Location: Dunhuang, China.

Architect: ZXD ARCHITECTS.

The Dunhuang Tourist Distribution Centre is situated on the main road leading to the downtown area of Dunhuang, Gansu Province. It is surrounded by the vast Gobi Desert and is located near the Mogao Caves and the Echo Sand Mountain. The Centre was built to cater to the needs of tourists and is designed to resemble the sand dunes of the desert. The building has a slope roof and is made up of several polygonal volumes that are similar in colour to the sand dunes. The main building is divided into four volumes based on its functions, and the corresponding functional spaces are provided around the edge. The building gives visitors a cave-like experience similar to that of the Mogao Caves. The rays of light that pass through the roof and the thick walls create a sense of being inside a cave.

Photo credit: Yong ZHU; Zhi XIA.