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The thick bamboo forest is enveloped in mist in the village of Mukeng near Hongcun on July 29, 2009. The place is well known as the shooting location of the Oscar-winning movie "Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon." [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
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I never realized how little it takes to lead a stress-free life until I visited a hotel hidden deep in the mountains of Hongcun Village in east China's Anhui Province.
In the morning a meandering and bumpy road led us to a small hostel in a thick bamboo forest, whose claim to fame is that the Oscar-winning movie "Crouching Tiger, and Hidden Dragon" was filmed there.
Obviously, the rain meant fewer guests for the hostel, but it made our trip all the better because the rainfall brings a misty fog that adds to the beauty of the mountain scenery. The clouds seemed to separate the hostel from the rest of the world, leaving only the lush bamboo, unique local architecture and a simple rural lifestyle to make up the picturesque landscape before my eyes.
It's time for lunch. The dining table is spread with dishes made entirely of locally grown vegetables and locally raised animals. Fresh and delicious, the food tastes quite different from urban restaurant fare, which relies mostly on seasonings for flavor. When dining, a bottle of homemade waxberry wine is a must - you may get a bit drunk at the mere sight of its pink and crystal color.
The rain seemed endless, but none of us minded, because once the sun came out and the fog lifted, we would all have to face the real world again.
They say you should always look for the silver lining of the clouds. But at this small, hidden-away hostel, we don't need to find a silver lining; instead, we ride among the clouds.
