In the isolated Xiangshawan Desert in Mongolia lies a magnificent hotel surrounded by a circle of white tents. The tents were rotated at 45 degrees and connected together to look a lotus flower.
The resort was built without tiles and bricks due to the rugged climate, and instead with 'greener' materials that take advantage of the solar, water and wind energy in the desert. The tents were erected to protect the hotel against the elements.
Due to its difficult geographic condition, a new structural system was developed by the builders of the hotel to keep it in place. Instead of using concrete or water, the building is fixed with steel panels with sand at their base.
The hotel is very popular amongst Chinese tourists because it is located 800 km (500 miles) from Beijing and even closer to a number of other large Chinese towns.