Elite Traveler May-June 2018

AMANYANGYUN, CHINA OPENED DECEMBER 2017 To create this resort just outside Shanghai, Aman relocated an entire forest and collection of antique dwellings, transporting them 435 miles from the Jiangxi province. Through this decade-long venture, Aman saved 10,000 camphor trees from imminent destruction as plans were set to clear the land for a reservoir. A collection of Ming and Qing dynasty homes were also in danger of being destroyed, so they were moved and meticulously reconstructed among the 1,000-year-old trees. When Amanyangyun opened late last year, the scale of this ambitious project was finally revealed, along with the resort’s distinctly Aman aesthetic. Kerry Hill Architects injected the luxury hotel brand’s minimalist style into each light-filled space, incorporating wood, stone and bamboo, private pools and outdoor fireplaces, and giving the four- and five-bedroom Antique Villas individual courtyards. A highlight of the resort is the 30,569-sq-ft spa featuring two pools, a yoga studio and thermal facilities with treatments combining natural apothecary with Chinese well-being tradition: local herbs and massage that stimulates the body’s meridian lines come together in the spa’s signature journey. The food is another triumph. While the restaurant Lazhu pays homage to the Jiangxi region’s cuisine, Nama showcases traditional Japanese delicacies, and the lakeside restaurant Arva serves farm-to-table Italian plates by chef Junio Andrea Torre, who previously helmed the kitchen at Aman Venice. THE EXPERIENCE Try your hand at calligraphy or Chinese painting and practice the art of the tea ceremony in one of the nine tranquil tearooms in the resort’s focal antique villa, Nan Shufang. Taking its name from the Forbidden City’s royal reading pavilion, this magical building is dedicated entirely to cultural insight. Four-bedroom Antique Villa from $11,827 per night. Contact Joyce Bao, reservations manager, jobao@aman.com, +86 218 011 9999, aman.com