DOALAND Hotels in Dongyang

This hotel holds a special place in my wife's and my hearts. Over a decade ago, I was dabbling in short video creation in Hengdian. Back then, I knew nothing, just using an old camera to shoot footage in the streets and alleys, often losing track of time. It was in this area that I unexpectedly met the hotel owner's father—at the time, he was just an elderly man guarding materials on a plot of land awaiting construction. We were complete strangers, yet he always invited me to his temporary shelter for a drink of hot water. Seeing that I had nowhere to eat, he would share half of the food he had brought from home with me. Later, I learned that the old man was overseeing this hotel project for his son. I watched him spend his days circling this empty plot, figuring out how to build the foundation and revising the blueprints, and I watched his son—who later became the hotel owner—running around coordinating the project. During that period, I repeatedly encountered setbacks in my entrepreneurial endeavors. His family always said, ”Young people shouldn't be afraid of falling,” not only letting me stay in the temporary shelter countless times for meals, but the owner also helped me contact local businesses to shoot footage, and even secretly slipped me some money to tide me over when I was short of funds. It was on this bustling construction site that I met my wife, who came to deliver documents to the boss. She always laughed at me, saying I was covered in dust but my eyes shone with light. Now, returning, the once empty land has been transformed into a magnificent hotel, which the owners have run into a thriving business. And I, too, have finally weathered those sleepless nights and have built a decent team. This time, I brought my wife along, firstly to properly thank the owners, and secondly to revisit the old construction site—or rather, the hotel's beautiful back garden. Time flies, but the hardships and warmth of those days are still vivid in my mind. This place is not only where our love began, but also holds the kindness of a group of strangers that I will remember for a lifetime. From now on, I will definitely come often, like visiting relatives—a feeling of comfort and warmth.