Isolated Island Fishing B&B
People say that there is West Lake in Hangzhou, but you may not have heard of or seen West Lake in Chengdu. I have seen its true face with my own eyes. This trip, not only daytime viewing, but also stayed at the holiday homestay called "Isolated Island Fishing" to experience the taste of "West Lake Cloud Island".
It was late summer when we went, slightly overcast but no rain, which was most pleasant. The entrance to West Lake Park is not very ostentatious. The wall made of gray bricks is covered with vines, which gives it a somewhat reclusive atmosphere. As soon as you enter the park, you can see the clear water, and the old willow trees by the lake are drooping with their willow threads, gently brushing the shoulders of tourists. I walked slowly along the bluestone plank road, looking at the lake, although not very wide, but very curved, there is a small island in the middle, reeds overgrown, from time to time to see white herons flying, wing tips dot water, spread a circle of ripples.
Many of the lakeside are Chengdu locals, old people fishing, children chasing and frolicking, young couples walking hand in hand, whispering softly. I walked and stopped, occasionally sitting on a bench, looking at the looming tall buildings across the lake, but here I got a rare tranquility, like the hustle and bustle of the city isolated by this lake.
In the evening, I clicked on the map and found Yun Su in Yunfuli. The triangular wooden house is simple in style and built near the water. It has a somewhat "peninsula" attitude. It has been lit up with warm light, reflecting the words "cloud lodging", which is quite poetic.
The front desk girl had a gentle smile and a soft Sichuan accent: "Sir, can you stay?" She told me carefully as she handed me the room card, "If I wake up early tomorrow morning, the lake will be foggy. It's beautiful."
The room is on the first floor and is named "Lake View Clear". Pushing open the window to see the lake, the evening breeze blows slowly, bringing with it the scent of water and grass. The interior is elegantly decorated, with log furniture, plain fabrics, and the best thing is the terrace, with a rocking chair and a small table next to it, presumably designed for viewing and tasting tea.
After settling in, I arrived at the tea room attached to the B&B. Ordered a cup of jasmine tea with two refreshments and sat alone by the window. At this time, the sun was setting, the sky was orange-red, the lake surface was glowing with gold, and the lights on the other side gradually lit up, reflected in the water, like stars falling to the bottom of the lake. In the midst of the fragrance of tea, I suddenly felt that the dust and worries had disappeared, and my heart was clear.
As night falls, the sound of rain patters. I closed the windows, but left a gap to let the sound of rain hitting the lake linger. This rain fell very gently, not like a summer torrential rain, but rather like a spring drizzle, dense, moist and silent. Lying in bed, listening to the sound of rain and the sound of lake water tapping the shore echoing each other, I did not know when I entered the dreamland.
When I woke the next morning, the rain had stopped. Pushing open the window and looking out, the lake was indeed enveloped in a thin mist, and the scenery on the other side was hazy, like an ink render. Go to a restaurant for breakfast, and it turns out to be authentic Sichuan snacks: red oil rice dumplings, leafy rice dumplings, soy milk fried dough sticks, everything is exquisite and delicious.
After dinner, I walked along the lake and saw many people doing morning exercises, some old people doing Tai Chi, their movements soothing like clouds and flowing water; some young people running, full of vigor. I walked at will to the depths of the park I had not visited yesterday and found a small lotus pond, the dewdrops rolling on the lotus leaves were crystal clear and lovely.
Returned to Yunlu at noon and took advantage of the opportunity to sit on the terrace for a while before checking out. An egret skimmed across the water, flew away into the distance, and disappeared into the shadow of the trees. Thinking of this Chengdu West Lake, although it does not have the thick makeup of the outer West Lake, it has its own beautiful and pleasant place. And this night in Yunfuli allowed me to calmly appreciate this water-colored sky, changing morning and dusk, which is really a rare experience.
In life, you may not always have to chase the famous mountains and rivers. Sometimes just in a corner of the city, a pool of clear water, a night's sleep is enough to cleanse the mind and make people find their inner tranquility again. Yunfuli Yunsu is indeed well-deserved of this nickname of "Kawanerig Peninsula".