Rooms with a view show the height of grand ambition

"Even if the business doesn't go well, we can use it as our own place for leisure time, and it would still be worth it."

They eventually settled on the Tiger Leaping Gorge after considering more than 200 sites, all of which featured stunning natural beauty and were off the beaten track.

Many of them are hidden in Shangri-La, Nujiang Lisu autonomous prefecture, Baoshan city and Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture of Yunnan.

"The valley has distinctive geological features and a rich natural landscape," Wang says.

The gorge is divided into three parts. The upper section has been well developed and receives the majority of group travelers.

The other two sections are untouched by human development.

Wang and his friends chose the middle section of the gorge.

The hotel site is an old rural abode about 1,800 meters above sea level, one of the lowest points in Shangri-La and the safest, geographically speaking. It's about two hours drive from Lijiang Sanyi International Airport.

A geology major, Wang also knew it would take at least 40,000 years for a concrete brick to decompose, which could impair the local environment.

Taking all factors into account, Wang and his friends decided to create container-like rooms, which would reduce the environmental impact.

In 2018, Wang started to visit factories where the pre-designed container rooms could be assembled.