South Lake Retreat Holiday Courtyard

The location of the hotel is pretty good, very close to the entrance of Zhouzhuang Ancient Town Scenic Area. There is a swing in the yard that children like, and there is a terrace in the courtyard along the lake, which is suitable for chatting or dazing with friends. Although there has been construction nearby recently, it does not affect your sleep at night. The breakfast was very simple, but the landlady was still very considerate. When I checked out, I was given a large bag of local specialty sock-soles as a gift, and she also reminded me if I needed mineral water, which was quite heartwarming.

The room is on the first floor, has a small courtyard, and is very clean. There are low-profile pillows in the room, which surprised me. Front desk service is very good. A small souvenir was given as a gift when checking out.

I visited Zhouzhuang many years ago. To be honest, after visiting many ancient towns in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, they are very similar. I don’t dare to join in the excitement during holidays. Finding a quiet place in the middle of the bustle is the best way to vacation, haha! The location of this secluded courtyard just meets our needs. It is a little far away from the ancient town, so it will not be noisy. At the same time, there are some businesses nearby, which can satisfy the choice of meals. There is landscaping in the courtyard, there are koi carps in the pool, the road is paved with alternating gravel and slates, and there are some green plants and bonsai embellishments, which makes it look elegant and simple. The design of the room is also in this style, with plain colors and tranquility. The facilities are relatively simple but sufficient, and the bathroom is very spacious. The pavilion facing the lake has tables and chairs for guests to rest. It is a good place for afternoon tea, blowing in the wind, drinking coffee, and listening to music. It is very relaxing~~ The service was very attentive. It was a holiday and they called in advance to notify the traffic conditions and traffic recommendations to facilitate guests' smooth arrival. The proprietress provided breakfast as a gift. Although the variety is a bit simple, you can go out to find food if you request. There is a bridge under construction not far away, and there is some noise, but fortunately it does not affect my sleep at night.

Zhouzhuang is a Feng Shui treasure land with beautiful scenery and few people, and the rooms are clean and tidy. The staff was attentive and thoughtful. They turned on the air conditioner in the room in advance without knowing when I would check in. The most rare thing is that the proprietress personally cooks a famous seasonal dish from the Jiangnan water town: fried rice cake with hairy crab. Buy to order and bake now, the price is reasonable, and the taste can only be described in Shanghainese, Mi Dao Lao Wei 👍 Special thanks to the proprietress’s parents-in-law for allowing me to dine by the lake on the hottest day in September. In fact, the restaurant is air-conditioned and is very close to the kitchen. The two old men ran back and forth several times and carefully lit mosquito coils. 🙏🙏🙏 An unexpected trip, absolutely worth every penny!

Overall, it was a good experience. It takes about 5 minutes to walk to the scenic spot. It has a separate courtyard and is very quiet. The breakfast is 5 yuan per person and is very affordable. The lake view room I chose had a relatively positive view, and it was very comfortable to sit on the balcony drinking tea, eating fruit, and basking in the sun. Two problems, one is that there is construction next to the lake, and bulldozers during the day affect the rest and scenery. Another problem is that the sound insulation is not good. The aunt who cleans the room chats loudly while cleaning, which makes it very noisy to rest. hope to improve

It's a great place to take your kids on vacation for a few days. The villa is right by the lake. There are swings and a sandy area in the courtyard. It's a great way to pass the time for children who like to dig in the sand. It's only 500 meters away from Shenyuan Garden and Zhouzhuang Ancient Town for dining. There are many places and it is very convenient. The proprietress and grandma are very enthusiastic. I will come here again if I have the chance~

The room is very big and spacious, and the landlady is super warm~ She was especially concerned about the children when they checked in, and even gave us specialties when they left. There are also swings in the yard, as well as turtles, goldfish and rabbits, so children shouldn’t like them too much.