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Living in Land of Bliss

英国人李·巴雷特——美好缘分刚刚开始
生活在幸福里

Location: Tengchong
Narrator: Liu Qian, proprietor of Xingfuli (“Land of Bliss”) Homestay, Heshun Ancient Town

th
This marks Liu Qian’s 14 year since relocating from Shen-
zhen.
In the summer of 2011, Liu visited Yunnan with his parents.
At the time, he was 29 and working as a designer at a real estate
company in Shenzhen. He asked a local friend, “Where in Yun-
nan feels quiet, comfortable, and close to nature?” His friend an-
swered, “If you don’t mind a quieter spot, Heshun Ancient Town
in Tengchong is lovely.”
When Liu Qian first entered Heshun Ancient Town, he imme-
diately understood what his friend meant.
Blue-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls settled into the hills
and waterways, bearing over six centuries of history. Temples,
ancestral halls, and old dwellings glowed in the afternoon sun.
What struck him most, though, was the absence of the commer-
cial noise common to touristy ancient towns—not even an en-
trance ticket booth. Locals simply lived there, quietly and at their
own pace.
Liu and his parents had initially planned just a day trip to He-
shun. They ended up staying for seven days.
Before leaving, he made a bet with himself: he paid a 10,000- Long-Stay Travel Journal
yuan deposit to reserve a plot of land in the ancient town. If, one in Tengchong
year later, he found he still couldn’t leave city life behind, he
would walk away and consider the money lost. 1. Heshun Ancient Town
Once his mind was made up, Liu swiftly settled his affairs in Wander the bluestone lanes,
Shenzhen and set out again for the place that had captured his heart. explore Ming- and Qing-era archi-
In 2012, Xingfuli Homestay began welcoming guests. As one tecture, and sink into the unhur-
of Heshun Ancient Town’s earliest lodgings, it went on to rank ried rhythm of local life. Be sure
number one among Tengchong homestays for three straight years to try regional snacks like pea-
on a leading travel platform. flour pudding, stir-fried rice cakes,
The success of Xingfuli turned Liu into a local figure of note. pine-pollen cakes, and stir-fried
In the years that followed, newcomers from across China began bitter palm hearts—a uniquely
arriving in Heshun, and guesthouses opened one after another. tangy local specialty.
By 2024, Heshun Ancient Town was home to more than 500 inns
and homestays. 2. Tengchong Thermal Sea
Later, Liu expanded into the restaurant business. Of the seven The steaming spectacle of the
dining venues he opened, some catered to the “mainstream pal- Great Boiling Pot is not to be
ate” for first-time visitors, others highlighted regional ingredients missed. After a soak in the hot
from Tengchong’s eighteen townships, and one—set in a centu- springs, make sure to taste the
ries-old residence—served refined Yunnan dishes built entirely eggs boiled right in the geother-
on local produce. mal pools.
For Liu, long-term sojourning means more than settling in
and enjoying the sunshine. It is about mutual belonging—en- 3. Volcanic Geopark
tering deeply into a place, becoming part of its life, and helping Take a hot air balloon ride for
shape its future. a bird’s-eye view of the volca-
Over these thirteen years, Tengchong has become ever more noes—a spectacular and romantic
lively. And Liu, as one of Heshun’s early entrepreneurs, takes experience.
pride in how “Tengchong’s homestays and restaurants have
grown into something truly distinctive—even among Yunnan’s
many tourist towns.”
The flow of people also brings a city to life. Last year, the
2024 Tengchong Marathon drew close to 14,000 registered run-
ners. Since its launch in 2015, the race has grown into one of
Yunnan’s premier sporting events.
Now in his forties, Liu is often referred to as the “unofficial
ambassador for Tengchong long-stayers.” Through his referrals,
more than a hundred friends have moved to or invested in the
area. Liu likes to describe his thirteen years here as “seeking a
livelihood while also seeking love.” He has found peace and a
grounded sense of belonging in Tengchong, and hopes to share
that feeling with others.