Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan
issue date

My secret paradise
October 29, 2003
Article & Photos By Rebecca

Needing to escape the heat of summer, a friend at university recommended I try a new café she had found in the Xia Da area. As soon as I stepped into the front yard of the Yoso café, I was transported to another world.

Hidden in an old villa along Nanhua Road, the Yoso café enjoys its peace and quiet. The house has several rooms, each immaculately decorated with comfortable sofas and outdoor terraces which catch the afternoon sunlight.

The owner, Ms He, opened the café after a trip last year to the tourist village of Yangshuo, near Guillin. Yangshuo village is dotted with restaurants which offer a blend of Western and Chinese cuisine and has become a mecca for those who enjoy both the Chinese countryside and the emerging café culture.

Ms He has been living in the Fujian province for a few years and chose to start a new life in Xiamen just 11 months ago. "Customers have asked me what the theme of my café is and my answer is "none"," she says. "I have used mulitple styles and products to decorate the villa. All I want is to create a charming atmosphere where people can be comfortable. Each customer is a 'theme' himself, since he or she brings their own brings with them their personality and feelings. For me, Yoso has become not a place where I work, but a place where I meet friends."

It is a journey of discovery to look around the café - even the restroom has been decorated with precision and care. Every inch of the space is thoughtfully designed and has been decorated with a vast selection of batik and other folk art from around China and the world. Customers can choose to watch one of the large selection of DVDs or even take home a CD to copy.

The food is prepared by Ms He herself, her speciality being the chicken salad and spaghetti.

Whether I feel like spending an afternoon with a cup of tea and a good book, or having a drink with friends, Yoso is now my own piece of paradise in Xiamen.

Address: 29 Nanhua Road (near Xiamen University) Tel: 2573797.