A Torus on Lake Tai
Rising along the water of Lake Tai between Nanjing and Shanghai, the Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort turns heads long before anyone steps inside. The 10-story horseshoe — sometimes nicknamed the Horseshoe Hotel or Doughnut Hotel — wraps its torus silhouette around the lake, creating one of the most photographed skylines in the Yangtze Delta. The framing alone makes the property a destination in its own right, a piece of contemporary architecture that doubles as a resort address.
Designed as a Curvaceous Arch
The Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort is the work of Beijing studio MAD, founded by architect Ma Yansong. Rather than stacking ordinary towers, MAD shaped the building as a pair of curvaceous towers that connect on the upper levels to form an arched, horseshoe profile over the lake. It is a striking example of how a single geometry can give a hotel an unmistakable identity on the skyline, reading as a continuous curve rather than a conventional block.
A Sheraton Franchise in Huzhou
The property operates as a franchise under the global Sheraton Hotels and Resorts brand, bringing an international flag to this stretch of Zhejiang province. Its Chinese name, 浙江湖州喜来登温泉度假酒店, anchors the building's local identity while the Sheraton tie-in connects it to a worldwide hospitality network. Together, the brand backing and the custom architecture set the stage for a stay that feels rooted in Huzhou and tied to a global standard.
Where to Find It
The Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort sits at 5858 太湖路 (Taihu Road), Huzhou, 313000,Zhejiang, China. Note that the property's address is listed under Binhu in some records and under the Wuxing District in others, so travelers may see both district names used for the same waterfront location. The address places it directly on the Lake Tai waterfront, an easy reference point for taxis and ride-hailing across the region. Within a short stroll, Zoo Coffee offers a casual catering stop roughly 255 m from the entrance, useful for a quick coffee before heading down to the lakefront.
The Building in the Landscape
Because the structure bends around the lake rather than standing as a rectangular block, the resort reads differently from every angle. From the water it appears as a glowing ring; from the road it reads as a sweeping arch; from above, the torus geometry reveals why early visitors nicknamed it the Doughnut Hotel. The horseshoe form gives the property its architectural identity, a single sweeping curve that defines the silhouette against the Yangtze Delta sky.
Practical Considerations
The address on Taihu Road is the most reliable anchor for arrival, and the Lake Tai location makes the resort a natural stop on any Huzhou itinerary. Because services, operating hours and on-site offerings can shift over time, travelers should confirm current details directly with the property before planning their visit.
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Place data: Geoapify and OpenStreetMap contributors.
