Pocui Retreat · Xichagu

Tucked into the mountains of Jinzhai, this resort hotel takes its cues from nature and the local vernacular. Instead of making a bold statement, it relies on raw materials and simple construction to bring back the simplicity of mountain living. The spatial sequence carries guests through a series of shifting moods, letting the emotional tone unfold on its own as they move through the space.

The public areas embrace an unpolished aesthetic. A reclaimed-wood table stands in for the usual reception desk. Expansive windows pull in daylight and mountain views, and after dark the lighting drops below 2700K for a candle-like glow. In the restaurant, a hearth anchors the room under lowered lighting, keeping attention on the food and the people gathered around it. The tea room sits lower, bringing the eye line level with the tea fields beyond. Corridors and outdoor transitions are paved in antique brick and rough stone—deliberately uneven—with reclaimed-wood benches and ceramic niches along the way, so that simply walking becomes part of the experience.

The guest rooms are built around a single goal: quiet, restful sleep. An off-white and warm-gray palette keeps visual noise to a minimum. Indirect lighting dims to a soft, contemplative glow. Every surface is warm and tactile, from the crisp cotton-linen bedding to the rounded edges of the furniture. The bathrooms carry the same understated tone with matte ceramic tiles and wood shelving, sidestepping the chill of glossy finishes and turning a bath into a private moment of calm.

Rustic here does not mean rough—it means carefully considered. The wood is treated against moisture and decay. The walls are packed with acoustic insulation. The windows are triple-glazed. The floors sit on raised moisture-proof layers with underfloor heating. Everything concealed meets hotel-grade standards, while every visible finish keeps its natural character.

Every detail invites guests to set down their phones, settle onto the balcony, brew a cup of tea, and simply be. What they carry home is not the memory of a stay, but the feeling of having been restored by nature.