Chetian Tourist Center is located in CheTian Village, a mountainous stone village in China's karst landscape. Serving as a venue for showcasing local history, cultural traditions, and ritual ceremonies, the center integrates various functions, including visitor reception, ceremonial activities, galleries, exhibitions, multimedia presentations, and offices.
The village is built along the mountains, with houses arranged in stepped terraces that follow the natural terrain. The visitor center continues this architectural pattern while incorporating three typical spatial forms of CheTian Village: “White Courtyard,” “Stone Alley,” and “Stone Hall.”
The “White Courtyard” serves as the entrance plaza, enclosed by white walls to create a solemn and sacred atmosphere. The “Stone Alley” is a winding gallery space, reminiscent of the village’s deep and narrow stone pathways. The “Stone Hall” is the most significant space, located at the heart of the ceremonial axis, providing areas for visitor reception, ceremonial worship, exhibitions, and other functions.
The spatial layout of the building follows a progressive structure similar to traditional ancestral halls, leading visitors from the "White Courtyard" to the "Stone Alley", and finally to the hidden "Stone Hall". At the core of the "Stone Hall", a symbolic installation called "Irrigation" is placed, representing the village’s historical prosperity due to waterwheel irrigation.
Additionally, the design incorporates seven distinct memory spaces. For example, yellow light symbolizes the village’s historical development, red light represents the celebratory bonfires of the villagers, and stone courtyards highlight the unique features of the karst landscape. By integrating lighting, spatial layering, and environmental elements, the visitor center creates a deeply ritualistic and culturally immersive experience.