Checked in at the popular Xitang homestay

The last time I visited Xitang was during my student days, and after more than a decade, I returned with my parents, wanting to stay somewhere comfortable yet save on the entrance fee by staying within the scenic area. After a long search on Ctrip, I finally settled on this place. Er Yi Tang, the name is quite unique, with a certain charm to it, located in a quieter corner of the scenic area, far from the bar street, so there's no need to worry about noise at night. The service at the homestay is pretty good; they add you on WeChat a day in advance to ask about your arrival time and inform you of the self-driving route and the nearest ancient town entrance to the homestay. If you contact them in advance, they will come to the entrance to pick you up, and the check-in process is very quick, with no deposit required. The room is relatively clean, and compared to the local carved bed room I stayed in ten years ago, it's much cleaner, with comfortable underfloor heating and a nice high ceiling. The bathroom is a bit small, but understandable since it's not hotel facilities. There's no bathtub, but the shower is powerful and hot, making for a comfortable bathing experience. The amenities are wooden and echo the homestay's concept. The only issue is that the bathroom has a bit of the dampness typical of ancient towns by the water; there's no moldy smell, but there might be some in the crevices. The breakfast is noodles with pickled vegetables and shredded pork made by the auntie, with thin noodles, and the topping is fresh and fragrant, especially delicious with a poached egg added! If it's not enough, you can ask the auntie for more noodles. The small wontons were too salty, not very impressive. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 10:30, and the auntie starts work at eight in the morning, so those who want to eat early should take note of this time. Those who like to sleep in can have a brunch after naturally waking up. As a homestay in the ancient town, the overall experience is quite good.