Hou Long Bo Guesthouse: A Hidden Seaside Utopia in Houlong Village, Nanji IslandIf you’re tired of the city’s hustle and bustle and seek a quiet corner embraced by sea breezes, the "Hou Long Bo" guesthouse in Houlong Village, Nanji Island, might just be your starting point to converse with the ocean. Tucked away in this secret coastal gem of southern Zhejiang, this seaside courtyard weaves the poetry of mountains and sea into every dawn and dusk in the most rustic way.1. The Journey to the Island: From Mundane Life to a Coastal ParadiseNanji Island, located in Pingyang County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, is one of China’s ten most beautiful islands, named for its resemblance to a sika deer. Arriving here requires a touch of "ritual" — first take a ferry from Aojiang Port or Ruian Port in Wenzhou (about 1.5 hours). The 碧蓝 (blue) sea shimmers with ripples trailing the ship, while distant islands unfold like an ink-wash scroll being unrolled gradually.After disembarking, a 20-minute drive along the island’s winding coastal road leads to Houlong Village. Once a fishing village, it faces the vast East China Sea and leans against lush green mountains. Stone houses are scattered along the coastline in an orderly manner, preserving the most authentic look of a fishing village. "Hou Long Bo" hides here like a seashell cast by the ocean, waiting to meet kindred spirits.2. Living by the Sea: Bringing Ocean Views into Daily LifeThe name "Hou Long Bo" carries its own poetry — "Houlong" is the village’s heritage, while "Bo" (泊) means to moor, symbolizing a promise with the sea. The guesthouse has 45 guest rooms, all designed with a "sea" theme: opening the window, you might face an "open sea-view room" with endless blue waves or a "coastal terrace room" overlooking rocks whispering with waves.In the morning, the first rays of sunlight filter through the sheer curtains onto the bed. Lazily propping yourself up, you can watch fishing boats sailing out gently in golden light, seagulls drawing silver lines over the waves; at dusk, sit on a rattan chair on the balcony and watch the setting sun dye the entire sea amber, while distant lighthouses begin to flicker. The sound of waves lapping against rocks is like the sea’s lullaby.During high tide, standing on the seaside promenade in front of the guesthouse, you can see waves surging with foam like shattered silver, as the salty sea breeze tangles in your hair, infusing even your breath with the ocean’s scent; at low tide, the tidal flats reveal 密密麻麻 (dense) shells and small crabs. Taking children to go beachcombing with a bucket, you gain not just trophies but the joy of connecting with nature.3. Between Mountains and Sea: Stealing a Half-Day of LeisureAt "Hou Long Bo," time is meant to be wasted. You can do nothing but lie on a hammock on the terrace, listening to the whispers of waves and rocks, watching clouds stroll lazily across the blue sky; or follow the guesthouse owner to experience "fisherman’s life" — take a small fishing boat to trawl the sea, personally hauling up lively shrimp and crabs, or put on a diving mask to seek colorful corals and fish in the nearshore waters.To explore more of the island, take a coastal walk: visit Dasha'ao to step on the "No. 1 Wonder of the World" shell beach, where fine sand slips through your fingers like golden powder; climb Sanpanwei to see the "Marine Bonsai Garden" where natural lawns intertwine with marine erosion landforms. Standing on the viewing platform and gazing into the distance, you can almost see the curvature of the earth where the sea meets the sky. Return to Houlong Village in the evening, and at the guesthouse’s outdoor dining table, savor freshly landed steamed groupers and spicy stir-fried clams with a bottle of ice-cold beer, listening to fellow travelers share stories from their journeys.4. Sleeping to the Sound of the Sea: Let Stars and Waves Lull You to SleepAs night falls, warm yellow lanterns light up in the courtyard of "Hou Long Bo," and the sea breeze carries the fragrance of plants across the veranda. Sitting in the courtyard and gazing at the stars, the Milky Way — rarely seen in cities — is clearly visible, with an occasional meteor streaking across the sea, leaving a fleeting trail of light.Inside the guest rooms, log furniture and linen fabrics create a natural texture, while smart toilets and central air conditioning quietly hide modern conveniences. When you step out of the bathroom wrapped in a soft towel, the aroma of cedar and ocean from the bedside diffuser fills the air. Drawing back the curtains, moonlight gilds the sea’s edge, and the waves grow gentle, as if the sea whispers in your ear: "Goodnight, dream a blue dream."Epilogue: Not an Endpoint, but a Starting Point for Another LifeThe beauty of Nanji Island lies in its unspoiled wildness; the charm of Hou Long Bo lies in how it brings people within arm’s reach of the sea in the gentlest way. Whether you come alone to heal by listening to the sea, 赴约 (keep an appointment) with a loved one to watch the sunrise, or build "sandcastles" with children on the beach, this place will leave unique memories.Next time you visit the sea, why not come to Hou Long Bo? Let the sea breeze brush away your fatigue, let the waves seal time for you, and in this world of intertwined blue and white, rediscover the vastness and tenderness of life.
"To be honest, after going to the island, I really feel that Nanxun Island has nothing fun, and the sea water is not good. If friends who have been to foreign islands come here, there must be a big gap. The sea water has almost no visibility. But this homestay was unexpectedly good. I originally rushed to the last time in May 1st Golden Week to determine that I was going to Nanxun. Even the train grabbed the station ticket. The homestay even grabbed the only available room on the island. I didn’t report any hope. I was surprised when I got on the boat from Ryan. The boat trip to and from Nanxun Island, the seat cover on the boat is all advertising for our homestay, there is a booked chartered car on the island to pick up, after arriving at the homestay, I found that the decoration is very new, the location is good, there is the illusion of small Greece. The lobby is bright and the cafeteria is in the lobby. Although breakfast is 7-9, we can have breakfast when we arrive at 10 o'clock. Our room is in 5210, the location and view are very good, there are fireworks every night, from the road in front of our building, up and down to the cave hotel and the seaside food stalls are very convenient, walking distance, there are signs. The mint restaurant on the beach sunset side punched in. Except for the expensive ones, the barbecue on the road at the door was very good. The beef skewers and mutton skewers were all 5 yuan, which was cheaper than Xinjiang. On the contrary, the barbecue near the homestay is slightly more expensive, but the food stalls on the beach are delicious and cheap. A meal of four seafood, including local specialties of live yellow croaker, is only more than 200 in total. The portion of the dishes is also very large and worth recommending. Cave coffee to punch in, the minimum consumption is 58, any drink/snack is 58 or 68, the price is used to see, just look at the scenery. Nanxun Island must be sunny to make sense, otherwise you can't see the sunrise and sunset, it is still gray, and the sea is dirty. We got up early to watch the sunrise and it was cloudy and foggy, and the result was completely no colorful glow. Fortunately, the sunset was available for two days, making up half of the regret."