Secluded in the Taihang Clouds｜Xingtai Yunjie Inn, Healing Time in Stone Houses

Layer upon layer of red stone buildings, winding stone steps ascending—this is not a legendary fairyland, but a hidden paradise nestled deep in the Taihang Mountains: Yunjie Inn.

Driving west from downtown Xingtai, deep into the heart of the Taihang Mountains, I arrived at Zhima Valley Village, Bai’an Township, Xindu District. Along the way, lush green mountains and babbling streams greeted me, with a small river flowing through the village, its water sounds like a natural welcome melody.

Climbing up the timeworn stone slab path, a cluster of stone houses built from the Taihang Mountains’ distinctive red sandstone gradually came into view—this is the Yunjie Inn I came to explore today.

🔸First Impressions of Yunjie: Art in Stone Houses

Looking up, layers of red stone buildings are built along the mountain’s contours, with stone steps stacked and winding irregularly. The inn’s name “Yunjie” (Cloud Steps) is perfectly fitting—as if stepping on these stone stairs could lead you up to the clouds.

These buildings were originally red stone residences from the late Qing and Republic of China periods. After careful renovation, they retain their original rough and rustic appearance while incorporating modern comfort. Touching the stone walls marked by time, you can almost feel the breath of ancient traditions.

🔸Stay Experience: Poetic Living

Yunjie Inn has renovated 40 old houses into 28 uniquely styled guest rooms. Each room has a poetic name: Leaning on the Railing, Moonlight, Into the Painting, Cloud Song... Just hearing the names inspires longing.

The inn offers various room types:
✅ Traditional Kang Bed Rooms: Experience northern China’s traditional living style
✅ Cartoon Family Rooms: Ideal for families with children
✅ Wedding Courtyard: Perfect for couples or anniversaries

🔸Culinary Experience: Flavors of the Mountains and Fields

At Yunjie Inn, food is an unmissable experience. Most ingredients are locally sourced, fresh and healthy.

Must-try specialties include:
Millet Fried with Native Chicken Eggs: golden and tender, the taste of the wild
Grilled Rainbow Trout: fresh, juicy, and aromatic
Clay Pot Stewed Free-Range Chicken**: firm meat with rich broth
Cold Mixed Wild Vegetables: fresh and crisp, nature’s gift
Sour Jujube Juice: a signature drink that stimulates appetite and aids digestion

For dinner, I chose the inn’s open-air restaurant. On a gentle mountain breeze night, I enjoyed barbecue and beer to my heart’s content. The inn’s terrace area can seat 200 people and often hosts live music in the evening, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

Practical Tips:

📍Location: Zhima Valley Village, Bai’an Township, Xindu District, Xingtai City, Hebei Province
🚄High-Speed Rail: From Beijing, 2 hours by high-speed train to Xingtai, then 1 hour by car

💚 Best Season: Suitable all year round—lush green in spring and summer, chestnut harvest in autumn, peaceful and serene in winter

The sunset shines on Wuzinao, distant mountains like ink wash paintings. Sitting under the inn’s pavilion, sipping local mountain tea, watching the stone steps stretch upward, it truly feels like they lead to the clouds.

Here, there is no city noise, only the gentle mountain breeze, birdsong, and the tinkling of spring water. Yunjie Inn is truly a secluded paradise in the Taihang Mountains where body and mind can completely relax.