Read, Play, Paint, Discover

Hangzhou has long been a must-go location for both tourists in and out of China, with millions of visitors flocking to the capital of the Zhejiang Province to catch a glimpse of its idyllic natural surrounds. The city is steeped with a rich history, which has inspired art and poetry for centuries, before evolving into the bustling modern civilisation that it is today. In the hotspot of Hangzhou’s Binjiang District lies the Wheat Youth Arts Hotel, a minimalistic hotel that seeks to entice and entertain every contemporary traveller.

The Wheat Arts Youth Hotel is the brainchild of Shanghai-based design company X+Living, who previously designed the stunning Hangzhou and Yangzhou branches of Zhongshuge bookstore. The design team responsible for bringing this project to life is comprised of Chen Fan, Dan Chen, Feng Wu, Xiao Zhang and Ren Lijiao. The philosophy of X+Living is to create value with design – the company was adamant about creating a space that was both a visual spectacle, as well as a warm and inviting place for guests to rest their heads. This endeavour to strike a natural balance between good design and comfort is apparent from the moment visitors enter through the lobby door.

In true boutique hotel style, the entrance to the hotel is blink-and-you’ll-miss-it subtle and nestled on the seventh floor of a shopping mall. The words mai jian, meaning the tip of a stalk of wheat in Chinese, appear on a clean white wall at the entrance, a preface to the warm and inviting lobby. Much like Hangzhou itself, the lobby features nuances of both traditional and modern Chinese culture. Art, music and literature are vital themes throughout the hotel’s design and is a big part of the hotel’s overall creative energy. The walls are lined with endless bookshelves that hug the corners of the lobby and contrast against a three-dimensional world map, which is comprised of many traditional Chinese checker pieces.

En route towards each hotel room, guests can also discover amusing tidbits that line the corridors of the hotel. A preview of the amenities that await in each room have been arranged into a stylised display that hangs at the end of the lobby. Chinese checker pieces also make a colourful reappearance, along with a series of bright and playful paintings. Every floor features numerous bookshelves and a piano that guests are encouraged to play to their heart’s content.

Each hotel room is equipped with Scandinavian-style furnishings that offer both comfort and functionality to every guest. The TV is hidden behind a sliding canvas that features a thematic splash of colour and a bold greeting that is unique to each room. An easel is placed next to every window, in the hopes that guests can get creative during their stay. For weary explorers, unwinding with a book from the hotel’s cozy coffee shop before taking a long soak in a bathtub is the perfect way to end a long day.

Wheat Youth Arts Hotel aims to honour Hangzhou’s long-standing affinity with art and culture, whilst providing travellers with a truly unique accommodation option. Every aspect of the hotel, from the attentive staff, to the hotel’s bright, open spaces and seemingly infinite book collection beckons guests to enjoy this contemporary artistic playground.