Sacred Spaces, Sustainable Soul: The Temple House’s Green Legacy in Chengdu

In the heart of Chengdu’s vibrant Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li district, The Temple House is both ancient and modern, minimalist and ornate, vibrant yet serene. Housed within beautifully restored Qing Dynasty courtyards adjacent to the historic Daci Temple, this boutique hotel reimagines heritage through a forward-looking lens that is reflected in its environmental stewardship.

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From the ground up, The Temple House is built around conscious design. Its commitment to responsible development was recognised early on with the HICAP Sustainable Project Design Award in 2016. Since then, the hotel has been awarded Platinum under LEED O&M: Existing Buildings – the highest possible rating for sustainable building operations – and Gold in LEED for Neighbourhood Development, reflecting its thoughtful integration into Chengdu’s urban fabric. It also holds a Two-Star China Green Building Label, affirming its position as a leader in sustainable architecture.

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Resource efficiency is embedded in daily operations, with water-flow restrictors reducing guest room consumption around 40%, while LED lighting and energy-efficient kitchen equipment minimise carbon footprint. Behind the scenes, a commercial ORCA waste processor digests food scraps from its restaurants, significantly reducing organic waste. Throughout the hotel, single-use plastics have been phased out, with glass bottles replacing plastic water containers, aluminium-packaged Bamford products complementing the tranquil in-room experience, and guests receiving reusable cloth bags in lieu of disposables. The Mi Xun Spa further embodies the hotel’s eco-conscious ethos – coffee grounds from the on-site café are turned into body scrubs, while Himalayan rose salt and locally-sourced sugar are used in treatments.

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The Temple House’s green philosophy is most beautifully expressed at Mi Xun Teahouse, a Michelin-starred sanctuary where seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients are artfully transformed into plant-based Sichuan cuisine. Guests can trace the journey of their meals through farm-to-table experiences and curated menus that highlight the relationship between food and conservation – such as the Gifts From Nature menu launched on International Panda Day in collaboration with WWF and One Planet Foundation. In 2024, the restaurant made history by earning Chengdu’s first-ever Michelin Green Star, awarded for its commitment to sustainable gastronomy and zero-waste.

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Sustainability here reaches outward into the community. Each festive season, The Temple House creates eco-friendly decorations from upcycled materials, such as Christmas trees crafted from bamboo, recycled candle shells, glass bottles, and biodegradable linen. These creative efforts culminate in charity bazaars, supporting non-profits including One Planet Foundation, Zero Waste Chengdu, and the Chengdu Panda Breeding Base, strengthening the hotel’s ties to local environmental and cultural initiatives.

In every detail, The Temple House embodies leadership that honours its cultural roots while embracing a more sustainable future. A stay here stays with you, affirming that mindful luxury can preserve the past, enrich the present, and help shape a better tomorrow.