Life Inn at Liquan County

The Liquan county of Xianyang, Shaanxi is a relatively unknown county of a fairly important and large province (Shaanxi). Development in this small county has fallen behind the rapid pace of the rest of the China, particularly when compared with cities like Xi'an, Beijing etc. The result is pockets of towns resembling hutongs, largely retaining the traditional Chinese ways of life, it's culture and customs. Natives of China will recognise this area to be a centre of heritage, somewhere you can take your children to for the weekend, or on a public holiday. Children growing up in the 21st century are less aware of the conditions and customs of how their parents grew up, and Liquan is a good place to help them become better informed.

Liquan has thus become greatly reliant on the domestic tourism industry, and has set up it's infrastructure to support the large influx of people who will visit.

Wandering through a very Hutong feeling part of the city, meandering through narrow alleyways and streets, there is a definite feel of ancient times. Lanterns hung up on the walls are lit up to help illuminate the darkened alleyways whilst Chinese boards and plaques frame the buildings they hang on, advertising their business or purpose.

Life inn, a guest house or tavern is located deep within and is only accessible with pulled rickshaws. It's obviously been renovated from it's Tang origin but looks very much like how it would have in it's prime, terracotta roofs, a signature of this province and the straw thatching to cover them.

The waiting area is cosy, distinctively wooden as period pieces would have been from the era the design is meant to replicate.

The dining area is communal meaning that guests sit together at the dinner table and will have their food served together in courses. This is obviously not very Chinese at all, and is to cater for the more foreign guests that are coming to the area. It's a little strange to be eating set course dinners in a traditional little town tavern, but it's still a very quality dining area and pleasant food. I don't have any complaints.

The following pictures are some shots of the public areas of the guest house. Take note of the wood work which is all hand made by the local carpenters. These are actually quite a lucrative business in the area, shipping to all over China.

Traditional wooden chairs and the wooden modesty dividers behind them.

A look outside of the guest house shows the extent of it's countryside location. Out in the court yard, there is no where else to go aside from a deep walk into the mini bamboo jungle out at the back. If tranquility is what you seek, this is very ideal.

Ponds are considered a sign of affluence in the ancient times, those who had their own plots of land would fill them with beautiful flower gardens and fish ponds with Khoi fish.