The 2026 edition of the "World's Most Beautiful Hotels" list released by Prix Versailles has named The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake in China's Sichuan province among the world's top 16 hotels for architecture and design.
The annual list, announced in France this month, honors hotels distinguished for their architectural character, integration with local culture and landscape, and innovative hospitality design. This year's selection includes properties ranging from desert retreats and coastal hideaways to urban landmarks.
Two Chinese properties made the 2026 list: The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake and The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou in Zhejiang province.
Established in 2015 with the support of UNESCO and the International Union of Architects, the Prix Versailles awards recognize excellence in commercial architecture and interior design across categories including hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces.
Jerome Gouadain, secretary-general of the awards, said the selected projects "embrace a lifestyle based on enchantment and innovation" while remaining closely connected to their surroundings.
He said the hotels demonstrate how architecture and interior design can "beautify the built environment and fulfill travelers' hopes and aspirations" within an increasingly globalized cultural landscape.
Located at an altitude of 2,690 meters beside Lugu Lake in Southwest China's Sichuan province, The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake was developed from three renovated villas overlooking the lake and nearby Mosuo villages, home to one of the world's last matriarchal societies.
Designed by Chinese architect Lu Yang and his team, the hotel follows a low-intervention approach aimed at preserving the area's natural terrain and vegetation.
As the first Design Hotel property under Marriott Bonvoy to open on the Chinese mainland, the property incorporates regional architectural traditions and local craftsmanship throughout its interiors.
Elements of Mosuo culture are woven into the spatial design. A central fire pit in the lobby references the communal hearth of traditional Mosuo homes, while paired wooden structures in guest rooms reinterpret the cultural symbolism of the "male and female pillars" common in local architecture.
Meanwhile, The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou, near the West Lake, was recognized for a redesign inspired by traditional Jiangnan merchant residences.
Parts of the original structure were intentionally removed during renovation to preserve the historical skyline and maintain harmony with the surrounding landscape.
