Text description provided by the architects
Since ancient times, people have regarded Mount Emei as a spiritual refuge. Emperors, generals, scholars, and poets have all visited and left their impressions. In 1996, Mount Emei was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich cultural heritage and beautiful natural scenery. Throughout history, this land has witnessed battles and conflicts, seen the rise of religious culture as a stopping point for many pilgrims, and served as an important stop on trade routes. Today, the architectural relics of the past no longer exist, but memories and legends still echo across the land of Mount Emei. Three years ago, Neri won the international design competition for the distillery of the renowned spirits and wine group Pernod Ricard, creating its first malt whisky distillery in China, passing down the material and cultural heritage of Mount Emei through timeless architecture. The distillery faces the mountain on one side and is surrounded by water on three sides. The design concept embodies the duality of traditional Chinese philosophy: the dual nature of mountain and water flowing through nature. The mountain represents strength and eternity, while water represents movement and change. Mountain and water are opposites yet interdependent. The project by Neri&Hu creates a distillery that is both a working production facility and a cultural destination, using the natural setting of Mount Emei as both inspiration and context for the architecture.