Staying at Xiangyue Lake

I stayed at a hotel by Xiangyue Lake in Deqing once, and it truly left an impression. Here are my honest thoughts. The location is really remote—it takes about 40 minutes to drive there from downtown Deqing. The latter half of the road is narrow, so you'll need to slow down when passing other cars. Aside from the scenic area, there's almost nothing around, so don't expect to go out for food or shopping at night. The upside is the peace and quiet. Open the window, and you're greeted by the lake and grassy fields. In the morning, you'll wake up to birds chirping, and the air is filled with the scent of plants—perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. The rooms aren't huge, but the standalone two-story wooden cabins are a highlight. The only downside is there's just one bathroom. Dining is a bit of a mixed bag. The hotel restaurant has limited options, mostly local dishes, and the prices aren't exactly cheap—a plate of braised bamboo shoots with pork costs nearly 100 yuan. The flavors are decent, though the lake fish is fresh. The stir-fried eggs with whitebait had plenty of fish, but it was a bit too oily. If you don’t want to eat at the hotel, you’ll need to drive 20 minutes to a nearby town, where there’s a noodle shop with good food and better value. The service is down-to-earth—not overly enthusiastic, but responsive. The breakfast, though, wasn’t great; the Western-style options were a bit hard to get used to. The biggest surprise was the walking paths around the lake. There’s a wooden boardwalk along the shore, perfect for a morning or evening stroll. You’ll see people fishing, walking their dogs, and kids running around on the grass. Overall, it’s ideal for those who just want to relax and enjoy the scenery. If you’re not picky about accommodations and can live with basic amenities, you’ll find it worthwhile. But if you’re looking for luxury or a wide variety of dining options, you might feel a bit let down—the real charm here lies in the lake and the undisturbed tranquility.