The Hotel of Modern Art. There’s a MOMA, so why shouldn’t there be a HOMA, too?


The Chinese name is Yuzi Leyuan, which literally means Fool’s Playground. When the park’s founder, Tsao Rhy-chang, declared that he was going to invest a massive sum in an art park in the Guilin countryside, he was called a fool who would never make his money back. He chose an absurd and self-deprecating name to needle his detractors.



A beautiful 45 minute drive from either Guilin city or Yangshuo, and an easy flight away from Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Bangkok.



Like most of China, the weather is best in spring and autumn. Wildflowers begin blooming in March and April, adding color to the park. Summers days are scorching, but beautiful fireflies illuminate the pleasant nights. In September, Guilin’s namesake guihua (osmanthus) flowers bloom and impart the air with an irresistible fragrance. The winters can be damp and chilly, but beautiful days are not uncommon.



Development on the art park began in 1997, and it officially opened on April Fool’s Day, 2003. HOMA first opened its doors in 2004. HOMA reopened after finishing refurbishment in September 2007.



Taiwanese entrepreneur Tsao Rhy-chang, the President of the Chin Pao San group, whose major asset is an art-filled cemetery in Taipei (site in Chinese).



A total of 11 International Sculpture Symposia were organized by international art curators between 1997 and 2003. Artists were invited to stay and create for up to two months, and were provided with materials, assistance, accommodation, and camaraderie. Famous participants include Allen Jones (UK), Ju Ming (Taiwan), Eberhard Eckerle (Germany), and Barbara Falender (Poland), all of whose work remain in the park for posterity.