QiHu Hotel

Located in the Huairou District, Yanqi Lake is a place of profound natural quiet. Embraced by the Jundu, Hongluo, and Jindeng mountains, the valley serves as a vital resting point for cranes, swans, and wild geese during their annual migrations. This unique behavior, the instinct to pause, rest, and restore before continuing a journey, became the central metaphor for QiHu Hotel. The site required a design that honored this narrative, transforming a hospitality destination into a place of genuine respite.

The design is guided by a philosophy of “mindful migration.” Just as the lake offers sanctuary to passing birds, the hotel is designed to offer clarity and calm to the modern traveler. The design language draws directly from the surrounding topography, creating a seamless dialogue between the interior spaces and the dramatic landscape outside.

Wimberly Interiors approached the guest journey as a sequence of unfolding scenes. From the arrival lobby through the corridors and into the suites, the aesthetic is one of harmony and balance. A neutral, earthy palette allows the textures and materials to take center stage, invoking a sense of stability and belonging.

The narrative is woven into the physical fabric of the hotel through subtle, interpretative details rather than literal mimicry.

• The Journey: In the guest corridors and room interiors, full-height curved art panels depict the flight of wild geese, creating a sense of movement and direction.

• Water and Light: To echo the meditative quality of the lake, reflective finishes and lighting mimic the play of sunlight on water. Flooring and grand pendant fixtures feature patterns reminiscent of ripples, grounding the large spaces in the context of the lake.

• Mountain Motifs: In the guest rooms, the drapery and screen patterns subtly reference the silhouette of the surrounding mountains, ensuring the connection to nature remains unbroken even when indoors.

By marrying the poetic movement of migration with the permanence of the mountains, the design establishes an atmosphere of contemporary luxury that is deeply rooted in place, designed for the restoration of the spirit.

“There is a distinct weight to designing in a place you know by heart. Our history with Yanbai Villa – an earlier collaboration with the same client in this same breathtaking location, gave us a unique vantage point on the rugged beauty of Yanqi Lake, turning this project into a dialogue between memory and innovation. We carried the responsibility of crafting a sequel that was distinct from Yanbai Villa, yet equally powerful. By listening intently to the client’s evolving vision, we curated the Qihu Hotel, a space where contemporary design quiets down to let the landscape speak, creating a sense of place that feels both new and inevitably timeless.” – Paolo De Simone, Creative Director