A Journey to Dulong
Program - Hospitality / Hotel
Phase - Architecture and Interior Design
Stage - Concept Design
Area - 8900 sqm
Architecture and Interior Design made by MQ-Studio Shanghai with Andy Hall as Design Director and Ruccu Corfita as Project Architect
Private Client
A journey to Dulong
Architecture in the Remote Valley of Dulongjiang
“Water is the most perfect traveler because when it travels it becomes the path itself.”
Located in one of the most remote and untouched regions of China, the Dulong Hotel can only be reached after nearly 24 hours of travel from a major city — the last 8 hours by car through winding mountain roads from the nearest airport. This journey, both physical and psychological, sets the tone for what follows: immersion into a world still shaped by nature and tradition.
Nestled between two towering mountains, one rising to 3,000 meters and the other to 4,000, the site is enveloped in near-constant humidity and mist. The Dulong people — who lived in near-complete isolation until the mid-20th century — maintain a rich oral and material culture. Without a written language, they communicate through signs left on trees, and their clothing is woven from brightly colored threads, often crafted more like blankets than garments.
The architecture of the hotel was carefully designed to belong to this place. Rather than imposing itself, it follows the terrain, embracing the flow of the land and the rhythm of the river valley. Interior spaces subtly echo the Dulong textile tradition — threads of color are woven into the design through layered textures, intricate joinery, and chromatic accents. These elements don’t mimic, but resonate with the spirit of the place.
Here, water, mist, thread, and stone come together. The hotel becomes not just a shelter, but a story — one that follows the path of water and the quiet wisdom of the Dulong people.
