"Drifting Space" exterior, draped in ivy

Nestled among the stone houses of Dong'ao Village on Pingtan Island, a courtyard overflows with hydrangeas, bougainvillea, and climbing ivy. Its owner, Da Xiong, also a wood artisan, says this "green house" offers a harbor for wandering hearts.

Passersby often pause at the yard of No. 184, home to Da Xiong's "Drifting Space." There is no signboard, only creeping ivy covering the walls and a small wooden plaque by the gate:

"If you visit and I am not here, please sit with the flowers outside. They are warm, and I have watched over them for many, many days. They may not bloom fully, but speak what you will; if you have nothing to say, just enjoy their green leaves."

Da Xiong's handmade woodcraft

Driven by a soft, generous heart that finds warmth in ordinary plants, he has spent years transforming this once-abandoned old house into a multifunctional leisure space that brings together gardening, woodworking, and coffee. "'Drifting Space' can be a cafe, a personal studio, or a gathering spot for arts and cultural exchange," he explains. Letting the courtyard greenery grow freely, he hopes to welcome curious visitors who stumble upon it.

Old Objects Speak, Plants Know the Years

Visitors often lose themselves in the courtyard, where hydrangeas and bougainvillea bloom in profusion. Pink, blue, and purple flowers gather like ink spilled across a canvas. In the backyard, a wooden table sits amid the greenery, while winding stone paths and vine-covered steps reveal both the slow rhythm of island life and the poetic warmth of the restored space.

"The first hydrangeas were planted by my mother," Da Xiong says. "This old house carries so many beautiful memories." Before 2011, he worked in Beijing's internet sector, enduring crowded subway mornings and office lights that burned late into the night. His life shifted during a fall visit home that year. Pushing open the dusty old door, he found his mother's sewing machine, his grandmother's rattan sofa, and a chipped enamel cup on the windowsill, objects that suddenly unlocked memories long tucked away.

"The house had been empty for years. If it were demolished, there would be nowhere to return to. That would be a shame," he recalls. In 2015, he quit his job and returned to Pingtan, determined to breathe life into the home that had shaped his childhood.

He planted three vines around the old house, which quickly turned the structure into a "green house" and drew visitors eager to see it. He gradually enriched the courtyard with a variety of plants, including a small herb patch of rosemary, mint, and basil.

Da Xiong tending garden plants

"I can't even count how many species are here," he admits. "I learned gardening by trial and error, following the seasons. Flowers were sown, cuttings planted, and weeds allowed to grow freely, all carefully nurtured. When you commit to something, you should do it fully." Years of attention have layered the plants so that each leaf seems to answer the island breeze.

"The old house's structure remains intact. Grandma's sofa stays where it always was, the sewing machine is my mother's dowry, and the black-and-white TV has been cleaned and placed on the table," he says. For him, these are not props but treasured memories.

His care extends beyond the house. Bricks salvaged from nearby ruins and stones rounded by the sea were collected to form small garden hills. "I love the time-stamped marks on old materials," he says.

A Stone House as a Harbor

Friends gathering and grilling in the courtyard

Friends gather here for barbecues, their laughter mingling with the sizzle and aroma of the grill. Children crouch to plant flowers, their hands dirty with soil. Fires crackle in the evenings, casting a warm glow on his eyes. Every scene reflects the union of craft, nature, and everyday life.

Asked why it is called "Drifting Space," Da Xiong points to a small stone flower bed. "This stone came from the sea. I thought it deserved a home. 'Drifting Space' means giving wandering hearts a place to anchor," he explains.

This sense of home pervades every detail. In the morning, piano tracks from Studio Ghibli films drift through the courtyard, mingling with the rustling leaves. Schools arrange field trips for students to learn about local plants. On the walls, photographs capture island life: sunrises over the sea, empty beaches, rolling waves, and weathered stone houses. Driftwood and hollow bricks, repurposed as decorations or carved into playful wooden pieces, are scattered throughout the yard.

"Woodworking teaches patience and focus. There is a different value in something you make with your own hands," he says. Plans are underway for a small woodworking exhibition, free of charge and open to all visitors.

Once crowded with daily visitors, the courtyard is now quieter, with trees separating it from the outside parking area. "I just want people who really want to stay a while to be able to sit here in peace," he says.

"Most people rush through life, rarely asking themselves what they truly want. But Da Xiong understands, and he acts," says his friend Wu Ge.

Time Slows Among Flowers and Coffee

In his social media posts, there are no grand narratives, only slices of courtyard life: morning dew, sunsets, budding hydrangeas, and freshly carved wooden birds. "People tend the courtyard, and the courtyard tends them," he says with a laugh.

Da Xiong brewing pour-over coffee

Afternoon sunlight warms the stone table as Da Xiong serves hand-brewed coffee made from beans sent by a friend. The breeze carries the scent of herbs and leaves. A visitor remarks, "The coffee tastes better here. Even my heartbeat slows." Da Xiong smiles: "It is the wind, the clouds, your mood. It all makes the coffee taste good."

Visitors seem to slow down almost without noticing. A couple from Fuzhou marvels at the ivy-covered walls, snapping dozens of photos. Sunlight filters through the greenery, casting dappled patterns on walls and floors and capturing the island's quiet beauty. Another visitor, holding a handcrafted wooden bird, says, "Focusing on this for an hour let me escape the city's noise. Even my breathing felt lighter."

Solo traveler Chen Xiaofang touches a moss-covered stone before leaving. "I thought this was just another Instagram spot, but everything here, the stone, the flowers, the sign, shows care and thought. It really touched me," she says.

"I used to think in Beijing about 'doing,' chasing or escaping something. Now I think about 'being.' This courtyard is as it is, and my mood is as it is," Da Xiong reflects, seated beneath the eaves. As Pingtan International Tourism Island draws more visitors, "Drifting Space" is quietly becoming known. "More than any praise, the fragrance, the warmth of handcrafted objects, and the smiles of relaxed visitors are the true reward."