This boutique inn at Shixia Village of the Yanqing District, Beijing is one of the 124 guesthouses branded as a "horticultural homestay" by local authorities. (CGTN Photo)
About a half-hour's drive from the garden expo venue, the boutique inn is one of the 124 guesthouses branded as a "horticultural homestay" by local authorities. It aims to offer guests an extension of their expo tours.
"We've stayed here many times. This time though I notice different things, like the indigenous fresh flowers and plants decorated in our guest rooms. Meanwhile, the service quality is always improving every time we came," Zhang said.
Inn owner He Yuling said preparation for the horticultural event is not done, as the spring flower bloom just started.
"We've planted different types of flowers in different yards. Within a few weeks, each yard will turn into a mini-pavilion such as a rose- or peony-themed yard. We are also training our staff to learn basic spoken English to better communicate with foreign guests," said He.
Three years ago, when she took over the inn operations, He had her work cut out. "Few visitors came here because of its remoteness. And many yards were old and had even collapsed. But it has a very rich history. So, we decided to renovate more than 20 yards. Our business also brought jobs and revenue to local villagers and related industries," she recalled.
