floor terrace can be reserved for evening drinks, offering local yellow wine and handmade tea snacks We say, you have to stay in a city to truly understand it. And Fanju 1790 is a sentence in Yichang that makes you want to stop and read. It is neither noisy nor hurried, just quietly standing by the river, waiting for you to open the window— To see the river water, to see history, and to see yourself at this moment. 📌 Address: No. 189-1, Riverside Avenue, Wujiagang District, Yichang City (About a 2-minute walk to the Natural Tower, recommended to visit before dusk)