Mid-Levels Homestay

As dusk settled over the mountains, the entire valley grew quiet. The guesthouse lights flickered on, like stars hidden among the trees. During the day, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the dining room, where wooden tables were laden with sweet corn and fragrant fresh fruit. Even the air was infused with the scent of plants and trees. A grey cat curled up by a chair, letting the light and shadows slowly shift across its fur, as if it too were savoring the tranquility of this mountain retreat. Here, time stretches out, slowing down enough to hear the wind whispering through the bamboo grove, slowing down enough to simply embrace nature's gentle presence.

The hillside guesthouse felt like a warm welcome home after a long, tiring day at work. Even before arriving, the owner contacted me to remind me to buy tickets, offering plenty of advice and hiking tips, along with transportation information. There was no need to plan anything here; everything was taken care of – food, accommodation, transportation, and entertainment. Upon arrival, the housekeeper warmly helped with our luggage, and the owner greeted us enthusiastically, like old friends even though we'd never met before. After check-in, we were immediately offered sparkling water, iced coffee, and welcome fruit. The air conditioning was already on, and the room was clean and hygienic, with a small courtyard for easy access. Breakfast wasn't as lavish as a hotel meal, but it was delicious: minced meat rice noodles, fried eggs, steamed corn bread, steamed corn, and millet cakes – the taste was unlike anything you'd find in a pre-made meal. They even packed up the leftovers for us to take hiking. After breakfast, the owner drove us to the scenic area in his Porsche. The scenic area was only 1 kilometer from the guesthouse, but he insisted on driving us there, saying parking would be inconvenient late at night. He also offered to pick us up on the way back, but we took a taxi – very convenient indeed. What surprised me most when we returned to the guesthouse after our hike was the foot bath tub they had provided. We sat in the pavilion, sipping tea and soaking our feet – it was incredibly relaxing. I'll definitely come back and recommend it to my friends. Goodbye!

The guesthouse was quiet and elegant, with stylish decor, excellent service, and patient explanations. They even took us to the scenic area, picked us up from the station, and dropped us off. We arrived late at night, and they took us to dinner, explaining travel tips along the way. The gentle and lovely landlady got up early to make breakfast, and the owner was incredibly attentive. They provided gloves, helped us buy tickets, answered all our questions, and offered assistance whenever needed – making us feel right at home. It's a pity our itinerary was too tight; otherwise, we really wanted to stay a few more days.

The B&B I carefully selected is great: the small building is located at the foot of the mountain. The architectural style combines modern simplicity without losing the local folk customs. It is backed by green mountains and surrounded by swaying bamboos. There is a swimming pool in front of the door, and there is a small bridge and flowing water when you go out. There is a treasure "jelly-colored" water area a hundred meters away, which is convenient for children to play in the water after climbing the mountain. Adults can sit on the rocks in the shade and dip their feet in the water. In the stream, all worries and fatigue disappear. When you return to the B&B, the owner will cut watermelon, make tea, and prepare special handmade summer sparkling drinks. The creek is rising, the breeze is blowing on my face, the moon is setting and the sky is filled with stars, that's probably it.