seven slender steel arcs shape Camellia Theater in China
At 2,300 meters above sea level in the highlands of Wuliang Mountain, a delicate steel pavilion, designed by Kong Xiangwei Studio, shimmers above a tea garden. The open-air Camellia Theater in Dali, Yunnan, China, emerges from the mists of Fenghuang Mountain as a weightless structure that frames the land and sky. Its purpose is to host cultural performances, quiet contemplation, and everything in between as part of a larger transformation of this historic tea estate into a tea-tourism destination.
Inspired by the form of a camellia flower, the structure was not conceived through formal drawings but emerged on-site through hand-weaving steel bars, an approach developed by the studio in close collaboration with local workers. The initial form, determined in a single day, takes shape through seven slender steel arcs that resemble petals, streamers, or even celestial tassels. ‘They are both petals and streamers,’ the designers explain, ‘like silver tassels shaken down from the sky.’
all images by Archi-translator Photography and Kong Xiangwei Studio
Kong Xiangwei Studio create petal-like canopy for performance
Part of a wider homestay renovation and cultural upgrade of the estate, the Camellia Theater sits on a natural platform recommended by the head of Huilong Village, an already beloved scenic overlook between Fenghuang Mountain and the Lancang River. The architects at Kong Xiangwei Studio opt for an intuitive intervention that blends almost invisibly with its surroundings. ‘The tea garden is a wordless poem,’ they share. ‘Human intervention should be as light as dewdrops on leaves.’
Beneath its delicate, petal-like canopy, the structure curves into the shape of a circular bench that wraps around a central clearing. It avoids disturbing the surrounding tea trees, creating a space that functions as a stage and audience seating. When a singer or storyteller stands in the middle, they’re performing to a crowd, and at the same time they’re enveloped by the landscape itself.
a delicate steel pavilion, designed by Kong Xiangwei Studio, shimmers above a tea garden
the form of the structure reflects local legend
That immersive effect is constantly in flux, thanks to the mountain’s unpredictable microclimate. At times, the theater floats in clear sunlight; at others, it disappears into mist. These conditions are part of the experience. When the sun sets, the sky often fills with glowing cloud formations, transforming the entire scene into a quiet spectacle. Even when there’s no scheduled performance, the environment itself puts on a show.
And seen from the other side of the forest, something interesting happens: the theater’s form, those seven petal-like arcs, begins to resemble a crown. Whether coincidence or subconscious intuition, the image connects to local legend, evoking the mythical queen of Caowang Mountain, weaving folklore into the architectural gesture.
a weightless structure that frames the land and sky
its purpose is to host cultural performances
inspired by the form of a camellia flower
the structure emerged on-site through hand-weaving steel bars
the initial form was determined in a single day
the seven slender steel arcs resemble petals, streamers, or even celestial tassels
Kong Xiangwei Studio opts for an intuitive intervention
beneath its delicate, petal-like canopy, the structure gently curves into the shape of a circular bench
the structure avoids disturbing the surrounding tea trees
a space that functions as a stage and audience seating
the immersive effect is constantly in flux, thanks to the mountain’s unpredictable microclimate
at times the theater floats in clear sunlight, while at others, it disappears in the mist
project info:
name: Camellia Theater
architect: Kong Xiangwei Studio
location: Fenghuang Mountain Tea Estate, Bixi Township, Nanjian County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
design team: Kong Xiangwei, Cui Jun, Gao Zhuojian
photographer: Archi-translator Photography, Kong Xiangwei Studio
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