GGuest UserLijiang is a well-established tourist destination, and its developed tourism industry has nurtured a hotel scene where most hotels in the same price range will likely score a solid, if unremarkable, passing grade. However, if you're seeking a truly discerning aesthetic experience, Baolin might be one of the rare, outstanding answers.
Hotels under the snowy mountains often leverage window views, but after seeing so many, they tend to look alike, sometimes bordering on a tacky 'influencer' vibe. Just when I was overwhelmed and bored with the choices, I spotted Baolin, and it instantly clicked. I booked it without hesitation.
We arrived at Yuhu Village in the evening, amidst a heavy rain. The entire ancient village was steeped in a lake-like blue, truly living up to its name! Our room was on the second floor, painted in a 'cosmic latte' shade, somewhere between beige and warm yellow. The wall near the main bed featured a subtly designed, elongated window, like a scroll painting, effortlessly transforming the serene lake blue outside into a private artwork hanging within the room.
Seeing us drenched, the staff immediately brought two cups of hot ginger tea. And from that ginger tea onwards, everything we consumed at Baolin was delightfully delicious. The rainy weather brought on a lazy mood, so we stayed in and ordered stir-fried beef, 'water-loving' vegetables (水性杨花), stir-fried seasonal greens, golden pheasant flower omelet, and mint ribs, along with orange juice, matcha, hojicha, coffee, and affogato. My thumb was constantly up in approval when it came to the food!
The owner is a true gourmand and managed to find two local chefs. These chefs are shy but extremely meticulous about their cooking. What I thought would be a simple stir-fried beef dish turned out to be incredibly thoughtful, featuring finely chopped large cilantro, tender chive roots, and fragrant wild coriander. Every ingredient was fresh from the local market, vibrant and exuding the wild charm of Yunnan. Stir-fried and blended in the heat, each component wholeheartedly contributed to making the meal exceptionally satisfying and just right!
One evening, we went downstairs to sit by the fire and pet cats. During our chat, we learned the owner is *********. She rummaged through her storeroom and miraculously produced a bottle of Kinmen Kaoliang liquor. We drank it neat after freezing it. Who would have thought ********* liquor would be so perfectly suited to a rainy night on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau? Each sip was crisp and clear, a whirlwind of wheat on the tongue, pushing the joy and comfort of our trip to its absolute peak.
During my school days, I loved staying in B&Bs, seeking a sense of story, where the host's experiences, aesthetics, and taste would form the 'base spirit' of the B&B, overflowing with beauty to share with travelers. After starting work, I sought absolute comfort and a controlled social distance, relegating the expectation of stories to a hidden corner. So why does Baolin count as such a pleasant surprise? It's because the travel goals of both these life stages subtly found their answers here, beauty in harmony. The answer lies in a 'beauty' that withstands scrutiny and contemplation. The burst of joy and surprise upon encountering such beauty is universally shared.
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