Tengol Hotel

China

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Yunqi Seaview Holiday Hotel

Tengol Hotel

China

Firm

Design Formula

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Hotel

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2023

SIZE

1,000,000 +

BUDGET

$100M +

South of the Tengger Desert, A Destination Like No Other
Situated 21 kilometers west of Zhongwei Shapotou Airport, Ningxia, lies a meticulously designed complex of rectangular architecture. The buildings, with their varying heights, seamlessly blend with the surroundings in both color and texture, exuding a raw, rugged charm. As you gaze into the distance, you’ll find nothing but the majestic sweep of undulating sand dunes, a landscape untouched by time. When night falls, the world is enveloped in a profound silence, and the stars descend low in the sky, elevating your imagination of the desert to its zenith... Experience the unparalleled beauty of our day and night—a journey to an extraordinary destination on the edge of the Tengger Desert.

01. Creating a Desert Sanctuary, Reviving the Silk Road
One hundred and five guest rooms are thoughtfully spread across over twenty buildings, each offering an unobstructed view of the vast desert—a canvas wide enough to embrace every dream. Winding alleys, corridors, courtyards, terraces, and garden paths connect the structures like threads stringing scattered pearls, gleaming under the sunlight. Follow these paths to a sapphire swimming pool, where crystal-clear water refreshes the body under the brilliant sun. At sunset, head to the amber-hued restaurant, take a seat in the open air, and savor the golden blend of light and sand, turning a simple meal into a celebration. Or indulge in the grand ‘Earth Feast,’ inspired by nomadic grassland weddings, where culinary delights merge with nature. As night falls, the Pear Orchard Lounge and the Dune Bar glow like cat’s-eye stones, urging you to drink deep and revel in the desert’s unique allure.
This is the Tengger Desert, where fierce winds and relentless sun know no seasons, and where civilization and time may both be lost. Vast and boundless, it is China’s fourth-largest desert. The Mongols, who have lived here for generations, named it after their highest deity, Tengri, meaning “the eternal sky.” Indeed, the Tengger Desert is protected by Tengri, with the Helan Mountains to the east and the Yellow River to the south, halting its advance into Ningxia. Beneath the surface lies a rich underground water system that sustains lush vegetation around hundreds of freshwater lakes, making nomadic life possible.
For centuries, countless trade routes and salt roads have crossed this desert. As agricultural and nomadic communities traded, it was only natural that silk, a precious commodity, lent its name to these ancient paths. The rich cultural heritage left by our ancestors draws us here, where we follow old commercial patterns, building in the desert, and establishing a market along the Silk Road.
The hotel stands on what was once a caravanserai, where travelers and camels found rest—a heritage that the new design thoughtfully revives. The architect emphasized “preservation” and “respect,” repurposing old alleyways and maintaining the local tradition of inward-facing courtyards. Every element, from the layout to materials and textures, was crafted by local artisans using traditional methods, ensuring harmony with the surrounding ecosystem. This philosophy extends to our team, with 95% of staff from the local community, and our collaboration with the Shapotou field station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to offer regular training on desert and environmental conservation. We believe in the value of sincerity—just as camels remain a mode of transport here, the desert’s profound beauty is best appreciated with minimal interference.

02. Time, Petroglyphs, and Tapestries
The desert, unlike inland cities, seems to exist beyond the grasp of time. While cities evolve, the desert remains constant—its sand dunes, sunrises, sunsets, and starry skies unchanged, offering nearly identical vistas day after day. Though silent, the desert reveals its wisdom to those who listen—caravans move steadily forward, unburdened by the past or future. They read nature’s language, gather strength, embrace the earth’s gifts, and live entirely in the present.
The desert’s timeless wisdom inspires us. As time accelerates, we venture deeper into its heart, finding our most joyous rewards in the present moment. We’ve captured the essence of sand and time within the hotel, using it as a vessel to share with every traveler who journeys here. Our tangible expression of this is found in the countless antiques we’ve collected—from hand-held brassware to preserved castle gates. These artifacts, carried from distant lands to the Tengger Desert, trace an invisible path of the Silk Road.
Our connection to antiques lies in their ability to mark the passage of time. In the vast desert, where landmarks are scarce, some say it is merciless, erasing all footprints with wind and sand. But for us, the shifting sands are a gift, keeping the landscape pristine and carving time into the earth. These antiques, with their natural textures and ancient craftsmanship, stand as testaments to time’s handiwork, creating monuments in the forgetful sands.

Zhongwei carpets, both ancient and new, also hold a special place here. Known for its fine wool, Zhongwei has a long tradition of weaving. Each carpet undergoes a meticulous process, from selecting and spinning to dyeing and weaving. With rarity comes value, and Zhongwei carpets remain prized treasures. We’ve collected over 400, displayed throughout the hotel. Some are century-old antiques; others are new designs that weave in ancient petroglyphs from Zhongwei’s northern mountains. These irreplaceable petroglyphs, some over ten thousand years old, have been revived by skilled weavers, honoring the land that nurtured them.

03. Adventurer’s Club
The desert is a playground for adventurers, where survival demands perseverance and endurance. It’s a place where you must withstand sandstorms, endure the relentless sun, and see through the illusions of mirages. Yet, to truly appreciate the desert’s stark beauty and uncover its hidden romance, an open heart is equally essential. The desert, much like a vast ocean, rolls with waves and harbors isolated islands. Sailors navigate by the winds and stars, fearlessly charting their course. Here, we invite adventurers who are prepared for a game without rules, a contest of equals where courage is the only ticket.
Four years of construction have brought us this 'Desert Gateway,' opening the door to a vast and awe-inspiring world. As your experienced guides, we chart paths through the seemingly barren sands, revealing a landscape rich in possibilities. Outward bound, you can traverse the endless desert, drive along the challenging Zhongwei Route 66 to visit Yellow River dwellings, or marvel at ancient petroglyphs in the remote 15-square-kilometer Damagou. For thrill-seekers, cross the desert’s five lakes, feel the adrenaline rush as you race across dunes, and unwind with an adventurous afternoon tea at Toujing Lake, a desert wetland oasis. Whether by foot, camel, sand bike, or off-road vehicle, together, we’ll conquer the dunes and blaze trails like true adventurers. For those who prefer to stay closer to the hotel, secret corners await exploration, turning your stay into a treasure hunt. Every adventure you envision can come to life here—even indulging in a top-tier spa under the desert stars. Simply ask, and it shall be done.

04. Epilogue
The desert isn’t barren, nor is it a wasteland. Life finds a way here, where wild pear trees, once rooted by the Yellow River, now flourish within the hotel’s embrace. The vegetables and herbs that grace our restaurant are, as much as possible, grown right here on this land. In truth, the desert is no different from other landscapes; all are connected by the same natural rhythms. An old friend once said, “This desert hotel is a shared dream, an oasis imagined in times past and brought to life.” It stands outside the flow of time, a rich and ever-growing destination, an adventurer’s haven, waiting for the knock on its door.

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Tengol Hotel

China

Other Projects by Design Formula

Yunqi Seaview Holiday Hotel

Tengol Hotel

China

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team