In the foothills of Yunnan Province’s Meili mountains is a village with 22 homes that are more than 100 years old.
"The rooftop lounge turns into a social hub in the evenings. Intimate parties are held here to encourage the limited number of guests to mingle."
Bordering Yunnan Province and Tibet, at the foothills of Meili Snow Mountain, is Wunongding Village. For centuries, things have remained pretty much the same for the 22 Xianggelila households who still live there.
The ones who have moved on have left behind not just vacated Tibetan homes but also a history that can be preserved and enjoyed by others, albeit in a less traditional way.
One of the vacated premises is now the Sunyata Hotel Meili, which opened in June. Chinese architecture firm Zhaoyang Architects took 1,095 days to turn the morethan 100-year-old building into Crate & Barrel meets rustic Tibetan space.
To retain its raw spirit, the architects kept the aged texture of the natural materials, and used salvaged wood and earthy colours for the hotel’s exterior and furniture. They also installed Tibetan-style fire places, Buddhist murals and reclaimed doors.
The hotel’s extensive library lets visitors learn more about the rich Xianggelila culture.
Opposite:
Sunyata Hotel Meili has 18 rooms and charges $400++ for two persons a night.
3. The chairs in the dining area are all made in Tibet from recycled materials.
4. The Noble House is the only villa in the establishment. It has a terrace that faces the Meili Snow Mountain.
