Recommended by National Geographic, the Japanese-style B&B in Jiangnan's Xiaochang'an is a hidden gem

Located 1.5 hours by car from downtown Shanghai, Ningbo is home to the "First Ancient County Town in Jiangnan"—Cicheng Ancient Town. Every brick and tile in this small Jiangnan ancient town is filled with poetic and picturesque life and historical stories, perfectly preserving the county's layout of backing mountains, facing water, public buildings with literature on the left and military on the right, and the double chessboard street layout. Clean white buildings are connected by vibrant courtyards, adorned and surrounded by green plants. Pushing open the door, what comes into view is a "Peach Blossom Land" different from the outside world's hustle and bustle. The quaint architecture, unique in flavor, with moss-covered tiles, ancient stone walls, and tranquil plants... a full sense of ancient charm hits you in the face. Design Upon entering, a large reception space is unique to Dayueye's Wild Collection and Wild Coffee, with a Japanese-style decoration that is light yet storied. Passing through Wild Coffee leads to an even more rustic and atmospheric courtyard. Inside the courtyard walls, flowers bloom profusely; outside the walls, the world bustles, as if stepping into a fragment of daily life from another time. Rooms Within the vast space of the B&B, only 19 rooms were made, valuing 'quality' over 'quantity.' The rooms are mainly divided into Chinese and Japanese styles, with a pure white + natural wood color scheme. Most rooms come with their own courtyard, which, set against the surrounding green bricks, gray tiles, and white walls, seems even more tranquil. Dining What's also awakened are the taste buds. The restaurant of Wild Food is rustic with a fitting touch of sophistication. Handmade Ningbo specialty snacks soothe the weariness of travel, especially the various styles of rice cakes, as nothing brings people closer to the land than food. Experience Here, the street layout from the Tang Dynasty is preserved, with a large number of traditional buildings such as academies, book towers, pharmacies, and temple official residences; here, a thousand years of history have deposited a profound cultural heritage; here, with an excellent natural environment, cultural relics and ancient sites shine like brocade clouds, like uncut jade gradually revealing its captivating luster.