The name "Qiushuli" is as beautiful as Nanxun, tranquil and distant, with ancient meanings.
Its owner, Liu Chengqian, is the grandson of Liu Yong, the richest man in Nanxun. He has been indifferent to fame and wealth all his life and calls himself "the layman seeking forgiveness".
On the bank of Partridge Creek, he devoted his whole life to building the Jiaye Library, collecting and engraving ancient books, and eventually became a famous scholar.
Next to the library, he built himself a quiet and elegant villa, named "Qiu Shuli".
At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, there were hundreds of years of chaos. The all-powerful businessmen group, as representatives of Confucian businessmen, often had the ambition to benefit the world and had close contacts with the political circles.
In contrast, Liu Chengqian used to behave like an old man, guarding thousands of books and living a secluded life without caring about worldly affairs. In his later years, his family fell into decline, but he was still calm and content.
I can’t help but think of Confucius’s words of praise for Yan Hui – “A man cannot bear his sorrows, and his happiness will not change even after he returns.”
Wonderful.
Hua Jian Tang’s transformation of Qiu Shuli has captured its soul, restored its shape, and sublimated its connotation. It can be called a classic.
When entering Qiushu Lane, you have to walk through a deep alley full of Shanghai style.
At the beginning of night, the lanterns were lit at the entrance of the alley. The hazy halo reflected a small Western gatehouse, with four characters faintly visible on it - Partridge Xiaoyin.
Partridge Creek is the partridge creek that flows through Xiaolianzhuang and the library, a branch of Guxun Creek.
The small hidden space in the mountains, forests and springs expresses the owner's hope for the rest of his life.
The design of Qiushuli B&B fully incorporates the elements of Jiaye Library. From the hotel’s front desk reception area to the public space in the inner courtyard, towering black bookshelves are the main framing device.
The "Tibetan Mo Yaju" where we stayed did not smell the fragrance of books, but first got the elegance, conveying the cultural connotation of the hotel.
The door to the room is made of wood, in the style of an old house, with a long padlock that cannot be closed tightly. I like this feeling of shimmering light filtering through the gaps, as if I can capture the shadow of a dream.
The windows in the old house are all small, and the interior is not particularly bright. The sunlight shines in through the window lattice, giving the room a nostalgic color like those in period movies.
The Chinese-style solid wood frame bed, traditional fabric paintings on the bedside, and plain cotton and linen bedding create a simple and tranquil atmosphere, which seems to inadvertently echo the "fishing, woodcutter, farming and reading" The theme of seclusion.
The European retro geometric floor tiles bring a touch of Renaissance style; the blue and white water wave-shaped wall decoration in the washing area also makes people feel the romantic atmosphere of the Mediterranean.
The silk wall hanging in front of the desk is a representative element of Nanxun Ancient Town; the simple chandelier at the bedside and the rotatable round tea table are full of fashion and avant-garde.
In one house, the blending of Chinese and Western cultures, the collision of tradition and modernity, echo the elegance of the once prosperous Nanxun that far surpassed that era.
These emotions expressed through design can only be understood when you understand the past of Nanxun like smoke.
In historical and cultural scenic spots full of B&Bs, Huajiantang always stands out and impresses the discerning guests with its ingenious design with profound heritage.
The night in Qiu Forgiveness is a vivid dreamland in the ancient town.
He walked out of the door gently, locked it, and walked through the courtyard under the moonlight to the public leisure area where the lights were still on.
Here, you can play chess, taste tea, read, or look at the beautiful shadow of a flower and be in a daze in silence.
The room was so quiet that you could hear the falling petals.
But you won't feel alone.
As a pet-friendly hotel, it seems that every Huajiantang store has its own cute pet. In Begging for Forgiveness, you will meet a white puppy with crooked eyebrows and a smile, like a simple and honest fox.
At this moment, Xiaobai is lying at the door, looking back at you from time to time. He is cute and cute, and rarely makes any sound.
Qiu Shuli, which features book collection elements, also has a reading space with a strong sense of ritual.
Coming here is like walking into a palace. Some books and artworks are scattered on the black bookcases covering the walls. The style combines Chinese and Western styles, with a strong romantic retro sentiment.
The bookcases extend upward along both sides of the stairs. Standing in front of the steps and looking up, you cannot see the space upstairs, but it leaves a lot of imagination.
Whether it is the great masters of the European Renaissance or the sages and great Confucians of ancient China, their appearance here will not be out of place.
You can sit on the soft sofa to read, take a nap, and have a conversation with history with reverie and warm candle-colored light.
The spring night in Nanxun was still slightly chilly. Just when I was about to go back to my room, I accidentally discovered the dining table with good night sweet soup.
Huajiantang’s stores all provide good night sweet soup. Tongli Lize Girls’ School’s fermented rice dumplings and Zhouzhuang Jixiangyuan’s bean paste soup all left me with warm memories.
The sweet soup in Qiu Shuli is quite special and requires semi-self-service to make it. Without looking at the introduction, I would never have guessed that this is "Fengxu Tea", one of Nanxun's three teas.
Nanxun Three Way Tea is a drink used by residents of the ancient town to entertain distinguished guests. It has three flavors: sweet tea, salty tea and clear tea. In addition to the sweet Fengqi tea, the other two are salty smoked bean tea and light green tea.
Follow the instructions, put a few pieces of Guozi into a small bowl, add a little sugar, pour boiling water, wait for a while, and a bowl of Fengqi tea is ready. Sweet, glutinous and soft, it warms the heart and makes people want to stop. I drank three bowls in one go.
Sadly, no one else seems to have discovered this wonderful dining table. After waiting for a long time, a child finally came over. He was very excited and wanted to ask him to come over and try it, but his father took him away with a vigilant look...
I really feel sorry for the father and son. .
Back to the room, have a good night's sleep.
Wake up in the morning and go to "Duoduo Bread Tree" for breakfast. Not surprisingly, the restaurant still has the style of cultural collision.
The classical-style old house has a very charming old-style doors and windows. The copper bells hung randomly on the door, against the light and shadow, are as beautiful as a piece of art on display in a museum. When the wind blows, there is an occasional tinkling sound, which is pleasant to the ear.
The interior of the restaurant is full of modern art atmosphere.
The roof and walls are decorated with elements of Jilihu silk, paired with Nordic-style table lamps, giving the illusion of dining in an art exhibition.
After breakfast, we returned to the courtyard, facing the bright but gentle morning light, and sat under a big parasol to drink tea.
Xiaobai, who had been accompanying me last night, was lying lazily on the lawn basking in the sun, seeming to enjoy the bright sunshine as much as I did.
Life is always busy. How many opportunities are there to steal half a day of leisure in this world with green grass and flowers?
Let’s waste such precious moments in the small courtyard in Qiu Suli. Neither fast nor slow, neither hasty nor slow.
For those scenery in the ancient town that I have not had time to appreciate, I would like to keep a beautiful miss with regret in my heart.
Mountains are long and rivers are far away, rivers and lakes are vast, and we can expect to meet again.