A restored 50-year-old courtyard house becomes a hot spring retreat in Hangzhou, marking a new chapter for Chinese luxury travel.
The project arrives at a moment when Chinese luxury travel feels increasingly oriented toward high-end domestic experiences within mainland China.
Thirty minutes from Qingshan Village, a pioneering rural destination in Hangzhou’s Yuhang District where natural carbonated hot springs have long been part of local life, Qingshan Village 49 offers a hidden retreat worth visiting. Developed over five years by Xieke and friends, the project brings together two countryside villas shaped by landscape and rituals of hospitality. It arrives at a moment when Chinese luxury travel feels increasingly defined by domestic, experience-led retreats. China recorded more than 6.5 billion domestic trips in 2025, while Bain & Company reported that 65% of Chinese luxury spending took place within mainland China, reinforcing the rising appeal of higher-end experiences within the country.
Courtesy of Signyan Design
At the center of Qingshan Village 49 is a 50-year-old courtyard house, which has now been rebuilt into a hot spring café and spa. The renovation stays close to the building’s original structure, preserving the rammed earth walls, traditional clay roof tiles, and the village’s beloved tile cat mural, still resting under the eaves as it always has. It is a quiet act of heritage preservation, a thoughtful restoration in the tradition of a new wave of Chinese rural architecture that has made Qingshan Village one of the most closely watched rural design destinations in China, alongside projects like the Qingshan Culture Hall by MOMENTUM Architects and the Terraced Courtyard by TEAM_BLDG.
Courtesy of Signyan Design
For the interiors, bamboo chairs, wooden benches, and wicker stools sourced from local markets come together to give the space a warmth that feels lived-in rather than styled. Two natural hot spring pools, private courtyards, landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, and dedicated butler service add a gentler layer of comfort. Together, these elements make Qingshan Village 49 memorable for its balance of local character and quiet luxury, offering a kind of retreat that signals a new chapter for high-end stays in Chinese tourism.
