Nanping Zhenghe | The fragrance of white tea fills the air beneath Mount Huangxiong, and the confluence of Shuangxi rivers graces the Howard Johnson Plaza

Fujian's mother river, the Min River, is only 577 kilometers long, but ranks seventh in the country with an annual runoff exceeding that of the Yellow River. The largest tributary of the Min River is the Jianxi River, which itself has a tributary called the Songxi River, and the Songxi River has the Qixing Stream as its tributary, with Zhenghe County located on the banks of the Qixing Stream. Seven years ago, I visited for half a day, staying next door in Songxi, but this time I finally spent a night in Xiongcheng, and the Howard Johnson Plaza became the 88th hotel I've stayed in with my child. 🚗: I drove there myself, and although Zhenghe has a high-speed train station, there is currently no direct high-speed train from Fuzhou; one must transfer in Ningde. Nanping is the economic low point of Fujian, and Zhenghe is even lower on a per capita basis, but after all, the land of Fujian is developing evenly. It is the first province in the country where all prefecture-level cities are connected by high-speed trains and the first where all have international five-star hotels. The county town is small, but the 99-meter-tall Howard Johnson Plaza stands out as a local landmark. 📖: Opened in 2022, Wyndham has a relatively low threshold in the international chain, Howard Johnson is four-star, and the plaza is positioned slightly higher, but the Zhenghe branch is well-equipped, with better hardware and soft furnishings than some city gardens. The hotel leads the way, with various commercial facilities concentrated around it. The peninsula surrounded by water on three sides even creates an island feel, with the boat-shaped front desk in the lobby and the peacock green crystal lamps being quite upscale. 🛏️: The hotel has 216 rooms (suites), including deluxe rooms, executive rooms, deluxe suites, executive suites, executive lake-view suites, and presidential suites, starting from 45 square meters in size. The terms of the rewards program are very attractive, but it depends on the owner's understanding. Having a lake-view room during the holidays is already satisfying. The room decoration and public areas are consistent, accented with green, giving a clean and bright appearance; the frosted glass and electric curtains are also beyond the usual Howard Johnson configuration. Outside the window, you can see the clear waters and distant mountains where the Zhushan Bay, Qixing Stream, and Longtan Stream converge, with fountains in the evening and fireworks for newlyweds. The room service is timely, and I didn't expect that latex pillows would be provided at this level. 🏊: The fitness and wellness facilities are professional and likely the best in Zhenghe. There is also an outdoor fitness park and leisure trail planned downstairs, but in reality, vehicles can drive in, which is understandable given the county town management. 🍚: The planning included a full range of dining options, with an all-day restaurant, Chinese restaurant, lobby bar, and executive lounge, but after actual operation, they were all integrated. The lobby bar was transformed into a Wuyi Mountain tea space; the lounge became a white tea experience and card room; the Chinese restaurant became exclusive for weddings; the only remaining restaurant for casual diners to have breakfast is called Yuecheng Ji, which friends from Fuzhou should know, yes, it's that black fish stew. However, speaking of breakfast, children under 130 cm eat for free, reminding me of the Spring Festival stay in Sanming Tianyuan, where an aunt stood at the door scrutinizing each child's height, shouting that anyone below 1.1 meters had to pay, which is a world of difference. Looking at the price, 38 yuan per person is unbeatable, and the hearty Zhenghe flat meat is not available in Fuzhou; I suggest eating more. The hotel raises the standard of a city, and once the living conditions in Zhenghe were among the worst in northern Fujian counties, but the awkward situation has changed since the opening of the Howard Johnson Plaza, and now even the bosses returning to their hometown have a place to go. Just like the TV in the room says: Everything for the glory and dreams of Zhenghe.