Staying in a 300-year-old Qing Dynasty third-rank official’s residence, this is the “Returning to Nature” life I’ve been longing for

The moment I pushed open the weathered wooden door, it felt like traveling through time—
blue bricks and gray tiles, staggered horse-head walls, the mottled light and shadow cast by a century-old courtyard, the sound of flowing water and cicadas and birdsong in my ears, and my heart instantly calmed.

An old Huizhou-style residence built during the Yongzheng era, carefully restored after years of neglect. It’s not a hotel, but more like a private museum hidden deep in the mountains.

The room I stayed in has large floor-to-ceiling windows framing the mountain and water scenery like a painting. A smart toilet and latex mattress quietly bring in modern comfort, perfectly balancing ancient and contemporary.

There’s also a free Hanfu experience—put on a Hanfu or qipao, and just standing casually in the courtyard, corridor, or in front of carved windows makes for stunning photos! The thousand-year-old camphor tree at the village entrance is also very photogenic.

Here, time slows down.
Slow enough to daydream all day, listen to the wind, watch the clouds, play with dogs, and drink tea.
It turns out that “escaping the world” isn’t about running away, but allowing yourself to idly spend some time. This place is exactly that kind of place. Next time I come to Wuyuan, I’ll head straight here...

Post by nathaniel_everett_storm | Oct 21, 2025