The sun is rising

What sets Sunrise Kempinski apart is the auspicious imagery it so successfully evokes through design. From the front, the circular structure appears to be rising from Beijing’s Yanqi Lake like a sun, symbolising China’s fast-developing economy. When viewed from the side, it is shaped like a scallop, which represents fortune in Chinese culture. Meanwhile, the unique disc-shaped entrance – designed to look like a fish’s open mouth – symbolises prosperity. 

Located on the south bank of the picturesque Yanqi Lake, the building’s stunning all-glass exterior was constructed as such to reflect and blend into its natural environment. The top, middle and bottom of the structure mirror the sky, surrounding mountains, and tranquil waters of the lake respectively. While the hotel reflects its surroundings in the day, hydroelectric-powered LED lights beautifully accentuate the structure after dark. Despite being a literal ‘glass house’, the structure is extremely stable and can even withstand an earthquake of up to level eight. 

Excerpt from the April 2015 issue of epicure.