I'm hooked! Li Xian took me to the secluded paradise of Jiuhua Mountain.

The Xiangli Homestay (Huacheng Temple Branch) is located in the core scenic area of Jiuhua Mountain, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains in China. It's adjacent to the ancient Huacheng Temple, just a 5-minute walk away. Situated halfway up the mountain at an altitude of about 600 meters, the homestay escapes the hustle and bustle of the foothills without requiring strenuous climbing, offering stunning views. Designed around the concept of "Hidden in the City, Zen in the Heart," Xiangli Homestay retains the traditional sloped roofs and horse-head walls on the exterior, while the interior features minimalist aesthetics with extensive white space and natural wood tones, creating a tranquil and ethereal Zen-like space. The designer cleverly uses the "borrowed scenery" technique, bringing the natural beauty of Jiuhua Mountain indoors through floor-to-ceiling windows, courtyards, and viewing platforms, achieving a visual effect of "a scene at every step, a changing view with every move." The homestay's valley-facing rooms are equipped with 180-degree panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and cantilevered viewing balconies. Custom-made tatami tea areas are complemented by handcrafted celadon tea sets. Bathrooms feature natural volcanic rock bathtubs and smart underfloor heating systems. Amenities include linen bedding, natural latex mattresses, and smart control systems in each room. The homestay's breakfast offers a Jiuhua vegetarian buffet, featuring must-try dishes like Dizang Huangjing porridge, mountain bamboo shoot steamed buns, and stone fungus tofu pudding, paired with freshly ground Tiantai Cloud Mist tea. Customized lunch and dinner sets incorporate the "Three Treasures of Jiuhua" (Huangjing, stone fungus, and kudzu root). Recommended dishes include Bodhi Taro Rolls, Arhat's Vegetarian Treasure Box, and Jiuhua "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" (vegetarian version). Free morning classes (meditation and chanting) are offered daily at 6:00 am, and sutra copying and incense appreciation workshops are held every Saturday. The cultural and creative space showcases Jiuhua Mountain's intangible cultural heritage, such as Qingyang folding fans and Buddhist stone carving rubbings, and guests can participate in making glutinous rice fragrant cards. There's also an infrared therapy room and a singing bowl sound therapy room, offering professional Buddhist-inspired spa treatments. Here, every wisp of morning mist carries the scent of sandalwood, and every stone step is inscribed with Buddhist verses. Xiangli Homestay is not just a place to rest, but a journey to awaken awareness—when the moonlight spills over the prayer wheel-shaped doorknob, you'll understand why the nights on Jiuhua Mountain have remained sleepless for millennia.