Alila Yangshuo hotel is situated in a col between two of the karst mountains that makes this area in the Guangxi region a popular destination for tourists looking to take in the picturesque scenery. Designers were tasked with creating a hotel on the site of the disused sugar mill, which was constructed in the 1960s and is comprised of a cluster of buildings alongside a truss used for loading sugar cane onto boats. The project involved retaining and repurposing the existing structures and introducing new accommodation buildings that complement their industrial aesthetic. Interiors designed by Ju Bin of Horizontal Space Design aim to emphasise the connection between old and new. The original buildings now contain amenities including the hotel's reception, a cafe, bar, multipurpose hall, gallery and library, which are all arranged around a reflecting pond and sunken plaza at the centre of the complex.