chalffy
Google
Perched on the sunlit slopes of Yuancun, an ancient village beside the thousand-year-old Tanzhe Temple, Xitan stretches gracefully from east to west, embracing the natural curves of the highland. Locals like to say, “First came Tanzhe Temple, then came Beijing,” and Xitan carries this heritage forward, offering a vision of refined mountain living rooted in the city’s earliest origins.||The walk from the lobby to my room followed a gently undulating path, as though the stones underfoot carried the weight of stories long past. Here, where nature and design entwined, you could pause—not just to look at the mountains, but to truly see them, to feel them in your heart.||Xitan’s Chinese restaurant features the premium dining concept from Xin Rong Ji—A Michelin Three-Star restaurant.||The mountains surrounding Xitan are known as Jiulongshan, the Nine Dragon Mountains, their ridges sweeping gracefully from west to east in a natural U-shape. Below, an expansive valley unfolds like a vast amphitheater, where the seasons perform their quiet transformations. Unlike the gentle allure of Jiangnan’s southern hills, the northern mountains in winter possess an austere tranquility, their stark beauty imbued with a solemn stillness. Perhaps it is this quiet majesty that informs the architecture of Xitan, with expansive windows—some spanning the width of entire rooms. These windows, framing the mountains like living paintings, transform every shift of light and shadow into art.Seated indoors, I could watch the ever-changing interplay of light and shadow across the mountain forest. With the range facing east to west, sunlight graced the verdant hills from dawn to dusk, painting a scene of quiet brilliance throughout the day.||Yet, beyond the grandeur of its scenery, what impressed me most about Xitan was the quiet cosmopolitanism woven into its ancient façade.|From landscaping to interiors, from furnishings to cuisine, Xitan reveals an ambition to blend the local with the global, tradition with modernity. The delicate touch of Japanese master gardener Nomura Kanji complements the stone sculptures of Masatoshi Izumi. The smoky richness of Basque cuisine coexists seamlessly with the refined flavors of the Rongfu Feast. Belgian artist Lina Kusaite’s sweeping murals echo the intricate embroidery of Liao Chunmei, a Taiwanese Taixiu heritage artist. Throughout the hotel, pieces from Italy’s finest private furniture collections add quiet elegance.||It is often said that true refinement reflects a life well-traveled, rich in experience. The same could be said of Xitan.||The guest rooms are designed with open layouts, creating a sense of space. From the moment you step inside, you feel lightness, as though the mountains themselves have lent their vastness to the room. The openness dispels any sense of confinement, letting you breathe freely in the embrace of the hills.||By night, the full moon rises above the treetops, casting a glow over the slumbering forest. In the mountains, the moonlight feels sharper, more luminous, as if the world has been distilled to its essence. On the terrace square, the Wunian Bar lights its fireplace, filling the night air with the warmth of amber glow. With a drink in hand, life in the mountains feels effortless and serene.
