The hotel’s interior design concept is based on the three key principles of Confucian philosophy – order, harmony and hierarchy – and is based on Confucius’ “Six Arts,” which include the disciplines of Rites, Music, Archery, Chariot Racing, Calligraphy and Mathematics. The design of the Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu will also blend Chinese traditions and contemporary style.
The hotel’s façade would be evocative of a traditional Chinese pavilion with its roofs topped by grey tiers of flying eaves. Shaped like a traditional Chinese pavilion, the porte cochere would be supported by eight large pillars. It would be clad in red lacquer panels with Chinese motifs imprinted on the sides of the ceiling and traditional Lo Shu Squares, a square-within-a-square motif repeated on the ceiling.
The hotel’s dramatic lobby conveys the hierarchy and harmony design aspects respectively with its sleek symmetry and Chinese patterns repeated in ceiling reliefs and on marble floors. Natural daylight will infiltrate the space from a glass roof. Two full-grown trees would be planted in the middle of the lobby, greeting visitors on arrival, surrounded by a carpet of grass, marble seats and dark wood columns. The lobby also features an 8.5m-high ceiling with oversized lantern-shaped light fixtures and windows overlooking lush greenery and garden pavilions. Deep red lacquer panels are contrasted against the reception desk, which is highlighted by a painting of Chinese plum blossoms reinterpreted using mixed media.
The hotel will offer 211 spacious guestrooms, which will face the Yi River. The balcony of each room is designed to offer views of the old city wall, palaces of the Temple of Confucius and the hotel’s traditional Chinese landscaped garden dotted with pavilions. All the rooms and the public areas throughout the hotel feature complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access.
Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu will also feature a signature restaurant, Shang Palace which will serve authentic Cantonese, Shandong regional Lu and re-imagined Kong Family cuisines. The entrance of the restaurant will feature a red lacquered door with a Chinese motif carved in wood. Bronze koi fish statues are placed in water fountains, framing both sides of the door and giving the impression of fish leaping out of the water. Several other water features are placed throughout the restaurant, including built-in ponds and shallow pools.
The restaurant’s interior is resonant with shades of muted gold, dark wood and deep orange while its walls are covered in hand-embroidered Chinese flowers, pavilions or bamboo motifs symbolising prosperity and good fortune. A glass panelling depicting Chinese watercolour paintings of flowers, mountains and birds separates the main dining area from five private dining rooms. The hotel also features Café Kong, an all-day casual dining venue serving international dishes.
Additional amenities of the hotel include 1,600-square-metre pillar-free Qilu Grand Ballroom with an outdoor terrace connected to the ballroom foyer; six additional function rooms, a Bridal Room; and the Hall of Wisdom VIP room.
Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu will be the city’s first international luxury accommodation, and would be within walking distance of three UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites including, Temple of Confucius, the Mansion of Confucius and the Cemetery of Confucius.
