Fourteen years in the making, Banyan Tree Mount Emei has made its long-awaited debut at the foot of Mount Emei, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, adjacent to the historic Baoguo Temple. The resort unfolds as a low-density courtyard ensemble, preserving seven century-old camphor trees and the lakeside woodland, with the architecture discreetly integrating into the natural setting.
The resort is home to the Huizong Academy—the only one within Banyan Tree's global portfolio—nestled within a bamboo grove as a contemplative sanctuary where Zen meditation, tea rituals, and local heritage converge. Complementing this cultural immersion, Banyan Tree Spa and lakeside private dining offer a holistic wellness experience that refreshes both body and soul.
Thoughtfully balancing ecological sensitivity, cultural continuity, and refined hospitality, the resort sets a new benchmark for secluded luxury retreats in Western Sichuan.
Rooted in Banyan Tree's vision of a wellness sanctuary, CCD explores harmony between humanity and nature through a design language drawn from Mount Emei and Western Sichuan vernacular architecture.
Spatial sequences recall traditional gateways, temples, and mountain paths, unfolding a journey of transitions and discovery.
The surrounding landscapes—mountains, forests, water, and rocks—are distilled into material choices, crafted details, and orchestrated lighting. Through carefully considered proportions, materiality, and spatial composition, the interiors settle effortlessly into the natural surroundings.
Architecture & Arrival
The resort adopts a courtyard-style layout, with its architectural footprint carefully shaped by the existing trees, lake, and terrain. Seven preserved century-old camphor trees anchor the building boundaries, spatial organization, and circulation.
The arrival drive winds through the woodland, guided by a sequence of gentle turns, gray walls, water features, and planting. Carefully oriented architectural openings reveal changing views of the courtyard, lake, and mountains along the way.
Lobby & Lobby Lounge
A central water courtyard anchors the lobby, with inward-drawing roof eaves evoking the spatial logic of traditional Sichuan courtyard dwellings.
A neutral palette grounds the interior, enriched by traditional cinnabar and vermilion accents. Vernacular architectural elements are translated into refined details throughout the space: perforated screens derived from traditional window lattices, a reception backdrop informed by camphor bark textures, a continuous wood-grille ceiling echoing the layered rhythm of traditional wooden framing and pitched roofs, and sculptural elevator buttons inspired by mortise-and-tenon joinery.
The lobby lounge frames a layered landscape—from the water courtyard to the lake beyond, with expansive openings dissolving boundaries between interior and nature.
Chinese Restaurant
The entrance juxtaposes perforated cross-patterned brickwork with red glass blocks, creating a tactile contrast while echoing the gray-brick façade.
The open dining area draws on the Chuan-dou timber framing of traditional Sichuan architecture, translating its structural logic into the interior. Large expanses of pared-back surfaces set the tone, complemented by Ruyi-patterned timber cabinetry, vertical grilles, and panoramic glazing. Curved banquettes form a semi-enclosed seating arrangement, cultivating an intimate dining atmosphere.
In private dining rooms, ceilings echo the gentle curves of traditional roof silhouettes. Wood veneer and woven rattan infuse the space with tactile warmth. A round table anchors each room, paired with enveloping lounge seating for relaxed conversations and gatherings.
All-Day Dining Restaurant
The all-day dining restaurant opens onto the bamboo grove and water features through panoramic glazing and an outdoor terrace. A still waterscape beside the building reflects the surrounding landscape, creating layered views that shift with changing light and weather.
The open kitchen draws on the timber structures, covered verandas, and pitched roofs of traditional Western Sichuan houses, reinterpreted through simplified proportions and contemporary materials. Private dining rooms continue the material palette of timber and rattan, establishing a cohesive design language throughout.
Ballroom Foyer
The ballroom foyer unfolds as a continuous corridor sequence defined by timber grilles, sculpted wall surfaces, and fan-shaped sconces. An existing curtain wall frames views of the garden and mountains. Stepped timber ceilings echo the exterior canopy, softening the boundary between inside and out. Linen carpeting and the bamboo-woven artwork introduce local textures and evoke the misty atmosphere of Mount Emei.
Swimming Pool
The swimming pool is immersed in the tranquil rhythm of the mountain, water, and forest. Its infinity edge seamlessly merges with the outdoor lake, strengthening the connection with the landscape. Horizontal timber grilles stretch across the ceiling, echoing the layered rhythm of traditional eaves. Rough-hewn stone clads the columns and walls, its raw, grounded presence in quiet tension with the water's fluid serenity.
SPA
The spa draws inspiration from Mount Emei's geological formations—caves, gorges, and basalt tablelands—reinterpreted through stone, timber, and spatial continuity. In the treatment areas, lowered furniture profiles and a restrained visual language create a calm, private atmosphere. Tatami-style resting areas and sheer curtains cultivate a sense of quiet restoration.
Guestrooms
The guestrooms embody Banyan Tree's philosophy of "Sanctuary for the Senses." Introducing soft lavender accents, the design draws from the spatial logic of Western Sichuan vernacular dwellings, reinterpreting courtyards, pitched roofs, grilles, framed views, and deep eaves through a contemporary language. Timber panels, gray bricks, natural stone, and woven rattan establish a cohesive material palette.
The layouts emphasize fluid transitions between entrance, living, sleeping, bathing, and outdoor areas. Walk-in or open wardrobes and concealed minibars are woven into the spatial sequence, streamlining storage and circulation.
Doorways, elongated windows, full-height glazing, and niches frame views at different scales, orienting the main living areas toward courtyards or woodland. Sloped ceilings combine simplified timber structures, subtle eave gaps, and indirect lighting, articulating a layered rhythm overhead. Outdoor spaces are nestled within the existing vegetation, featuring private soaking pools, daybeds, dining tables and resting areas. Stone enclosures, timber grilles, drapery, and planting carefully mediate views, balancing privacy with connection to the natural surroundings.
Team:
Client: Emeishan Yinyi Cultural Tourism Investment & Construction Co., Ltd.
Architectural Design: BUZZ
Interior Design: CCD / Cheng Chung Design (HK)
Material Platform: IDEAFUSION
Landscape Design: GVL
Photography: Wang Ting
