Conceived as a settlement beside the water, the exhibition centre extends towards the river along the contours of the Danxia landscape. A looping route connects a broad central court with smaller courts, taking its spatial order from the waterside settlements of northern Guizhou. The combination of repeated units, shared courts and incremental changes of level allows the building to belong to the terrain while accommodating different scales of gathering.

Plinths and smaller volumes reinterpret the surrounding peak formations. Exhibition spaces below and visitor facilities above are connected by terraced plazas, bringing descent towards the river into dialogue with ascent towards the mountain. Courts and controlled daylight establish the galleries’ atmosphere while allowing ceremonial and everyday activities to overlap.

Danxia sandstone is selected according to its behaviour as well as its colour. Wall stones receive a protective treatment to reduce water penetration and retain their red tone; more porous stone on the sloping roofs encourages a fine layer of moss. The material’s response to moisture and weather becomes part of the design, gradually drawing the roofscape into the hillside. Local geology shapes both the organisation of the building and the way its surfaces change over time.