World > Asia > China

Aman at Summer Palace

COST: $$$$

<p>Amanresorts' first foray into China is a cocoon of quiet sophistication near the heart of the frenzied capital. The 51 rooms and suites—housed in what was once a Ch'ing-dynasty imperial complex— are steps from the Summer Palace (pop through a private door and you're on the grounds) and are decorated with Ming-style furniture, carved wooden screens, and Jin clay tiles. Some 400 preservation experts and traditional craftsmen worked on the multiyear project, which painstakingly restored and re-created the internal courtyards and ornate pavilions.</p>