CHINA IS AT THE CROSSROADS OF TWO THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY. FOR THOSE INTRIGUED BY ITS RICH THREAD OF TRADITION, SEARCHING FOR A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE OF TRANQUILITY, IMPECCABLE SERVICE AND LOCAL CULTURE, AMANYANGYUN REDEFINES CHINESE HOSPITALITY.
AMAN
WORDS BY FILIPE FANGUEIRO
Fifty houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties together with thousands of trees were rescued and replanted
To create it, the Aman Group moved an entire village in the Jiangxi province and rebuilt it some 700km away, just a short journey from Shanghai. While remaining true to the architecture and the nature of the village, it was reborn as a luxury hotel. During your visit you can experience China as though you lived 500 years ago. Today but also somehow in the past. The story of Amanyangyun began 15 years ago when the entrepreneur Ma Dadong together with the Aman Group decided to save the historic village of Fuzhou which had been threatened with destruction by the plans to build a new reservoir. Fifty houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties together with thousands of trees were rescued and replanted. Once transported to Shanghai, the ancient stones were rebuilt to create twenty-six residences amid the replanted, newly-flourishing camphor forest. Featuring ornate carvings and reliefs detailing family histories that date back two millennia, these sensitively restored dwellings form the peaceful heart of Amanyangun. At the centre stands Nan Shufang, the most spectacular part of the collection. Named after the royal reading pavilion in the Forbidden City, Nan Shufang is surrounded by a serene garden. It has been reimagined as a space for contemplation, learning and discussion where guests can enjoy cultural activities such as ancient calligraphy and experiencing the Chinese tea ceremony. What is most impressive is that you might never notice that you are in a village that existed 700km away.
The work of Kerry Hill Architects created a way of life that is at once ancient and modern amid these old stones.
Thirteen of the houses are set amid a courtyard and are at least 800 square meters, with their own private pool and jacuzzi. The balance of the houses have been created as refined Aman residences where you can form your own memories of historic China. Amanyangyun is also home to five dining venues, including an all-day dining pavilion, a Chinese Restaurant with seven private dining rooms, a Club Lounge, an informal Lakeside Café, the Aman Deli Village Shop and a 200-seat banquet hall. The result is a delicate feast for the senses. Combining dishes first conceived during the Ming and Qing Dynasties with Cantonese classics, the menu makes use of the region’s abundant soya plantations to offer an inventive array of tofu-based dishes, as well as taking advantage of seasonal produce from Amanyangyun’s abundant organic herb and vegetable gardens. During your stay you can find a sanctuary in the Aman Spa. Completely devoted to holistic health, fitness and wellbeing, in addition to its treatment rooms, the spa encompasses extensive thermal facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, two swimming pools and a large yoga and Pilates studio overlooking a reflection pond. Amid this beautiful place you’ll find a fresh equilibrium.An idyllic hotel built with an honorable sense of purpose, Amanyangyun’s unique atmosphere will send you travelling in time to discover a pure sense of China’s history.
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