Situated atop Lion Hill in the heart of Lijiang in China’s Yunnan Province, the flawlessly designed Amandayan is a haven of tranquillity with dwellings arranged around peaceful courtyards overlooking the clay-tiled rooves of Lijiang with its winding streets, bridges and ancient architecture.
The resort’s 35 wooden suites draw on typical Naxi architecture and incorporate local materials from Yunnan pine and Dong Bei elm to granite and marble from a nearby province. Distinctive upturned rooves and red rafters anchor the villa in its surrounds while sleek interiors are outfitted with local embroidery, timber furnishings and elaborately carved screens.
Locally grown ingredients feature in Amandayan’s restaurants, from the Chinese restaurant serving Naxi fare with a modern touch to the Lounge with Asian and Western dishes. The Tea House overlooks the Old Town with traditional Chinese and Western tea services.
Aman Spa’s range of therapies is informed by traditional Chinese medicine, from massages and exfoliations to cupping. Four treatment rooms are equipped with a steam shower and peaceful relaxation area, and two additional wet treatment suites host scrubs, baths and wraps. With an integrated approach to wellness, the spa is also home to a 20-metre heated pool, a fully equipped gym and Pilates studio.
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