Amanyangyun

What do you do when you’ve got an undistinguished parcel of land just outside of Shanghai, and, 700 kilometers away, in Jianxi Province, a collection of historic homes, dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, that are about to be subsumed by a dam project? If you’re Mr. Ma Dadong, an entrepreneur and Jianxi native, you spare no expense in rescuing the homes, moving them — brick by brick, stone by stone — to the site of your luxury resort: Amanyangyun. And, just for good measure, you transport a complete forest as well, comprising more than ten thousand centuries-old camphor trees, to provide Amanyangyun with a suitably picturesque backdrop.

What wasn’t designed by Ming and Qing craftsmen was designed by Kerry Hill, hotel architect extraordinaire, who’s made a fine career out of collaboration with the Aman group. He’s responsible not just for the contemporary common spaces — the restaurant spaces, the spa — but for the interiors of the suites, pavilions, and villas that now occupy the historic houses. Check the room descriptions for details, if you need them, but when you’re talking about an Aman resort you can take for granted that they’re exquisitely designed and as luxurious as anything you’ll find anywhere in the world.

A cultural pavilion, called “Nan Shufang,” offers guests an introduction to traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting, while the new forest park provides total immersion in nature. Meanwhile the restaurants and bars include Chinese, Japanese, and Italian options, as well as a cocktail bar and a cigar lounge. The spa is as extravagant as you’d expect, comprising no fewer than ten treatment rooms, a Russian banya, a Moroccan hammam, indoor and outdoor pools, and facilities for yoga and pilates in addition to a well-equipped gym. What’s special about Amanyangyun is what’s special about all the Aman hotels: they’re totally familiar and yet totally surprising at the same time.