This is a genuinely pet-friendly homestay with a human touch

Quanzhou Ancient City is one of the most lively ancient cities we have ever visited. There is no other reason than the fact that it is a normal living area. When the bustling crowd shuttles between the ancient mosque and the coffee shops, when the steel flow of cars races past the bustling Guandi Temple, everything seems so harmonious and natural, far superior to those renovated ancient cities filled with tourist shops. Right next to the landmark ancient Kaiyuan Temple of Quanzhou Ancient City is where we stayed, not far from the old crossroads, that brick-colored three-story building is called Liyu Encounter. Pusu Homestay. This small homestay, which looks a bit like a family hostel, is unassuming, with a narrow entrance hall and a living room on the first floor that is only thirty or forty square meters, without any stunning decorations, but it is neat and elegant. The gentle and frail-looking hostess (who appears to be the daughter of the family) and a fat and clumsy sheepdog greeted us as the new guests of the homestay. Liyu Homestay doesn't have many rooms, probably only seven or eight. Although it has been renovated, it retains the original appearance of the old house very well, full of a sense of the era. This is what is called 'restoring the old as old'. We chose the largest room with a terrace on the top floor. The twenty-square-meter terrace is decorated with green glazed tiles, which made us from Guangzhou feel very cordial—there are too many such styles in the old districts of Panyu. Liyu Homestay, like the neighborhood it is in, has more of a life flavor than a business flavor. At night, the owner's family would set up tables and chairs in the living room on the first floor, and bring out Min-style food from the small kitchen next door to comfort everyone after a tiring day. When guests are tired and return to their rooms, they are always warmly invited by the host, 'Come, have a drink!' Don't think it's just politeness, the male host has already pulled out a stool for you... Coming out of the homestay in the early morning, you are greeted with meat swallows, noodle paste, rice dumplings, and four-fruit soup. If that's still not substantial enough for you, choose from two ginger duck shops at will. In Quanzhou, there's no need to run around. Just stay in the ancient city, spend two or three days there, stroll and eat, visit famous temples and old temples, eat enough Minnan cuisine, that's enough. Huazhu·Quanzhou Liyu Encounter Pusu Homestay (Kaiyuan Temple Store)