Slow down and return to your true self—Flower Villa Luxury Jiuhuashan Fuyun Yueshan Homestay

**I. The Homestay Itself: Your Zen Sanctuary** 1. **Space as Zen Realm:** * **First Moments Upon Arrival:** Take a deep breath and feel the crisp mountain air. Notice the homestay's architectural design, often blending Huizhou elements with minimalist Zen aesthetics—wooden structures, white walls with black tiles, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the mountain views. * **Strolling Through Common Areas:** Quietly observe the courtyard, tea room, and reading nook. Every stone, tree, flower, and plant may be a carefully placed Zen vignette. Find a corner to sit, watch the clouds drift, and listen to the rustling of wind through bamboo. * **Room Retreat:** In your room, set aside your phone. Brew a cup of light tea and sit by the window or on the balcony, simply "gazing at the mountains," "listening to the rain," or "waiting for the clouds." The room's understated decor and natural materials (like wood and linen) help calm the mind. 2. **Participate in Unique Experiences (inquire in advance for reservations):** * **Morning Meditation/Yoga (if available):** If offered, highly recommended. In the tranquility of the early mountain forest, follow guided breathing to awaken body and mind. * **Scripture Copying for Mindfulness:** A classic Zen experience. In a dedicated space, cleanse your hands and light incense (if available), then focus on each stroke of the brush, letting scattered thoughts settle. The quality of your handwriting doesn’t matter—the process does. * **Tea Ceremony Experience:** Learn simple tea rituals and the art of mindful brewing and tasting. Embrace the spirit of "ichi-go ichi-e" (treasuring the moment). * **Guqin/Zen Music Appreciation (if available):** Ethereal music is a perfect medium for Zen. If arranged, listen quietly and feel the harmony between melody and nature. 3. **Sipping Tea and Watching Clouds:** * The homestay often serves fine tea. On the viewing deck or in the tea room, brew a pot of Jiuhua Buddha Tea or local green tea. Watch the tea leaves rise and fall in your cup, and observe the shifting clouds over distant peaks—embodying the Zen ideal of "tea and Zen as one." Think of nothing; just "be here now." **II. Nearby Walks: Immersing in Jiuhua’s Zen Aura** 1. **Mindful Strolls Around Zhiyuan Temple (within walking distance):** * **Zhiyuan Temple:** As the foremost of Jiuhua Mountain’s four great monasteries, it’s vast in scale. Visit at dawn or dusk when crowds are thin. The focus isn’t on "checking off" every hall but on: * **Slow Steps Through the Temple:** Feel the solemnity and serenity of the architecture. Notice the exquisite stone and wood carvings.