HONG 0871 by IN.X: Dramatic Fusion of Yunnan Cuisine and Modern Design in Shanghai

Located on Wusong Road in Shanghai, the HONG 0871 Yunnan restaurant from IN.X, led by design director Weiyu Wu, marks the brand's expansion in Shanghai following its success in Beijing. The restaurant spans 9,256 square feet and combines culinary stories with spatial dramaturgy, embodying both the richness of Yunnan and the cosmopolitan spirit of Shanghai.

Concept: Mixed Flavors in Space

Founder Xin Lu introduced HONG 0871 as a brand that conveys the essence of Yunnan cuisine — wild yet refined, attracting elegant guests from Shanghai. Weiyu Wu translated this concept into a spatial narrative, where the colors, flavors, and textures of Yunnan culinary traditions intertwine with architecture.

The design contrasts the mystical, mountainous essence of Yunnan with the modern urban dynamism of Shanghai. Compacted earth, stone, wood, and metal interweave to create atmospheres that are both ancient and contemporary, rural and refined. At night, the restaurant harmoniously blends into Shanghai's illuminated urban landscape while maintaining its regional identity.

Spatial Experience: Theatrical Sequence

HONG 0871 unfolds as a dining stage, where each zone is a distinct act in a carefully curated program:

• Wine Cellar and Bar: A vibrant brass bar and rough gray terrazzo compose the first act. The wine cellar glows as a sculptural installation, where brass lines and lighting dynamically intersect, conveying urban energy.

• Common Dining Area: The main dining spot contrasts red walls made of compacted earth with modern arched cladding, balancing nostalgia and contemporary elegance. Black terrazzo floors and rhythmic curtains form arched seating areas that unite ancient memory with modern moments.

• Tea Room: A quiet interlude between acts, where wooden grilles, muslin curtains, wooden floors, and marble ceilings filter sunlight into a poetic atmosphere. Contemporary art and long dining tables connect past stories with modern taste, creating an inclusive cultural gathering place.

• Private Dining Area: Like a “final act,” dim lighting and intimate settings offer a secluded experience. The backdrop of bustling Shanghai outside the windows becomes part of the restaurant’s multifaceted narrative.

Materials and Atmosphere

The design is based on contrast and integration:

• Compacted earth and wood evoke a sense of ancient simplicity.

• Bronze and terrazzo add modern sophistication.

• Light and shadow enhance transitions, highlighting rhythm and anticipation.

• Red accents embody passion and richness, connecting to the flavors of Yunnan cuisine.

This interplay creates a multisensory environment, where architecture becomes an extension of taste — warm, decisive, and enduring.

Strategic Food Design

Beyond aesthetics, IN.X applied its philosophy of “strategic service design”, aligning space with the brand's soul, kitchen, and market positioning. Integrating branding, experience, and storytelling, the restaurant becomes more than a dining venue — it transforms into an impressive complex, where food and space are inseparable.

For Weiyu Wu, this synergy between design and cuisine is a kind of magic: if cooking is magic, only magic in space can match it.

With HONG 0871, IN.X created a restaurant that is as dramatic as it is refined, translating the spiritual cuisine of Yunnan into a design language resonating with Shanghai's urban environment. Through its layered narratives, material contrasts, and theatrical sequence, the project elevates dinner into an immersive cultural experience — where memories, taste, and design intertwine.