Amanyangyun

Amidst the camphor forest outside of downtown Shanghai, Amanyangyun is a luxury hotel combining historic dwellings with modern luxuries. Yangun means "nourishing cloud" and references the expanding cloud of the mind learning new knowledge.

Consisting of 26 dwellings created from 50 Ming-and Qing-dynasty dwellings saved from demolition, Kerry Hill Architects meticulously restored the disassembled houses that travelled more than 430 miles to Amanyangyun. Featuring ancient bricks, accommodations offer peaceful, light-filled spaces with forest views. Interiors are finished in wood, stone, and bamboo. Guests can select from 24 Ming Courtyard Suites and 13 Antique Villas with tranquil courtyards.

The spiritual heart of Amanyangyun is Nan Shu Fang. It is a space to learn, contemplate and practice traditional crafts such as calligraphy, music and painting, or to watch one of Amanyangyun's frequent Kunqu Opera performances. Across the courtyard, six dedicated rooms have been created to host traditional tea and incense ceremonies, while the Aman Spa is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the Aman collection. The complex houses eight treatment rooms, two double spa suites, extensive relaxation areas, a sauna, plunge pool, Jacuzzi and two swimming pools; indoor and out. Two private Spa Houses each offer a suite of thermal facilities, including a Russian banya and Turkish hammam. The main spa building is also home to the fitness and movement center with professional cardio and strength equipment, and a Pilates and yoga studio where three walls of floor-to-ceiling glass provide serene views over Amanyangyun's lake and resplendent forest gardens.

For young guests ages 5 to 12, Amanyangyun's Cultural Discovery Centre provides programs about the rich culture of China, and there's a dedicated program for teenagers as well.

The kitchens of Chinese restaurant Lazhu pay homage to Jiangxi province. The menu makes use of the region's abundant soya plantations to offer an inventive array of tofu-based plates, as well as taking advantage of seasonal produce from Amanyangyun's organic herb and vegetable garden. Close to the lake, Nama features dishes by Executive Chef Keiji Matoba with flavors led by the simplicity of Japan's washoku tradition to Amanyangyun. A menu of authentic, uncomplicated and elegant dishes combines the classic techniques of the Japanese kitchen with the finest and freshest ingredients available locally. At lakeside Arva, Master Chef Andrea Torre presides over a menu that draws inspiration from Italy’s farm-to-table gastronomic tradition, plus a bimonthly program of Italian cookery classes offering guests hands-on instruction in pasta-, pastry- and mozzarella-making, among other culinary arts. Amanyangyun guests can head to The Bar for expertly crafted cocktails, afternoon tea, and a live jazz soundtrack in front of an antique fireplace, or stroll up the picturesque path to the Cigar Lounge.

Set in a scenic bamboo grove, the Banqueting Room allows for 200-seat receptions, conferences, weddings and special-occasion feasts with breath-taking views through its floor-to-ceiling windows, while a 25-seat cinema offers classic film screenings.