quotes from the media

“If grand is what you want, grand is what you will get at this mansion of a resort, located in no less than mere steps from the East Gate of the very grounds of bona fide UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Summer Palace of the Empress Dowager Cixi.”

“Enter the Aman’s vast stone courtyard and you will instantly sense its past, as lakeside winds whistle beyond terracotta walls.”

"For those who wish to breathe in culture even when asleep, Aman at Summer Palace in Beijing is a retreat from the bustling city, steeped in history. Staying in century-old pavilions adjoining the summer hideaway for China’s last royal family, visitors can take calligraphy classes or listen to performances of traditional music in pagodas around the property. However, the real reason for staying here comes when the sun sets and you are granted exclusive, torch-lit access to the palace, usually teeming with people during the day."

“To get to my room, I stroll past weeping willows and through arcades painted bright red, a color that represents happiness in Chinese culture.  Off a courtyard filled with ancient pines, I enter my suite. I walk across clay tiles, admiring the exposed beams spanning the high ceilings and the lattice screens that accent the walls.  Four posts draped with a silk canopy surround a bed that looks big enough for a family of seven.  Plush sofas and a mahogany writing desk welcome me to the sitting room, and the expansive bathroom features an oversize tub framed by still more latticework.”

“Set within an imperial garden adjacent to the Qing Dynasty Summer Palace, Aman offers an urban escape fit for an emperor.”

“With the darkness, a blanket of stillness falls over the hotel..…. the pretty buildings, the old willow tree waving in the courtyard and the gorgeous suites all provoke contemplation.”