six trapezoidal volumes form ring-shaped visitor center by ZXD architects and BIAD in china

ZXD Architects and BIAD’s design reflects ring-shaped ritual space

ZXD Architects and BIAD design the Maiji Mountain Visitor Center in northwest China as a quiet yet monumental structure rooted in the religious past of the region. Inspired by the Buddhist grottoes carved into Maiji Mountain’s sandstone cliffs, the center draws on the symbolism of the circumambulatory path, a ring-shaped ritual space central to Buddhist tradition. Six trapezoidal volumes form the core of the building, intersecting to create gaps where natural light cuts through. These transitions guide visitors across six zones, from digital installations to a cultural center, wrapped into a loop that references the Buddhist idea of cyclical existence. 

images courtesy of ZXD Architects

each of the Maiji Mountain’s volumes houses a different program

Maiji Mountain itself has been a site of Buddhist devotion since the Former Qin Dynasty, with cliffside sculptures narrating centuries of belief and craftsmanship. Beijing-based ZXD Architects collaborate with BIAD to respond to this deep history without trying to replicate it. Instead, it bridges ancient ritual with contemporary spatial logic. The red sandstone exterior echoes the surrounding cliffs, while the building’s ring-like form nods to reincarnation and ritual movement. Nothing feels forced, there are no sharp edges, no axial hierarchies, and no single point of focus. Movement is circular and slow, matching the terrain’s rhythm.

Inside, the six volumes form large, column-free rooms separated by trapezoidal structural cores. Each of the volumes houses a different program: a digital hall, cinema, theater, exhibition zone, creative center, and reception space. They’re connected by a smooth, clockwise path that creates a narrative journey. Gaps between the volumes act as light wells, drawing in sunlight that filters through with a quiet intensity. The architects use this contrast of darkness and illumination to evoke a kind of ritual progression, where light becomes a silent guide. 

this structure is rooted in the religious past of the region

painted mural ceiling acs as a prologue for the visitors

The building sits low and broad, rooted in the terrain like a continuation of the mountain itself. Its red sandstone appearance and flowing circulation system tie it to the Buddhist idea of reincarnation and transformation. Inside, a painted ceiling mural reinterprets the Maiji Mountain grotto art, placed above the central courtyard so visitors encounter it first, like a prologue. The rest of the center unfolds gradually, each zone leading calmly into the next. There are no sharp edges or visual disruptions. Just gentle slopes, free-form spaces, and a steady rhythm shaped by light, texture, and motion.

inspired by the Buddhist grottoes carved into Maiji Mountain’s sandstone cliffs

the center draws on the symbolism of the circumambulatory path

six trapezoidal volumes form the core of the building

inside, the six volumes form large, column-free rooms

each zone leads calmly into the next

gentle slopes, free-form spaces, and a steady rhythm shaped by light, texture, and motion

Maiji Mountain Visitor Center bridges ancient ritual with contemporary spatial logic

the building’s ring-like form nods to reincarnation

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creating gaps where natural light cuts through

a painted ceiling mural reinterprets the Maiji Mountain grotto art

the center unfolds gradually

a loop that references the Buddhist idea of cyclical existence

there are no sharp edges or visual disruptions

nothing feels forced, there are no sharp edges, no axial hierarchies, and no single point of focus

movement is circular and slow

matching the terrain’s rhythm

ground floor plan

first floor plan

rooftop plan

site plan

section 01

section 02

section 03

section 04

elevation 01

elevation 02

elevation 03

elevation 04

project info:

name: Maiji Mountain Visitor Center
architects: ZXD Architects | @zxdarchitects, BIAD
location: Maiji Mountain, China
area: 16,154 square meters

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom