Halfway across the globe in a rural village outside of Changzhi in China, a developer was inspired by emergency housing made with shipping containers in Japan and decided to build a five-star hotel out of them, according to CNN Go.  The hotel — 香箱乡祈福所, which apparently translates as Xiang Xiang Xiang Pray House — was built with 35 new containers and includes 21 tiny, luxe guest rooms of either 161 or 321 square feet each.

The shipping container hotel was designed by Tonghe Shanzhi Landscape Design, a Beijing firm, who had the modules built off-site and then shipped them to the hotel location for button-up work.

According to CNN Go, the fabrication methodology resulted in a quick turnaround time — three months to design, build, transport, and finish the containers — resulting in 40% savings in the construction schedule.  The hotel will open in August 2012.

[+] More about Xiang Xiang Xiang Pray House near Changzhi.

Credits: Tonghe Shanzhi Landscape Design.Â