Homestays in Shagou town, Xinghua, Jiangsu province, are welcoming visitors for an autumn tourism season featuring crab tasting and chrysanthemum viewing.
Micang Inn, housed in a converted old granary, has 41 guest rooms and 56 beds, with all guest rooms larger than 30 square meters, including 68-square-meter duplex suites. The inn retains the granary's original character while adding some modern comforts.
Chrysanthemums fill its courtyard, giving the inn more of an autumn feel. Its dining offerings include a crab feast and local specialties. In addition to free breakfast, guests can order fish ball noodles, scalded tofu threads, Shagou steamed twisted rolls and spring rolls. The inn also displays relics from its granary days, including abacuses, scale weights and mooncake molds, and hosts mooncake-making activities during the peak season.
A loquat tree grows in the courtyard of Huazhu Pipayuan. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghualyuyou]
Huazhu Pipayuan, another homestay, is named after the loquat trees in its courtyard, one of which is more than 30 years old. The property, a former kindergarten, has 11 guest rooms. It also offers a free shuttle service and gives guests souvenirs for when they leave.
Chen Kai, manager of Huazhu Pipayuan, said Shagou town has grown more popular over the past two years. He said he hopes the better service would help more people learn about and love the ancient town.