Unlocking a Pastoral Holiday with Kids

Spent the weekend with my 5-year-old daughter in Taishun for a relaxing getaway. We chose the Yunlan Ranch Resort Hotel, and our two-day, one-night trip was packed with activities, each day filled with delightful surprises like opening a mystery box! 🕘 Day 1: 9:00-12:00 Exploring Covered Bridges After driving to Taishun, we headed straight to Beijian Bridge, a 30-minute drive away. The 9 AM sunlight slanted across the cobblestone path, and the intricate carvings on the covered bridge's eaves danced in the light and shadow. My daughter leaned on the wooden railing, counting koi fish, and suddenly pointed to the "centipede structure" under the bridge, asking, "Mom, why don’t they use nails for these wooden parts?" Just then, a tour guide happened to pass by and showed us the details of the mortise-and-tenon joints. Even I learned something new! ✨ 🚜 15:00 Fun at Yunlan Ranch Arriving at the ranch at 3 PM was perfect for avoiding the midday sun. We started with the milking experience area, where a staff member in a white coat patiently taught my daughter how to hold the milk bucket. When the warm milk splashed onto her hand, she was startled at first but then burst into giggles. Later, we caught the ranch's little train, which leisurely circled the flower field tracks. The scent of cosmos flowers mixed with the aroma of grass wafted through the windows. My daughter lay on my lap, counting the windmills spinning in the distance, and soon dozed off. 💤 🏡 18:00 Checking into the Hotel Felt Like Coming Home A 5-minute walk brought us to the hotel. The family room had a starry sky ceiling lamp, and the cozy design made it feel very homey. My daughter loved the children's bed, climbing up and down and playing to her heart's content! ☀ Day 2: A Slow Morning We didn’t rush to leave on the return trip and instead took a stroll along the hotel’s forest trail. My daughter squatted among the moss, watching ants move their home, while my husband and I sat on a wooden bench, basking in the sun and listening to the distant mooing of cows from the ranch. At that moment, I truly understood the meaning of "peaceful times." When we checked out, my daughter clung to the cow plush toy by the bedside and refused to let go. The front desk said we could purchase it, and she immediately hugged it tightly, declaring, "From now on, it’s my little ranch baby!" On the way back, my daughter fell asleep in her car seat. In the rearview mirror, the windmills of Yunlan Ranch grew smaller and smaller, but those moments filled with the scent of milk and laughter will likely stay in her childhood memories for a long, long time.