Located in the fertile valley of Dali, Yunnan Province, the Diageo YunTuo complex is the brand’s first single malt whisky distillery in China. Designed by OLI Architecture of New York, the 13,500 m2 project includes a state-of-the-art production facility and a fully integrated visitor experience, offering guided tours, tasting rooms, retail, and cultural engagement spaces. Designed to respond to the site's dramatic topography, the architecture follows the natural slope, with an elevated second-floor tour path that provides immersive views into the whisky-making process while maintaining separation between production and visitor flow. The complex draws inspiration from both the vernacular Bai/Dali architecture and the atmospheric qualities of historic Scottish distilleries, combining local materials, courtyard typologies, and passive strategies such as thermal mass and natural ventilation to create a rich sensory experience. The tour culminates at the barrel tower, a tapered, jewel-like structure inspired by the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, a national symbol of Dali. Clad in hexagonal GFRC panels reminiscent of Bai craftsmanship and
surrounded by a black Shangxi granite reflecting pool filled with treated recycled process water, the tower houses the tasting center. It stands as a sculptural landmark, embodying the intersection of tradition, innovation, and deep cultural resonance rooted in place and memory.