Deeply rooted in the traditions of an ancient matrilineal society, The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake, located in China’s Hengduan Mountains, honors and authentically immerses guests in more than 2,000 years of history. Carefully considered design decisions and custom furniture in guestrooms, luxury treehouses, and the in-house spa reflect the storied local heritage. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame emerald waters, and a rooftop infinity pool stretches out towards sacred mountains. Traditional recipes receive modern twists at two dining and beverage outlets, while a standalone building houses China’s first museum dedicated to women artists: the Museum of Women’s Art (MoWA).
Perched high in the Hengduan Mountains, where Sichuan meets Yunnan in China, the matrilineal Mosuo people practice 2,000-year-old traditions surrounded by the sacred Lake Lugu and the region’s mystical landscapes. Multigenerational familial homes, organized in courtyarded compounds, revolve around key wooden buildings including the Yimi, or grandmother’s house, and Nizhayi, or flower house. The Nizhayi holds a significant place in the Mosuo practice of zouhun, or “walking marriage,” where partners live separately but maintain intimate relationships. When a woman sleeps in the flower room, a lover can visit her after dark and leave before sunrise without being seen. The deeply rooted cultural and architectural heritage of the ancient Mosuo people—the last well-preserved, matrilineal culture in the world—infuses every aspect of the brand-new, tranquil hotel.
The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake weaves contemporary features together with a sincere reverence for the local nature, history, culture, and people. The hotel, situated in an elevated position, neighbors two Mosuo villages and overlooks Lugu Lake’s jade waters. Ethereal dawns, golden sunsets, foggy winter mornings, and starry nights are framed by glass walls and the sacred Gemu Goddess and Goulong God Mountains beyond. All of this and more is emphasized through carefully considered design decisions that immerse guests within Lugu’s ecology, the landscape’s timeless rhythm, and the area’s deeply rooted cultural traditions.
Housed within three former villas, The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake was designed by Imago Architecture Design Consultancy, led by chief architect Yang Lu, who reimagined the spaces to harmoniously blend with nature and reflect the unique culture and patterns of the Mosuo people. From the outside, the hotel’s main building curves naturally within the landscape, like a fetus in the womb, a nod to the matrilineal society. Lu also reimagined elements of traditional Mosuo architecture: The raw texture of a rammed earth façade was reinforced with local stone. Wooden support structures were rebuilt using modern mortise-and-tenon joinery. Lattice designs—often found in Mosuo dwellings—have been transformed into unique spatial accents. The lake’s colorful landscapes and rippling waters are also reflected in every detail, seamlessly bringing the outside in. A water lily-shaped chandelier, alluding to the area’s famed Ottelia acuminata, or fringed water lily, hangs in the lobby. Nearby, a tinted glass wall references colors of the region: Sunset crimsons and reddish-browns recreate twilight by the lake, crisp blues echo the depths of the lake’s rainy season, golden yellows mimic grasslands bathed in autumn sunlight, and pink evokes the sacred Gesang flowers of the Mosuo people. At the center of it all, a cozy hearth—the signature element of a Mosuo grandmother’s house—acts as an inviting gathering space.
With almost entirely custom furniture and lighting fixtures designed by Lu, such deeply rooted references extend into the 46 guestrooms and 14 suites, designed to embody the romance of the Mosuo maiden’s floral chambers and the warmth of a Mosuo grandmother’s house. Red rammed earth and lattice motifs complement sleek modern touches like transparent glass walls, suspended metal installations, and colorful pendant lights. Custom carpets reference the fringed water lily, quietly weaving the aquatic life of Lugu Lake into indoor spaces. Beds with pillows made from locally handwoven cloths face floor-to-ceiling windows, and in many rooms, glass doors give way to balconies with sweeping, panoramic views of the sublime landscape beyond. Most guest accommodations are found in the five-story main building, but three luxury treehouses offer an additional feeling of seclusion and quietude amidst the natural world.
Uniting all areas—including the two food and beverage outlets as well as the rooftop lounge and intimate spa—are tones of red, symbolizing and representing maternal imagery and the local matrilineal culture. At the Xing Yu Lobby Lounge, guests can indulge in drinks crafted with local and seasonal ingredients, including Chinese floral teas and coffee. On the top floor, at the Yun Ying Dining Room restaurant, guests will discover a menu of Chinese fusion, where traditional recipes receive modern twists and are made with natural, organic, and local ingredients. Here, an LED screen projects soft reds alongside other seasonal tonalities that reflect the lake and changing landscape, while three of the restaurant’s sides open towards the lake and the view from every table becomes a frame for natural beauty. Nearby, an infinity pool that seems to stretch out into the mountains, an outdoor lounge area, and a second traditional Mosuo hearth invite quiet moments of warmth and connection. In the spa’s four treatment rooms and yoga studio, red hues complement deep brown wood tones, encouraging guests to unwind and sink into the soothing atmosphere.
As the neighbor of the hotel, the Museum of Women’s Art (MoWA) is the first art museum in China dedicated to women artists. The art museum honors the region, which is also known as the Kingdom of Women, and shines light on international artists through collaboration and hosting artist residencies. Other cultural activities organized by The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake include foraging for wild mushrooms, incense-making and plant rubbing workshops, and a coveted Mosuo home visit—as night falls, guests are invited into an authentic grandmother’s house, where the fire gently crackles and butter tea is served in wooden bowls. Beneath the century-old beams, time slows as elders share quiet stories passed down through generations. Such intimate moments of cultural exchange underline the hotel’s commitment to authentically immersing guests within their surroundings; to helping visitors not only connect with but also respect and care for the heritage of the land, the place, and the people.
LOCATION
The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake is located 2,690 meters above sea level in the stunning Hengduan Mountains in Mukua Village, Yanyuan County, Liangshan Prefecture, China. Situated within the Lugu Lake National Scenic Area, guests can discover a network of picturesque hiking trails and easily walk to cultural sites like Yungzhong Deqinglin Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist temple, and what is referred to as the “Sacred Tree,” an ancient wide-canopied tree believed to hold spiritual powers where locals and monks pause to offer silent prayers. Nearby is also the Lover’s Ranch, where guests can walk through vegetable gardens and watch the free-grazing livestock, discover fields of wildflowers, or lay down to stargaze. The regional Ninglang Luguhu Airport is a 1.5-hour drive away, while Lijiang Sanyi International Airport is a 3.5-hour drive from the hotel.
The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake
Yanyuan County
Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, SC 615715
China
