Designed by renowned architect Fanhao Meng, the Kimpton Hotel Huangshan reveals its distinctive architectural vision. The hotel is located in Xiuli Ancient Town, a place celebrated as 'Picturesque Huizhou, Villages of Southern Anhui', adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Xidi and Hongcun.
🏞️ Inspired by traditional Huizhou architecture, the design follows the natural terrain to create a spatial composition that transitions from public to private, much like the ancestral halls and residences found in ancient villages. The terraces serve as a boundary line — contemporary hotel structures sit above, while ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties remain below — forming a poetic dialogue between different times and spaces.
🍽️ Dining is one of Kimpton’s signature experiences and is strategically placed at the eastern end of the site, where guests can enjoy the best panoramic views. The gentle western slope offers a more tranquil and introspective atmosphere, preserving tall poplar trees that shape a serene wellness and leisure zone.
🏡 In the villa section, the architect designed 135 all-villa guest units tailored to the site’s topography. Drawing inspiration from traditional Huizhou houses—characterized by deep layouts and small courtyards—the design sets the courtyard on one side. When two units are symmetrically joined, the courtyard doubles in size, forming diverse courtyard scales that enhance daylight and ventilation while ensuring efficient land use. By combining two primary layouts and adapting to the slope, four distinct villa clusters are created.
The Kimpton Hotel Huangshan not only continues the memory of Huizhou culture but also represents a spiritual revival and reinterpretation—transcending form to capture the enduring essence of its cultural heritage.