At Home in Xiatanangzhai - Joyful Experiences

      26.11.2025

      25 °C

      With our Nepal trip canceled, we decided to take a pause to visit friends, but in reality, we are with our family in Xiatanangzhai village, Yangshuo County, southern China, surrounded by the stunning karst mountains. Our connection to one of the most beautiful places in the world began in 2012 when we traveled overland from Russia to Indonesia and stayed at a charming hotel along the Yulong River, known as The Tea Cozy. We instantly fell for this hotel, with its spacious rooms, gigantic soft beds, and breathtaking views of the nearby rivers and mountains. However, it was the staff that truly won us over. Thirteen years ago, we had the privilege of naming the receptionist with an English name and decided on Suzy. This is our goddaughter, Suzy, along with our other 'daughter,' Amy, who no longer works at The Tea Cozy but was so delighted to see us again that she shed a few tears. Nowhere else do we feel more at home than in the Yangshuo countryside, embraced by the generous and kind-hearted people who have welcomed us. Here are Curry, the owner, and his wife, Rose, with their eldest daughter, Ruby. Curry not only owns and manages six beautiful hotels, but he also has other business interests and teaches Taichi in his free time. Rose is equally busy managing her travel agency and assisting in the hotels. We could opt for a fabulous room in any of Curry’s lovely hotels, like The Ancient Garden Resort... or a room with a valley and mountain view at The Giggling Tree Hotel... But our deep affection for The Tea Cozy and its staff leads us to stay here with our Xiatanangzhai family. Mornings here feel enchanted as we open the curtains to a scene fit for a movie... A group of pure white egrets glides down to the lotus pond; our neighbor feeds her chickens and ducks, and a considerate rooster generally waits until sunrise to announce the day’s arrival. Following breakfast, we meander along the riverbank under the warm morning sun... While the lotus flowers around The Tea Cozy hotel are resting after their dazzling summer display, the fragrance of night-scented jasmine fills the evening air as the sun sets behind the mountains, marking yet another perfect day. Welcome to our paradise in Xiatanangzhai, by the banks of the Yulong River... We cherish this place and its people so much that we might never depart. While we typically post a blog every two days, our time spent with our Chinese family has been filled with such incredible experiences that we need to catch up. Please bear with us if we share extra blogs in our excitement to tell you about this enchanting place, and hold on tight over the next few days as we take you on a gentle journey down the serene Yulong River on a bamboo raft…

      Posted by Hawkson

      01:34

      Archived in China