"There are ostriches!" Children's excited cries can be heard when families first arrive at the hostel. These fascinating animals strutting around near the entrance area are an immediate attraction for most people, children and adults alike. They are in fact being raised by the host, Wu Chung-chi.

Wu Chung-chi is actually a high-school mathematics teacher who enjoys fishing in his spare time, and his wife, Ho Pao-yu, who used to be a housewife, likes raising animals and growing her own fruit.

"Our original motive in buying this land was to fulfill a dream," says Ho Pao-yu. On their quarter-hectare of land, they raise fish, rabbits, geese and ostriches, and grow a variety of fruits such as peaches, guavas, pears, pomelos, oranges, longans, persimmons and passion fruit.

The couple have many friends and are strong believers in the merits of hospitality, so they often have a lot of visitors staying. Explaining why they started the business two years ago, Ho says "Friends told us that our home would make a great hotel, so it was suggested that we should think about sharing our beautiful environment with everyone."

The ostriches by the gate of Kuanhsing Shuiko have almost become mascots, inviting guests to join the fun.

Evening stars and moonlight

Kuanhsing Shuiko is one of the few guesthouses whose reality actually lives up to its claims, with lovely views and great (and some quite unusual) facilities.

There's an outdoor shuiko (water pavilion) next to a big fishpond where guests can relax close by the water in the evening and watch the stars and the moonlight dancing on the surface (kuanhsing means to watch the stars). On the other side of the pond, the rooms have opening skylights, so guests don't need to go out onto the balcony to see the star-studded sky; they can simply lie in bed. All of this sounds very luxurious and expensive, but in reality prices are very reasonable. A suite for four people, for example, will cost the visitor only NT$2200 per night.

With its spectacular views and diverse facilities, Kuanhsing Shuiko is naturally very popular. During the summer and winter school holidays and weekends in particular, it is always fully booked. However, the costs of buying the land and building the guesthouse were around NT$10 million, and with an income of little more than NT$1 million a year, there is still a long way to go before they start making a profit. But the original idea was not to become instant millionaires, so they're not too worried about the money side of things.

The rural setting of Kuanhsing Shuiko means plenty of outdoor activities like fishing, barbecues, picking fruit, swimming or even dancing with the ostriches. So if guests don't feel like going out, there's plenty to do and nobody gets bored.

Ho Pao-yu points out that the spa is replenished with fresh water every day. "The spa water comes from a real natural spring," she tells us proudly.

"I've been very happy running the business and have made many friends," says Ho. She is often presented with gifts--small tokens of thanks given by guests, often items from their various hometowns. Even Tupi the guard dog was a gift from a happy guest. Ho tells us emotionally that this particular person heard that her previous dog had been lost, so two days later the guest turned up in a car with Tupi as passenger.

This type of enthusiasm and appreciation from their clients is, in fact, the best reward for Wu Chung-chi and Ho Pao-yu. The husband of one family which had stayed at Kuanhsing Shuiko three times was a middle-aged career soldier who was approaching retirement. He had little idea of what he was going to do with his life after he retired. But after seeing Ho (in her early thirties) looking after her three children ranging from third-year elementary school to third-year junior high, and also running the business so enthusiastically and successfully, he was encouraged to go ahead with plans for his own guesthouse business in Hualien after he retired. He asked Ho to help him find a suitable place for his venture, and as she thought of him as a friend as well as a good customer, she was willing to give him the benefit of her experience.

"Because our hostel has its own unique attractions, I'm not afraid of fair competition," Ho says confidently. With average helpings of kindness and generosity, anyone can become a good host. In either the management of her home or the business, she is more than happy to share her ideas and experience with everyone.

Address: 16, Lane 121, Tungli 15th Street, Chi-an Township, Hualien County
Tel.: 03-8511891
Website: http://k.8168.com.tw/