Our View
Talk about hotels being palatial; this
one really is! Next to the Summer Palace's East Gate, these
100-year-old buildings were apparently used by palace guests
awaiting an audience.
The atmosphere is perfect: from the
calligraphy demonstrations in the Culture Room to the silk-robed
musicians playing gentle folk tunes in a waterside pavilion. Best
of all though, find your way through the courtyards and corridors
to a simple red door and through it you'll find the Palace gardens
- yours to explore at your leisure.
Hotel Description
The Summer Palace is a must-visit, and
so is the Aman. The 51 rooms spread over a number of buildings have
lovely wooden latticework, beams and furnishings in an understated
'modern Ming' style; our favourites are the spacious Courtyard
Suites.
The three restaurants are all
outstanding (especially Naoki with its French-Japanese cuisine) and
you can also enjoy a private library, Culture Room with calligraphy
and paper cutting, a private cinema and the luscious underground
spa - fit for an Emperor, of course!