Suzhou's Exquisite Homestay | A Nature Retreat with Kids

Weekends are for meeting up with friends and letting the kids run free, and this time we chose the newly developed ancient town of Lili, which is not only sparsely populated and clean, but also boasts honest villagers, fresh air, delicious food, and especially the homestay 'Straw Hat Girl', which not only provides a strong accommodation experience and great photo opportunities, but also gave us a perfect return to nature trip. Lili ancient town is not far away, just an hour's drive from Shanghai, making it very suitable for a trip with kids. The whole ancient town is not big, all stone-paved streets, walking in the streets of the ancient town feels very special. There are many beautiful cafes along the road, as well as local snacks like the famous 'You Dunzi', or well-known local pastries and so on. Interspersed with several different attractions, the visit is very lively and interesting. We chose to stay at the 'Straw Hat Girl', which is located right at the entrance of the ancient town near the parking lot, making it easy to find. It is currently the only homestay in the entire ancient town, a courtyard-style guesthouse with just over a dozen rooms, and it's very popular when booking. Upon entering 'Straw Hat Girl', there are boutiques along the street, and at a glance, the products are very tasteful, especially the straw hat brooch, which really couldn't be more exquisite! On the first floor, there is a coffee shop, a Chinese restaurant, and a large swimming pool for the summer. Pushing open the door next to the boutique, you enter the inner courtyard, with guest rooms all on the second floor, offering a peaceful retreat amidst the hustle and bustle. The room's decor, amenities, and toiletries are comparable to many big-brand hotels, and are very thoughtfully provided. The strawberry cake at the coffee shop is exceptional, and even if you don't stay at this homestay, it's highly recommended to visit their coffee shop when you're in Lili ancient town. Dinner was at the Chinese restaurant in the hotel's backyard. Since there were many of us, we ordered dishes in a round-table style. We tasted many distinctive dishes, and the bamboo shoots in spring were just too delicious! After breakfast the next day, we took another stroll around the ancient town, bought lots of fresh vegetables to take home, and everyone, young and old, had a happy trip 🥳 haha~