The site is featurelessly abstract in a newly developed suburb of Kunming city. It is located adjacent to a river, a roadway and a new art and cultural centre with few specific contextual factors, thus encouraging the square- planned, cubic form of the museum. At the back of the building is a public promenade with a sculpture park. The total floor area of the museum is approx. 60,000 sqm. The total building height is a modest 34.2m, with two storeys of underground back-of house supporting facilities & five storeys of public exhibition spaces and galleries overground. The design stresses the experience and process of discovery; the analogy of discovering a "lost world" on penetrating a seemingly protective cliff, when one is suddenly transferred to a different time and ambience. In terms of sustainability the museum makes use of the excellent climatic conditions of the high-plateau of Yunnan privileging natural ventilation for the atrium, inserting open courtyards and local vegetation. Furthermore Photo-voltaic is integrated in the building, allowing minimal energy consumption for lighting and Air conditioning, needed for the collections galleries.