Hidden luxury vacation under Kuaiji Mountain in Shaoxing! Shaoxing's top-tier luxury hotel!
Wang Xizhi described scenes like "lofty mountains and steep ridges," "lush forests and tall bamboo," "clear streams and rapid torrents," and "winding water with floating wine cups" in his "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering," and these are largely recreated at the Lanting Pusen Hotel in Shaoxing today. PUSEN is a high-end cultural experience hotel brand under Qin Sen; "Pu" means a precious jade hidden in the mountains, and "Sen" means a blazing heartlight. PUSEN restores the power of time, reconstructing the Jiangnan cultural ideal in the mountain and water gardens of the forest oxygen secret realm. It revives the rich culture and scenery of Jiangnan, returns to the distant hometown, offers sincere care with Jiangnan etiquette, and presents delicate and elegant cultural aesthetics and service.
1. At Lanting Pusen, the mountain is Kuaiji Mountain. The hotel is built nestled in a mountain hollow, surrounded by forest, with a quiet and secluded environment. The "lush forests and tall bamboo" are indeed present; Lanting Pusen has dense, tall trees and bamboo groves, naturally forming the scenery or cultivated as a backdrop, creating a flourishing ambiance. The "clear streams and rapid torrents" are represented by Jianlong Pond, formed by converging spring water, flowing down and winding into a creek, thus creating scenes reminiscent of "winding water with floating wine cups."
2. Alongside this pool of Jianlong Pond and the winding creek, some hotel rooms are located. The Lanting Pavilion room type is highly recommended—truly timeless, facing the water and enjoying lake and mountain views. The layout of private courtyards enhances privacy. The main building of the guest rooms is restored and rebuilt from old Ming and Qing dynasty Huizhou-style houses, creatively transformed while preserving their unique original style, restoring the leisurely Jiangnan charm.
3. With a spacious area of 160 square meters, it provides ample space for vacation stays. The room facilities and amenities are basically equal for all. Standard features include Dux bedding, high-thread-count pure cotton linens, Bose sound system, central air conditioning and floor heating, capsule coffee machine, and Diptyque bath products.
4. The hotel has a total of 88 rooms and villas, starting from 60 square meters, offering a strong vacation feel. In terms of details, I like the elegant incense burner placed on the round table in the living room; the delicate and refined incense smoke creates a slow travel moment in the fragrant atmosphere. I also appreciate the bedtime service’s goodnight sweet drink, a warm beverage made from five grains, thoughtfully prepared in two servings, possibly considering guests sharing the room—this is a considerate gesture for a good night.
5. Staying at the hotel, I often stroll around Jianlong Pond and follow the babbling creek. The color of the pond water changes subtly with different times and lighting. Walking in the forest surrounding the hotel, glimpses of the buildings can be seen through the dense trees—white walls and black tiles of Huizhou-style architecture, showing the charm of weathered, ink-washed beauty, which is the allure and architectural aesthetics of Huizhou style.
6. However, the wood carvings in Huizhou architecture are its most brilliant jewel. The hotel lobby, the General’s Mansion, features many exquisite wood carvings worthy of attention and admiration. The charm of ancient buildings is fully displayed in the patterns of flowers, fish, insects, people, birds, beasts, folk stories, and mythological legends. The General’s Mansion in the hotel lobby is the essence of the hotel’s ancient architecture; originally the main hall of a Ming and Qing dynasty general’s residence, it was rebuilt off-site at a 1:1 scale. The entire mansion adopts a distinctive layout style of large Huizhou ancient residences—a double courtyard with symmetrical distribution along the central axis, making the overall architectural layout rigorous, balanced, and symmetrical. The moments when daylight enters are truly beautiful, and the blue hour before nightfall offers a different ambiance.
7. If you have time, at 4 p.m., follow the hotel’s cultural guide to listen to the introduction and explanation of the General’s Mansion. On the four corbels in the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest directions of the mansion, carvings depict the eight widely known Taoist immortals from Chinese folklore. The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea each display their unique powers, and their expressions and individual temperaments are vividly and accurately portrayed.
8. Regarding dining, the all-day dining restaurant features open tables and private banquet rooms. It offers a rich breakfast daily, local selected dishes, and Asian cuisine for main meals, presenting classic Shaoxing specialties with innovative culinary techniques. Afternoon tea is also available here. The Chinese restaurant, Shenlu, located in an ancient courtyard, provides an elegant and solemn indoor dining environment. It connects tradition and locality through creative Jiangnan cuisine, offering seasonal and fresh flavors of the world.