The Lost Villa Huanglong Island Lighthouse Hotel, designed by WJ STUDIO, stands as a groundbreaking architectural achievement in one of China's most remote tourist destinations. Located in Shengsi County within the northeastern Zhoushan Islands, this 5,000-square-meter hospitality project completed in 2025 represents a bold response to the challenges of designing for geographical isolation while creating a compelling destination for modern travelers.
The journey to reach this architectural marvel reflects the area's inherent remoteness and exclusivity. Visitors must embark on an expedition that includes 2.5 hours by ferry from Zhoushan Main Island, three hours of combined land and sea travel from Shanghai, 4.5 hours via road and ferry connections from Hangzhou, or four hours from Ningbo using vehicle-passenger ferries. While recent introductions of helicopter and seaplane routes have provided alternative access, the geographical seclusion continues to challenge efficiency-driven modern travel expectations, ultimately limiting mainstream tourism appeal.
Lead architect HU Zhile and the WJ STUDIO team, including designers Jin Yiran, Yang Xi, Liu Yu'ao, and Huang Shufei, embarked on this tourism development project approximately five years ago, recognizing both the challenges and opportunities presented by Shengsi County's remote archipelago setting. The design approach was fundamentally shaped by this geographical isolation, turning what could be perceived as a limitation into a defining characteristic of the guest experience.
The project represents a collaborative effort involving multiple specialized teams and companies. Shizai Architecture Design Studio handled the interior design components, while Shanghai Yeyouzhu Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd. served as the construction company. The technical aspects were managed by specialists including Peng Zhu for structural design, Wu Xu for water supply and drainage systems, Fang Weigang for electrical design, and Zhou Jie for heating and ventilation systems. Urban Fabric contributed to the design planning phase, ensuring the project's integration with the broader tourism development vision.
The hotel's design philosophy embraces the concept of being 'lost' in a positive sense, offering guests an escape from the connected world into a space of contemplation and natural beauty. The lighthouse theme provides both literal and metaphorical guidance, serving as a beacon for travelers while symbolizing the project's role as a landmark destination in the remote island setting. The architectural language responds to the harsh marine environment while creating comfortable, luxurious accommodations that justify the journey required to reach them.
Photographer Fangfang Tian's documentation captures the project's integration with its dramatic coastal landscape, showcasing how the building forms respond to and complement the natural topography. The use of stone and concrete as primary materials reflects both practical considerations for the marine environment and aesthetic choices that ground the structure in its island context. These material selections ensure durability against salt air and weather exposure while creating visual harmony with the rocky coastal terrain.
The Lost Villa Huanglong Island Lighthouse Hotel challenges conventional tourism development by proving that remoteness can become an asset rather than an obstacle. By accepting and embracing the difficulties of access, the project creates an exclusive destination experience that transforms the journey into part of the adventure. This approach represents a sophisticated understanding of luxury tourism trends, where uniqueness and exclusivity often outweigh convenience for discerning travelers.
The project's completion in 2025 marks a significant milestone for Zhoushan Shengsi Lost Villa Hotel Management Co., Ltd., the client organization, and establishes a new paradigm for remote destination hospitality architecture. The success of this venture could influence future tourism development strategies in similarly isolated locations throughout China's vast archipelago regions, demonstrating that thoughtful architectural intervention can transform geographic challenges into competitive advantages in the luxury hospitality market.
