Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou

For more than 2,000 years of history since the opening of its ports, Guangzhou, a southern metropolis, has long embodied a bold pioneering spirit. Today, known as the Pearl of Lingnan, a new era ushers where the legacy of its origins echoes through the rhythms of modern life.

At the heart of Guangzhou where the Pearl River meanders through a skyline sculpted by millennia, The International Financial Centre located in the southwest of Zhujiang New Town and on the central axis of the new city center is one of the tallest towers in the world. Setting itself apart from the surrounding city landmarks with its purity and elegance of form, the tower hosts luxury retail, a conference center, and crowning the top 30 floors of this 103-story tower is Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou, now poised to unveil a new chapter amidst its celebrated city views.

Wimberly Interiors has been entrusted with the renovations of the guest accommodation floors, including standard rooms, executive and deluxe suites.

From the onset of the project, our design team asked themselves ‘How do we design a future-ready hotel for a new generation of discerning luxury travellers who seek not just comfort, but connection?’ The response was a culturally- and narrative-rich spatial design that transforms stories of place into unforgettable experiences evoking the sense of returning home – a vision aligned with the Four Seasons philosophy.

As an iconic luxury hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou embraces this spirit of innovation. The design concept is inspired by the poetic notion of ‘infinite layers’ referencing “Mountains, Clouds, and Waters” where layered peaks, drifting clouds, and flowing streams converge in perfect harmony. The fluidity and movement of the city and the iconic architecture of the hotel itself is also reflected throughout the design.  Modern refinement is interwoven with timeless serenity – guests are invited into a realm of quiet luxury where the gentle ripples of the river, shifting daylight, and dynamic cityscape meld like ink diffusing through silk. A vertical sanctuary, guests are invited to experience Guangzhou’s distinctive calm and cultural depth from above the clouds where the guest experience unfolds like a living scroll – elegant, dynamic, and timeless.

Lift lobbies and corridors are composed in earthy tones, punctuated by bold color blocks and flowing patterns. Carpets echo the rippling waters of the river, while hazy grey hues suggest the distant serenity of the mountains, creating a gently cinematic procession through space.

In the guestrooms, the essence of Lingnan is elegantly expressed through the Huo’er roof motif, a hallmark of Lingnan and Hakka architecture. With its distinctive upturned eaves resembling an official’s hat, it has long symbolised honour and protection. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this form was favoured by noble families, later becoming widespread in residential architecture for its excellent fire resistance, heat insulation, and ventilation. Today, it stands as an enduring cultural icon of Lingnan architecture.

Reinterpreted through a contemporary lens, this architectural language is woven into design details throughout the guestrooms, from mini bar to screens, headboards, and bathrooms. Like the city’s silhouette drifting among the clouds, these subtle expressions evoke a uniquely Lingnan charm, inviting guests to engage with Guangzhou’s memories and character through every curve and crafted detail, inspiring exploration and connection.

Curved furniture forms echo the gentle flow of the river, while the sofa is poetically framed against the window, mirroring the landscape beyond to reinforce Guangzhou’s unique narrative. Textured walls and sculptural layers reflect the city’s continuous evolution, signalling its confident stride into modernity.

Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou uses design as its brush, rewriting the poetry of “Clouds, Mountains, and Waters” into a contemporary luxury masterpiece. Tradition is no longer a static relic but a living, breathing presence woven throughout the spaces. More than a hotel, it stands as a vertical expression of Guangzhou’s spirit: richly historic, infinitely layered, and confidently progressive. This is the ultimate expression of luxury hospitality — where spaces embody the city’s essence, and every guest becomes a co-author of Lingnan’s timeless story.

“Guangzhou is a city in constant transformation, layered with history, culture, and ambition. Our vision for Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou was to express this richness through design that feels both timeless and forward-looking. By translating the city’s rhythms into space, the meandering river, the layering of Baiyun Mountain, the vertical pulse of the skyline, we’ve created an experience that is immersive, grounded, and unmistakably of its place.” – Rachel Johnson, Managing Principal.

“Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou draws upon the poetic imagery of ‘Clouds, Mountains, and Waters,’ integrating Lingnan culture while retaining the essence and colour palette of the original design. With understated elegance and quiet luxury, it reinterprets its place and influence within the city, continuing the story of Guangzhou’s grace and sophistication.” – Liu Haoyang, Associate Principal.

“This vision pays tribute to Guangzhou’s unique cultural heritage while masterfully blending contemporary luxury with heartfelt hospitality. More than just a renovation, it’s about creating authentic connections, a true urban sanctuary where every detail is infused with the spirit of Guangzhou.” – David Macklin, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou.

“Nestled between mountains and water, the Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou has been revitalized. A transformative spatial experience was created by thoughtfully refining traditional cultural symbols and integrating them with modern technology. The design evokes a sense of home-like warmth and intimacy, carefully attuned to the needs and expectations of a new generation of guests. Completed in just two months, the renovation leveraged prefabricated construction techniques to ensure uninterrupted operations while elevating quality. This project stands as a prime example of how existing assets can be optimized and upgraded—revitalizing spaces, enhancing value, and charting a sustainable path toward improved asset quality and efficiency.” – Zhou Lida, Vice President of Commercial, Yuexiu Property Company.