Naxi Village Roots Revivalists

AZU and MA Rong didn’t just open a restaurant—they answered a calling.
Azu, a Naxi native, and Ma Rong, once a finance student in Kunming, chose to return to the land—to restore not just a courtyard, but a way of life.

FROM LONELINESS TO BELONGING
When Ma Rong first arrived in the village, the language of the Naxi elders felt like a wall she couldn’t cross. But through her daughter Chu’s laughter among the vegetable patches and wildflowers, she began to understand a deeper dialect—one of soil, seasons, and simple joy. The mountain slowly became her home.

THE TASTE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
It was a gift of homegrown Lijiang snow peaches that revealed their purpose. An elder tasted one and said, “This tastes like my childhood.” That moment became their mission: to grow, cook, and share food that carries memory—and to give their daughter a childhood rooted in nature and nurture.

THE COURTYARD REBORN
For twelve years, Azu’s grandfather’s courtyard stood silent. Then, with their own hands, they brought it back to life—stone by stone, beam by beam. Now, it’s a place where woodsmoke carries the scent of simmering broths, where herbs dry in the sun, and where every meal is made from what the land provides.

NO FUSS, ONLY FLAVOR
Ma Rong doesn’t cook “fine dining”—she cooks food that means something. Using ingredients harvested steps from their kitchen, she prepares homestyle Yunnan dishes that are honest, nourishing, and deeply connected to the seasons. This is farm-to-table not as a trend, but as a tradition.

COME AS YOU ARE. LEAVE DIFFERENT.
They invite you to step into their world:

• Pick peaches straight from the tree

• Forage for mushrooms after rain

• Share tea and stories in the garden

• Taste dishes made with purpose and care

This is more than a meal—it’s an reminder that some of the best things in life are grown, not bought.