Xiangshawan Desert Lotus Hotel: Reviews, Price & Location

The Xiangshawan Desert Lotus Hotel, designed by PLaT Architects, is a prefabricated steel-and-membrane resort in the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia that avoids conventional concrete foundations by using a steel-panel system adapted to shifting sand. This guide covers verified architectural facts, guest rating data from booking platforms, location logistics, and the all-inclusive pricing structure so you can evaluate whether this remote eco-resort suits your travel plans.

Last checked: 2026-09-22

Location: Kubuqi Desert, Inner Mongolia, China · Architect: PLaT Architects (PLAT ASIA) · Completion: 2016 · Floor area: 30,700 m² · Site area: 50,000 m² · Estimated cost:

The Xiangshawan Desert Lotus Hotel, designed by PLaT Architects, is a prefabricated steel-and-membrane resort in the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia that avoids conventional concrete foundations by using a steel-panel system adapted to shifting sand. This guide covers verified architectural facts, guest rating data from booking platforms, location logistics, and the all-inclusive pricing structure so you can evaluate whether this remote eco-resort suits your travel plans.

What are the reviews of Xiangshawan Desert Lotus Hotel?

Guest feedback is aggregated primarily through booking platforms. A Trip.com listing from August 2026 shows a 9.3/10 score based on 4,033 reviews (Trip.com). The platform rates the property as a five-star resort. Individual review breakdowns (cleanliness, service, facilities, location) are available within the listing but are not publicly summarised in an auditable form outside the platform.

Architecture critics have focused on the structural innovation. The foundation system — steel panels instead of concrete — has been described as a direct response to the mobility of desert sand (ArchDaily). The design also draws from Mongolian yurt traditions: prefabricated, lightweight components that can be assembled in remote environments (Arquitectura Viva).

Overall sentiment from architecture critics

Multiple specialist publications describe the project as a technical achievement in desert construction. Architizer notes that the design team spent roughly ten years in planning and construction before the hotel opened in 2016 (Architizer). The emphasis is consistently on the structural system rather than interior finishes or service quality, which remain less documented in critical reviews.

Guest feedback on eco-friendly features

Published sources mention photovoltaic and thermo-solar equipment, water storage, and the use of local sand as a wall covering (Arquitectura Viva; ArchDaily). However, no independent data on actual energy generation versus consumption, water recycling rates, or carbon footprint has been located. Guest reviews on Trip.com do not break out eco-performance as a distinct rating category.

How much does a stay at Xiangshawan Desert Lotus Hotel cost?

A 2026 listing on Trip.com shows starting rates of approximately US$336 per night (Trip.com). This price is dynamic — it shifts with season, booking date, and room category — and should not be taken as a fixed published tariff. The same listing reports that the resort operates on an all-inclusive basis, though the specific inclusions (meals, activities, transfers) are not itemised in the source data.

The total project investment was approximately $130 million, according to architectural coverage (ArchDaily). This figure reflects construction, design, and site development costs rather than nightly room pricing.

All-inclusive package details

The Trip.com listing describes the property as an all-inclusive resort. Separate charges are noted for children and buffet meals, although the specific amounts are not provided in the available data. Check-in is from 15:30 onward; check-out is between 08:00 and 12:00 (Trip.com).

Where is Xiangshawan Desert Lotus Hotel located?

The hotel sits within the Xiangshawan Desert, part of the broader Kubuqi Desert, in Dalad Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China (PLaT ASIA). The site lies approximately 800 kilometres west of Beijing and is positioned between the cities of Ordos and Baotou, facing the Hantai River, a branch of the Yellow River (ArchDaily).

Position within Kubuqi Desert

The Kubuqi Desert is one of China’s major desert regions, located on the Ordos Plateau. The Xiangshawan scenic area within it functions as a concentrated resort zone: the hotel is one of several accommodation and recreation facilities developed around sand-dune activities, camel rides, and desert shows. Its proximity to the Hantai River provides a natural boundary and water source that contributes to the site’s microclimate.

Proximity to transport hubs

Ordos city centre is roughly a 60–90 minute drive, depending on road conditions and sand drift. Baotou, a larger urban hub with an airport and rail connections, is similarly accessible. Regional airports at Ordos (DSN) and Baotou (BAV) offer domestic flights from Beijing, Shanghai, and other Chinese cities. No direct international flights serve either airport.

Alternatives in the region

Within the Kubuqi Desert, other resort properties include the Kubuqi Desert Resort and various yurt-style camps operated by local tourism boards. Outside the immediate desert, Dunhuang (Gansu Province) offers the Desert Star Hotel and other dune-front properties with similar all-inclusive formats. For travellers specifically interested in the Lotus Hotel’s architecture, no comparable prefabricated steel-and-membrane resort exists anywhere in the region at the same scale.

Sample itinerary: Two nights at the Lotus Hotel

Day 1 – Arrival and orientation. Fly into Ordos DSN or Baotou BAV airport. Arrange a pre-booked private transfer (approx. 1.5 hours from either airport). Check-in after 15:30. Explore the immediate desert grounds around the hotel; the membrane-covered walkways and courtyards are designed by PLaT ASIA and visible from the structure’s perimeter.

Day 2 – Full desert day. Morning: sandboarding or camel trekking within the Xiangshawan scenic area. Afternoon: visit the Kubuqi Desert Science Museum or walk the Hantai River bank. Evening: dinner at the hotel’s all-inclusive dining area; the kitchen uses local ingredients sourced from Ordos markets.

Day 3 – Departure. Check-out between 08:00 and 12:00. Morning activity (optional): guided desert walk. Transfer to airport for departure.

“PLaT Architects invented a new structural system that fixes the building in fluid sands using steel panels without concrete or water.”

— PLaT Architects, Architect / project designer

“The building’s triangular modules form rings reminiscent of a lotus flower when seen from above.”

— Arquitectura Viva, Architecture publication

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