"Living amidst human habitation, yet free from the noise of carriages and horses." This was my first impression of the hotel—quiet and tranquil. This environment perfectly aligned with our family's travel philosophy: sleeping in until we naturally wake up, avoiding intensive walking and sightseeing. It was our first time visiting Lushan, and we were completely unfamiliar with the scenic area. We originally planned to park at the North Gate and head up the mountain, but thankfully, after contacting the owner, we discovered that we could drive directly to the hotel. This was incredibly convenient for those who had already traveled a long way and were about to take a bus up the mountain. (Actually, we only found out the next day on the mountain that it was a 50-minute bus ride to the first stop, Xiaotianchi, with over a hundred winding roads—we couldn't handle that! We were so glad the hotel was at the foot of the mountain.) The hotel is located inside the Lushan East Gate Visitor Center, within the San Die Quan Scenic Area. Nestled at the foot of the Five Old Peaks, surrounded by mountains, it's incredibly peaceful. The courtyard is large and offers a lot of activities, including artificial hills, fountains, ponds, lawns, terraces, viewing platforms, and panoramic rooftop terraces—perfect for children's play. Sitting by the small pond in the backyard, I had a panoramic view of the Five Old Men Peaks. During my three-day trip to Lushan, I spent most of my time enjoying the scenery from the hotel, which seemed to make the trip even better. The room was very spacious, and the most pleasant surprise was the two huge floor-to-ceiling windows and a large balcony. From the outside, I observed that the other rooms also had their own unique layouts. As for dining, the breakfast was quite good, but lunch and dinner required some errands, unless you're spending the day in the scenic area. We drove to town to get two meals, which only took less than ten minutes; there are many restaurants near the East Gate. However, if you want to try more food, you can go to Lushan city center. It's only a 20-minute drive from the hotel to the city center. We went to a highly recommended restaurant, Lao Jiu Guotie (Old Nine Potstickers), which was listed on the best food list. The barbecue and specialty dishes were delicious, and they close before 9 pm, so go early. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from the North Gate. When we arrived at noon on our second day, the parking lot was full, but if you walk back a little, you'll find a temporary parking lot made from an abandoned airport, which is very convenient and worth considering. During the three-day May Day holiday, the traffic on the entire mountain road was very light, making it convenient to get from the hotel to any direction. Before leaving, we even had a meal in Lushan city, as it's easier to get back to Wuhan via the highway from there. On Lushan, excluding travel time, we only spent about three hours exploring, visiting the Lushan Conference Site and the waterfall. If you want to see more, go up and down early, as waiting in line for the bus can be quite time-consuming. We spent five hours on the mountain, visited Guanyin Bridge, and Lushan city – we were a bit spontaneous. Traveling is essentially about experiencing life in a different place, and since it's about living, comfort is paramount. That's why I'm always careful when choosing hotels, comparing hotel photos with user photos to avoid being ripped off. This time, we didn't make a mistake; the Ancient Luxury Secret Realm truly lived up to its name. The interior design, with its dark wood and white stone, combines ancient charm with understated luxury – simple yet sophisticated. The hotel's facade is quite large, providing excellent natural light and expansive views, with no other modern buildings obstructing the view from its elevated position. In the evening, you can truly experience the tranquility of "sitting facing the moon over the eastern mountains, its gentle shadow falling into my arms." For travelers seeking leisure, peace, and serenity, this is a highly recommended experience!
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