A contemporary wellness retreat that reinterprets the formal language of Yangzhou classical gardens and local hot spring culture through modern hospitality.
Set within the historic landscape of Slender West Lake, the 13-hectare resort transforms a fragmented site into a fluid, water-centered retreat. Inspired by Yangzhou garden traditions, a central lake replaces isolated hot spring pools and becomes the spatial core, linking arrival, spa zones, pools, and villas into a continuous journey.
Rooted in the city’s bathing culture, the design introduces varied pool typologies—from overlook baths to private villa springs—balancing shared ritual and contemporary wellness. Guestrooms and villas are organized as modern courtyard dwellings, using white walls, grey tiles, ornamental screens, and native planting to reinterpret enclosure and layered views.
The infinity-edge swimming pool opens toward the lake as the resort’s social heart, supported by shaded decks and family-friendly water spaces. Rather than replicating historic forms, the project distills the essence of Yangzhou gardens—water, enclosure, rhythm, and ritual—into a contemporary hospitality landscape for modern resort living.
