Anlu Journey, Three Days and Two Nights of Hidden Home with Children, a Time Traveling Journey

Accidentally read in a magazine:

Anlu, between Anlu and Anlu.

"An" means calmness and stability.

"Lu" means a place of seclusion at the foot of a mountain.

It is rare to find a secluded place in a bustling city, and Anlu is such a secluded place.

Returning home with the child is truly a desirable thing, especially when the child reaches an age where even dogs despise them. My life is filled with chasing and roaring, and if I could steal half a day of leisure from my life, it would be a pity for myself. Lao Xue said that instead of keeping your eyes wide open at home every day, it would be better for you two to take advantage of the warm spring flowers and go out for a walk. Thinking about it, that's why we had this three-day and two night trip, where we could go as we please.

Strolling around an ancient town and admiring a cherry blossom scene is our theme, so Anlu has become my favorite choice. I don't seek seclusion, only a place for my soul to rest.

Anlu has its own hotels in Shanghai's Zhujiajiao and Shaoxing, respectively. The ancient town of Zhujiajiao with a long history and the picturesque Shaoxing cherry blossoms in the garden are in line with our wishes, and the distance between the two is only about 2 hours by car, making it very convenient for self driving.

It's about an hour's drive from the center of Shanghai to Anlu in Zhujiajiao. I parked my car in the underground garage. As soon as the car stopped, a concierge came to help me pick up my luggage.

The first time I heard about Anlu, I simply thought the name sounded good and remembered it. Later, I found out that it was actually Anman's sister brand. Zhujiajiao Anlu is the first hotel opened by Anlu in China. It is common for those who want to go into seclusion, but it is difficult to find a place to escape. Anlu seems to exist for this paradise.

Unlike typical antique hotels that only have their own appearance, Anlu incorporates Chinese architectural culture into its heart. The buildings here are all derived from century old Huizhou style ancient architecture, with each tile and wood gently narrating the historical changes of the past.

The "Five Phoenix Towers" located at Anlu of Zhujiajiao are ancient Ming Dynasty houses with a history of 600 years. After careful restoration by craftsmen, these 600 year old Huizhou style ancient buildings have been restored to this thousand year old town of Zhujiajiao, becoming a temporary retreat for many people.

The hotel lobby is located inside the Five Phoenix Tower, which is known as the "number one official hall in Jiangnan". It exudes a grandeur and exudes the ancient simplicity of Ming and Qing architecture.

The Five Phoenix Tower is a typical Huizhou architecture, following the pattern of "front five and back seven bays, three entrances and two courtyards". Each brick and wood reveals the "slow sound" of that era, which may be the unique charm of ancient architecture. Walking inside the Five Phoenix Tower, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, everything slows down like Buddha, and the heart begins to calm down. The four words "never forget your original intention" in the lobby seem to convey the essence of inner peace.

On the tea table in the hall, there are books and Guzheng, pens, ink, paper, and inkstones, which have a unique charm. There are also toys from our childhood, such as shuttlecocks and gyroscopes... I picked up a toy and gave it to Casper. Hey, look, this is my mom's childhood toy.

The hotel rooms are hidden behind this Huizhou Ming Dynasty official hall, with independent villa rooms creating private spaces for individuals. Before making the reservation, I had done enough homework and finally booked the Yangting Pavilion, which is considered his basic room type. There are a total of 35 hotel villas and 4 room types in his family, but each room type comes with an independent and exclusive private garden. So when it comes to cost-effectiveness, it's none other than Yangting Pavilion.

After checking in, the butler led us into the room and carefully introduced the basic facilities of the room.

Unlike the ancient charm of the Five Phoenix Tower, the room has a more modern feel. The elegant wooden decoration style combined with soft lighting makes the entire room appear low-key and luxurious.

Spring is chilly, but the room is as warm as spring, with sunlight shining through the large floor to ceiling glass windows, making it particularly warm. The independent air conditioning system can be used with peace of mind even during the epidemic period. The entire room is also equipped with underfloor heating, which is really considerate for babies who like to run around barefoot.

A king sized double bed, even with a sleeping baby, there is no pressure in terms of space. His bed is very comfortable, and it is worth using a 7-foot king bed from the Swedish century old brand, with moderate softness and hardness. If the baby has the habit of sleeping alone, the hotel can also prepare a separate baby bed in advance.

The space in the washroom can also be described as spacious, with double basins scattered at both ends, giving a strong sense of Chinese symmetry. In addition to having a separate shower and bathroom, there is also a super large bathtub, which allows babies to take showers at night.

Anlu actually doesn't focus on parent-child titles, so there aren't many toy tents, rocking carousels, and so on in the room. Therefore, it's a parent-child hotel and not a legitimate one. However, as a high-end brand hotel, it may be more suitable for taking children to stay than ordinary parent-child restaurants.

In addition to daily necessities specially prepared for babies, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, exclusive bathing products, and small slippers, what's more important is that the cultural heritage here can also allow babies to be exposed to traditional Chinese culture earlier.

What attracts Casper the most in the entire room is the courtyard, where he is exploring his small world with every blade of grass and every tree. In his private and independent space, we don't have to stand guard and watch, so we can let him play to his heart's content with peace of mind.

At the Anlu Hotel in Zhujiajiao, there is no need to worry about getting bored, as it is easy to find ways to enjoy life here.

I have always been very interested in cooking. Cooking is not the same as the disheveled and dirty old woman. You don't have to hold the spoon, and the fire is fierce. In fact, learning to make western Dim sum can also make your life more ritualistic. So we made an appointment in advance for a sandwich course in the hotel. It seems like a simple sandwich, but it needs to be delicious and exquisite.

The classroom is located in Anlu's all day restaurant, which is adjacent to the pool and features a floor to ceiling glass wall design, providing a panoramic view of the blue swimming pool.

Chef Jason has already prepared the ingredients in the restaurant. When we arrived, a smile appeared on his face. He spoke calmly, like the sunlight outside the window, with an inexplicable sense of healing.

Jason demonstrated the ingredients to us while giving a simple and easy to understand explanation. What is the best texture when baking bread? How to keep bread crispy? How to prevent the sandwich from feeling dry and hard? Full of dry goods! Even kitchen novices can quickly learn.

When the sandwich was baked, Casper couldn't bear it anymore. The bread had a crispy crust and a soft texture when bitten in one bite. The rich filling and mellow sauce made this little guy completely disregard his image... I suddenly became quite excited about their family's dinner...

After finishing this special afternoon tea, take Casper for a walk by the swimming pool. The long lost sunshine, blue sky and white clouds, spring is full of vitality

Zhujiajiao Anlu is like a piece of art suitable for slow tasting, embodying the essence of Chinese ancient architectural culture.

Walking to the main entrance of the Five Phoenix Tower, one can feel the grandeur of the entire building even more. The five pairs of wings and corners are like a phoenix spreading its wings, hence the name. The plaque on the front door reads "Da Fu Di" with full authority, and a pair of stone lions at the door guard the owner's good luck and safety. One female and one male symbolize both the abundance of descendants and power.

Take a closer look at these two lions, they are truly skilled craftsmen. Even their eyes are different. The female lion's gaze is inward, while the male lion looks into the distance, symbolizing the male leading outside and the female leading inside. Our Chinese architecture is like this, every detail deserves careful consideration, and every stroke is a story.

The crossbeam is carved with mascots such as Qilin, Pixiu, and Magpie, symbolizing longevity, immortality, and wealth. The craftsmanship is very exquisite, and the shape is lifelike. People nowadays cannot help but marvel at them.

The entrance door is a perfect match, although it has been weathered and left with traces of time, it vaguely shows the prominent family background of the owner at that time.

I strongly suggest that you let the butler take you around and listen to the story of this Five Phoenix Tower, which is also the essence of Anlu.

Entering the first courtyard is the beginning of a grand journey through ancient and modern times. The corridors on both sides are adorned with small red lanterns, symbolizing peace. On the walls, there is a photography exhibition currently being held. Although it is a modern work, it may also be a work of art that complements each other when integrated into this old house.

Walking on the ground, you can feel the cornices, cliffs and carved beams and painted rafters. It is these historical deposits that have created Anlu with ancient charm and simple heart.

Facing the Five Phoenix Tower from afar is the late Qing Dynasty stage, which also has a hundred years of history. The front eaves are made of coiled dragon golden pillars, and the inner roof has a dome shaped caisson. The entire stage is magnificent, with various theatrical characters and classical legends carved into history and remembered here.

During the cherry blossom season, the two beautiful cherry blossoms on both sides of the ancient stage sway in the gentle breeze, creating a particularly enchanting atmosphere.

In the evening, too lazy to leave the hotel, I decided to taste the delicious food of the Anlu family. If there were many people, I suggested booking a private room at his house. The private room faces the Five Phoenix Tower, and when the door is opened, there is a stage. The design of two floor to ceiling glass windows allows the scenery to naturally blend into the room, private and quiet.

When you come to Zhujiajiao, you will naturally have a taste of the famous local water features. As one of the three white lakes in the Taihu Lake Lake, white water fish is one of the must taste delicacies in the ancient town. But I have always thought that white water fish have many thorns and are tasteless when steamed. However, the Anlu family has overturned my impression of white water fish and tasted the delicious taste of shad, which belongs to no other family.

Pickled Duxian is a classic Shanghai cuisine feature and a seasonal ingredient, especially in the spring when bamboo shoots are tender. You can enjoy a bowl of old Shanghai style "Pickled Duxian" to warm your heart and stomach.

But my favorite is still his Yangzhi Ganlu, which is sweet but not greasy, and a perfect embellishment of an ice cream.

His dishes are very suitable for children, both in terms of plate setting and taste. The rich color combination makes Casper eager to enjoy every dish, with a light and healthy taste that makes babies feel at ease while eating.

After dinner, when we arrived in the room, the guest room had turned on night bed service and specially prepared health desserts to complement the 24 solar terms, ensuring a good night's sleep.

In the morning, I made an appointment for breakfast to be delivered to my room in advance, one Chinese and one Western, to satisfy my and Lao Xue's different Chinese and Western stomachs

The morning sun shines through the french window and shines into the house warmly. It's a wonderful thing to start a new day with a sense of ritual. The two foodies around me have already begun to eagerly start moving.

Yesterday, I made an appointment with the butler for this morning's Tai Chi class. I am not familiar with Tai Chi, but it cannot prevent me from experiencing the charm of this ancient fitness technique originating from the East.

The hotel has already placed Tai Chi clothes in the cabinets, changed clothes, brought Casper, and performed a period of Tai Chi to cultivate one's character in the Da Fu Di in the early morning light.

One fist at a time, feeling the harmony of yin and yang between heaven and earth. With each move and move, using stillness to brake and softness to overcome hardness, as if time is still between the breaths and breaths...

My mother is practicing martial arts, and my son can't be idle either. He is holding a brush, splashing ink, doodling, and looking like he is writing inspirational essays.

After class, take my son to stroll around the Five Phoenix Tower.

Looking up in the lobby, one can see the rows of wooden windows on the second floor, which is the Book Fragrance Pavilion. It used to be the embroidery tower of young ladies and the deep boudoir of women.

And now, it has become a bookish pavilion. As the name suggests, it is the library of Anlu, a quiet and leisurely place for reading.

On the side up the stairs is a children's play area. With this treasure trove, Casper has temporarily calmed down. Even with her children, she can still steal half a day's leisure and read a few chapters of her beloved books.

In a corner of the Book Fragrance Pavilion, there is a table with scriptures, pens, ink, paper, and inkstones placed on it. Copying scriptures can easily calm one's restless heart, and time passes through one's fingers, sitting for a long time.

Casper was the first to come into contact with these pens and ink, and naturally it was fresh. He pretended to paint on paper, which was very interesting. Traditional culture still needs to be inherited, especially for architects and literati. Let children learn more about traditional Chinese art, broaden their horizons, acquire knowledge, and learn tradition. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why I chose Anlu.

His spa and wellness pavilion are also one of his unique features, but unfortunately they haven't opened yet during the pandemic, so they can only stay until the next time to experience this unique comfort.

Go back to your room to pack your luggage and embark on our second stop, Anlu, Lanting, Shaoxing.

Escape into a fairyland far from the hustle and bustle

It takes about 2 hours by car from Zhujiajiao in Shanghai to Shaoxing, and it takes about 5 minutes to get off the Shaozhu Expressway.

Lanting Anlu, inspired by Wang Xizhi's "Preface to Lanting", is named after the entire hotel. Therefore, the construction of the hotel also tries to reproduce the scenes described in the poem, such as "bamboo cultivation on Maoling" and "clear and turbulent waters", as much as possible, like a dream in a poem.

If the Anlu of Zhujiajiao is a boudoir hidden in the ancient town for thousands of years, the Anlu of Shaoxing Lanting is a fairyland at the foot of mountains, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.

It shares a similar beauty with Anlu in Zhujiajiao, where the buildings were also relocated from Huizhou and restored to their original appearance, refurbished as before.

If the car is parked in the parking lot, there will be a dedicated car to pick it up and drop it off. In fact, the lobby and parking area are not far away. If it is not a big or small package, it is recommended to walk there because you will encounter many cherry blossom paths along the way, which are very beautiful.

The hotel lobby is located inside the General's Mansion, which was also relocated from Anhui. It is a typical Huizhou style building with a double courtyard layout, so the lighting is very good. A thick and solemn winter melon beam can be said to be a treasure in the entire building.

In the General's Mansion, numerical markers can be seen everywhere on the pillars, which are not masterpieces of any mischievous person, but markers made by workers to better restore the building. The reconstruction of ancient buildings is a very complex and time-consuming project. The building is dismantled from its original site, and each piece of material needs to be numbered and recorded in its original position before being gradually restored. Find old craftsmen, old materials, and try to restore the original style as much as possible. The steps that sound conventional, but each step is a challenge. As the number of craftsmen in ancient architecture decreases and the old wood is eroded over time, you will find that it is not just a house, but also a treasure of human architectural culture.

Coming to Anlu in Lanting, you may only be able to understand the meaning of "without cultural inheritance, how can you start a true legend".

We check in in the hotel lobby, and Yangmingge or the star rooms here are all old houses with a single door and courtyard, which is the essence of Anlu. Each place is the owner Mr. Zhong's own collection, and he couldn't bear to see the old house demolished due to its dilapidation. Therefore, he collected it and spent a lot of money to hire many ancient architecture masters and traditional craftsmen to carve and repair it, restoring the fireworks of the old house

Buildings without cultural heritage are ultimately soulless, and the ancient houses in front of us, whose stories once happened here, and how many things will be interpreted here in the future.

There is not much difference between Yangming Pavilion and its layout in terms of room type. The difference is that it only has a view from outside the window. Yangming Pavilion faces the scenery of bamboo forests and mountains, while the pavilion is built along the water, with a distant view of the winding mountains across the bank.

If we still live in one room at Anlu, Zhujiajiao, then we live in a mansion at Anlu, Lanting, Shaoxing.

There is a courtyard in front of the door, admiring flowers and listening to the rain. There is a balcony behind the door, overlooking the bamboo forest.

A house with a yard is very suitable for bringing children here, and it has become a playground for them to see flowers, grass, and stones. This is their world.

If you have lived in Yihe Anman before, you should also feel a sense of familiarity when you come here, because this is also the work of Anman's designer Jaya, and the room layout is very neat.

Divided by the living room in the center, with bedroom and bathroom areas on both sides, the three spaces are almost equally divided. You can imagine how big the entire space is.

As soon as the two doors open, you can see the beautiful scenery in the mountains.

The high rise design of the guest rooms makes them appear spacious and transparent, even in old houses, they will not appear dark and oppressive. Lying in bed at night, looking at the high beams of the house, I really feel like I'm going back hundreds of years, as if I've become a lady from a wealthy family in the General's Mansion.

Although in the mountains, the room is equipped with air conditioning and underfloor heating, so there is no need to worry about Casper running barefoot all over the room and catching a cold.

There are also parent-child toiletries and a vintage small red umbrella in the room, which is perfect for the atmosphere here. However, Casper doesn't know how to play yet and even turns an umbrella into a hat.

Lanting Anlu is definitely a great place to stay away from the hustle and bustle, with exclusive hotels featuring green mountains and clear waters, avoiding crowds and creating a unique and peaceful place.

Strolling along the Ruoye Creek with Casper, the sound of birds chirping, flowing water, and the sound entering one's ears.

The Ruoye Concert Hall is adjacent to the Ruoye River and was also relocated from the traditional Huizhou style ancient architectural complex, which can be used for various conferences. Surrounding the concert hall is a cherry blossom forest, and it is now the cherry blossom season. It is perfect to take a stroll here. The Hui style architecture with gray tiles and white walls is as beautiful as a painting against the backdrop of cherry blossoms.

Walking along the path, you will find the spa and activity center in Lanting. The deep blue swimming pool reflects the white walls and black tiles. If summer comes, this place will definitely be a good place to swim.

After coming out of the swimming pool and passing through a water pavilion, stone steps were placed here one by one, wondering why they were arranged like this. The staff explained that there are often many activities, wine tasting parties, or early morning yoga here to absorb the spiritual energy of the mountains and rivers. No wonder Anlu does not provide indoor fitness facilities, so if you choose to retreat, you naturally need to integrate with the sky and the earth.

Continuing upwards along the stream, you can see the entire lake scenery, which is refreshing and pleasant. Casper also discovered groups of small fish in the lake, and watched them swimming happily. The Huizhou style old houses are reflected in one after another, forming a natural picture.

Lanting Anlu is actually located between a valley surrounded by mountains, and one of the mountains is a branch of the famous Huiji Mountain in Shaoxing, which also contains charming cultural treasures. If you enjoy hiking, you can follow the stone steps, where there is an exclusive passage for residents of Lanting, offering a view of the Taoist Ten Heavenly Caves - Longrui Palace. If you still have physical strength, you may as well continue up to reach the observation pavilion halfway up the mountain, from which you can overlook the entire Orchid Pavilion.

I took Casper with me, so naturally I let go of this thought. When he gets older, maybe he can help me climb the mountain...

Children should belong to nature, and in this landscape, they release their own childlike innocence.

The hotel is really big. After strolling around, it was already late. We chose to dine at the all-day restaurant inside the hotel, which is very close to our room and can accommodate all three meals a day.

Shaoxing is located in Jiangnan, and its specialty dishes are also in line with the taste of Shanghai people. If you don't come here, you still need to try seasonal dishes, as well as pickled products such as cured meat, which are also unique here. I particularly enjoy the chef's dish arrangement, turning every dish into a work of art. Just looking at it makes my fingers skip a beat.

To test whether the ingredients are new, whether the food is delicious, and whether the food is beautiful, I think the children's taste buds are the most honest. Casper can't help climbing onto the table, spoonful after spoonful of silver Cantonese seafood soup, and mouthful after mouthful of mellow goose liver.

And the fusion of crab roe and oranges is his favorite. Since we have arrived in Shaoxing, we still need to taste the most unique sauce aroma and steaming here. Various delicious cured meats blend together, which is a taste that only comes during the Chinese New Year. Handmade raw pan frying is also a special dish here. It's said that the chef who made raw pan frying also won the Dim sum award in Shaoxing, which is different from the raw pan frying in Shanghai. His skin is crisp, soft and fragrant.

Taking a bath for Casper after dinner, he went to bed after 8 o'clock for the first time. Increasing exercise is indeed a good way to keep him regular, and we have more time for ourselves, which is a rare way to calm down.

Opening parent-child entertainment time

In the morning, I opened the door and saw green mountains and clear waters, blue sky and white clouds. I made an appointment to have breakfast delivered to my room at 8:30 am, which was very punctual. It was still a Chinese and Western style breakfast, but the variety was not the same. Casper gulped down a bowl of hot noodles and was about to start a new day.

Today we are planning to take Casper to the strawberry orchard to pick strawberries. It will be a 10 minute drive from Anlu to the strawberry orchard. I used to never understand why people went to pick strawberries. Even though they could buy cheap and delicious strawberries, they had to go down to the ground and pick them themselves. After going there, they realized that it was the joy of life, especially for a child.

This is Casper's first time picking strawberries in his life. He was very excited with a small basket and the strawberry garden was cleaned very clean. There were many sheds of different sizes, and the strawberry varieties were also different.

Some are born on the ground, while others are planted on shelves for easy picking. Casper's first reaction when he saw the strawberry was not to put it in the basket, but to put it in his mouth, hmm... As a human instinct, there is no problem.

Picking and picking gave Casper experience. With a serious face, he studied which strawberry was redder and better to eat. If it can't be picked off, Nuo Nuo called out "Mom" and I went up to serve him.

The one that was picked and placed in his basket is his. Don't move anyone else and have a strong sense of sovereignty.

After picking the strawberries and weighing them in the basket, 35 yuan/jin is not cheap, but buying them is a pleasure. Thinking about there may be many bodies that my son has crushed, I think it's also quite cost-effective.

Come and see our full harvest~

I always feel extremely carefree during my days at Anlu in Lanting, either because of the lake, the scenery, or the old houses that have accumulated history. Time remains still and my restless heart calms down.

Returning to the restaurant, when the weather is suitable, be sure to come here for afternoon tea. With an open terrace and a distant view of lush greenery, white walls and black tiles blend in, enjoying the sweet afternoon tea leisurely.

During the cherry blossom season, it's natural to order a cherry blossom afternoon tea, which is exclusive to this season. It's a pink and tender dessert, and I can't help but kiss each one.

Desserts are divided into two types: salty and sweet, small and exquisite, satisfying different tastes. A family of three is more than enough, and they packed some for a small Dim sum on the way back.

During the few days in Anlu, finding a pure land and a peaceful side became the greatest harvest. When the cicadas chirped in midsummer, we returned to reminisce about the past.

(The picture and text come from the tumultuous little meatball)