Visitors approaching Xixian’s Feng River Wetlands and CuiHua Mountains will encounter a looped architectural form that frames the landscape while drawing them into its centre. Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF)-designed Daxia Xixian Hotel, also called the “Eye of Xixian”, integrates dual hotel wings, a waterpark, and shared amenities within a continuous structure of 102,200m² (1.1 million ft²), establishing itself as both a landmark and civic threshold in the city’s expanding New District.
KPF describes the building as addressing the heroic scale of the wetlands and hills, designed to engage visitors and encourage entry into the central areas of the development.
Loop-shaped landmark connecting wetlands and mountains
Situated at the convergence of the Feng River Wetlands and the CuiHua Mountains in Shaanxi, China, the development responds to both natural features and rapid urban growth. KPF notes that the design considers the scale of the surrounding landscape and the velocity of activity around the site, resulting in a form that is simultaneously composed and extroverted.
The building’s continuous loop allows engagement with multiple viewpoints, framing the wetlands, distant mountains, and urban vistas. Its sinuous geometry draws inspiration from river bends, mountain topography, and the linear strokes of Xi’an calligraphy, integrating local cultural references into the architectural language. The non-directional form enables the building to function as an active participant in its context, responding dynamically to the surrounding landscape and urban fabric.
Dual hotel wings anchored by a central waterpark
The hotel programme is organised into two distinct wings, the Mountain Hotel and the Wetland Hotel, each offering a unique spatial rhythm and guest experience. These wings converge at a grand sky ballroom, forming a monumental arrival portal that directs visitors toward the heart of the development.
At the centre, the Water Pearl waterpark serves as a focal point. Its crystalline, reflective enclosure blurs the boundary between interior and exterior spaces, while night-time illumination establishes it as a visual beacon within the district. The overall configuration also includes a spa and convention facilities, making the development a multifunctional landmark within Xixian New District.
Façade, terraces, and rooftop design echo the landscape
The building’s façade consists of layered horizontal bands that rise in gentle, controlled sweeps. These bands echo the rhythms of rivers and wetlands, conveying a sense of fluidity and movement while maintaining composure at a monumental scale.
Landscape features reinforce the connection to the surrounding environment, including a terraced garden arrival sequence, a wetland spa with wave-roof pool, and rooftop amenities such as an infinity pool that frames panoramic views across the wetlands toward the mountains. Together, these components integrate hospitality, recreation, and convention functions within a single, responsive architectural loop.
The project demonstrates how a large-scale development can fuse hotel accommodation, leisure, and cultural amenities into a coherent form that is rooted in both its natural and urban context, integrating architecture, landscape, and visitor experience into a continuous, looped design.
