The Temple House, The House Collective: Historic Qing Dynasty courtyard urban sanctuary by Make Architects with One-Michelin-Star MI XUN and TIVANO Italian dining

Set amidst the vibrant Daci Temple cultural heritage district in the heart of Chengdu, Sichuan, China, The Temple House opened in July 2015 as the visionary urban sanctuary of Swire Hotels’ The House Collective. Designed by acclaimed British firm Make Architects, the 100-room property seamlessly integrates a meticulously restored century-old Qing Dynasty courtyard building (Bitieshi, an ancient government translation academy) with two sleek, contemporary glass-and-brick towers with woven timber screens. Housing the One-Michelin-Starred vegetarian sanctuary MI XUN Teahouse, the critically acclaimed Italian restaurant TIVANO, the subterranean 25-metre indoor swimming pool with skylights, and the holistic MI XUN Spa, The Temple House is Chengdu’s premier design hotel.

Arrival introduces travelers to contemplative Sichuan Zen architectural serenity: personal hosts greet guests beneath century-old black-tiled eaves in the Qing Dynasty Bitieshi courtyard with freshly brewed organic Sichuan green tea. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Chengdu cultural, culinary, and panda conservation pursuits: exploring neighboring thousand-year-old Daci Temple (steps away), shopping the luxury fashion boutiques of Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li (directly surrounding the hotel), visiting the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (30 minutes away), exploring Jinli Ancient Street and Wuhou Shrine, swimming in the 25-metre subterranean indoor pool with dramatic light wells, relaxing in the MI XUN Spa, and reserving dinner at TIVANO.

Sanctuary living balances spicy Chengdu energy with restorative Zen wellness: the MI XUN Spa occupies a dedicated heritage pavilion with private treatment suites, tea salon, and therapies utilizing organic botanical skincare by Mesoa and THÉMAÉ. Dining is extraordinary: One-Michelin-Starred plant-based Sichuan gastronomy and fine teas at MI XUN Teahouse, wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas at TIVANO (helmed by master Italian chefs), craft cocktails at the moody JING Bar, and artisanal breakfasts at The Temple Café.

Accommodations comprise 100 rooms and luxury studio suites (along with 42 serviced apartments) ranging from 63 to 287 square metres. Each residence features custom natural oak millwork, private balconies or courtyards, plush king beds, and limestone bathrooms with freestanding circular soaking bathtubs.

Design purists, culture connoisseurs, and luxury travelers seeking Qing Dynasty heritage, Make Architects design, and One-Michelin-Star MI XUN tea dining in Chengdu should book The Temple House without hesitation. Travelers seeking generic airport chain hotels should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 1,950 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 on Google across 1,600 reviews.