The project site is located within Guangfulin Cultural Relic Park, which has been hailed as the “Root of Shanghai”. The park looks out onto Sheshan Mountain in the north and adjoins Songjiang University Town to the south. Enjoying rich natural and cultural landscapes and resources, it is one of the most important scenic spots in Shanghai. The site is located on the northernmost side of the park, adjacent to the central lake and the Guangfulin Cultural Relic Museum. It will become an important part of the relic park after completion.

By studying the cultural background and spatial characteristics of the site, the architect draws on the imagery of “riverside courtyard”, and aims to create buildings and landscapes harmonious and consistent with the style and features of the Relic Park and rich in traditional Chinese aesthetic charm, and to express impartial and elegant Chinese-style connotations.

The public area of the hotel is located in the center of the site, arranged along a north-south axis comprising three courtyard spaces; courtyards on each wing of the axis extend out to the east and west based on local terrain, and the main guestrooms are laid out around two courtyards with lake view outside and garden view inside. The buildings are open, with free change in spatial rhythm - “rooms ensconced in gardens, gardens enveloped by nature, and nature unfolding like a painting”. The banquet center of the hotel located in a different area with traditional architectural layout connects with the main building via an overhead bridge and is designed in combination with the entrance of the Relic Park.

The project also brought in international hotel management, interior design and landscape design companies to create a charming hotel that is rooted in traditions, based on the contemporary and embodies the cultural identity of Guangfulin.