Chunli Homestay: Turning Weekend Moments into Warm Family Gatherings

Weekend meaning has never been about rushing to distant bustling places, but about gathering with your closest ones and living life at a slow pace. In the fast-paced city of Shanghai, Chunli Homestay hides a unique kind of "slow"—here, there’s none of the formality of hotels or the politeness of restaurants, only the comfort of home. It’s perfect for family and friends’ weekend get-togethers, making time feel warm and cozy. Opening the wooden door of Chunli Homestay, the small courtyard paved with bluestone immediately lets you breathe a sigh of relief. The shadows of old phoenix trees fall on the rattan chairs and table, and hydrangeas bloom vibrantly in the corner. Elders put down their luggage and can’t help but sit down to bask in the sun, brewing tea they brought along, chatting about “the last gathering was last year”; children are already drawn to the swing in the corner and the cat, running and playing, their laughter echoing under the eaves, instantly filling the atmosphere with the spirit of a “gathering.” Inside, the home understands the family’s needs even better: in the high-ceilinged living room, the solid wood long table seats over a dozen people, the sofa is so soft you want to sink into it, and the coffee table is always set with seasonal fruits and snacks. The kitchen is even more fully equipped than at home, with a gas stove, oven, stew pot—all ready for the aunt to show off her skills cooking braised pork, the cousin to bake milk-flavored cookies, and even the younger ones who usually avoid the stove can join in to help—the lively interactions around the kitchen fire are the warmest backdrop to any gathering. Here on weekends, there’s no need to rush schedules or accommodate anyone; the whole family can find their own rhythm: • Elders can nestle in the rattan chairs on the balcony to bask in the sun, play cards, or take a leisurely walk to the nearby old street market and bring back some freshly baked sesame flatbreads; • Children can count stars under the attic skylight, paint in the study, or “sneak taste” freshly made desserts with adults in the kitchen, their laughter able to lift the roof; • Young people want to go out? The subway is nearby, a half-hour round trip to Xintiandi for coffee or Tianzifang for some trinket shopping; don’t feel like moving? Stay in the living room to binge-watch shows and chat with siblings, unloading the week’s fatigue on the sofa. By evening, the long table gradually fills with home-cooked dishes: the glossy braised pork, the fresh aroma of steamed fish, the tomato scrambled eggs “made with the kids’ help”… More than a dozen pairs of chopsticks clink on the table, elders serve the younger ones, young people pour wine for the elders, and the warm yellow light softens everyone’s smiling faces. After dinner, everyone sits together looking at old photos or playing “Who’s the Undercover,” even the usually serious grandfather is made to laugh until wrinkles form. Sunday mornings don’t need an alarm clock. Someone buys pan-fried buns at the alley entrance, someone cooks white porridge with pickles, and everyone eats slowly in comfortable loungewear in the courtyard. Children lean on the doorframe asking, “When are we coming next time?” Elders mumble, “Next time, bring some dried bamboo shoots from home to stew with meat,” and even the homestay owner smiles, saying, “There’s always a good spot waiting for you in the corner of the courtyard.” Actually, isn’t this ease what family gatherings are all about? No need to worry about outfits or etiquette, just relax your heart and slow down time. Being together with your closest ones, even just sitting and daydreaming, is a kind of happiness. This weekend, don’t let “busy” be an excuse. Come to Chunli Homestay and turn your family’s smiles, the kitchen’s lively atmosphere, and the courtyard’s sunshine into a memorable time—after all, the warmest days are always the ones spent together with you. Shanghai Chunli Homestay is waiting for you to spend your weekend like home.