Aman Tri-Centre UNESCO China Experience: Beijing, Lijiang & Hangzhou

10 days from £10,450 for 2023 per person

• Beijing
• Lijiang
• Hangzhou

Allow yourself to be whisked away to three unique settings, each atmospherically evoking China's illustrious and varied past. The Qing dynasty grandeur of an imperial Summer Palace, a hilltop perch in an ancient southern-Chinese town, and a misty bamboo forest set amid verdant tea plantations. This tri-centre visit combines the signature luxury and style of Aman with the deep intrigue of China's rich history. All three hotels are set among UNESCO World Heritage listed sites.

Start your tour with three nights at Aman at Summer Palace on the outskirts of Beijing. Away from the city centre's smog and bustle, this retreat is housed in the carefully renovated apartments built for the guests of the Empress dowager Cixi during the Qing dynasty. Exclusive access to the palace itself through a private and unassuming door allows guests to avoid the crowds and witness the extravagance of pre-revolution China's rulers in peace. From this sanctuary day trips will reveal the wonders of the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven.

From Beijing, you'll fly direct to Lijiang in China's south-western Yunnan Province. This stunningly-landscaped town was an important staging post on the ancient "Tea and Horse Road" which carried tea to the rest of Asia. At the centre of the picturesque old town lies Lion Hill and atop the hill stands Amandayan. Built in the traditional architectural style of the Naxi people, Aman's latest venture is a haven of light, space, views, pampering and peace. An afternoon trip to watch a performance of Impression Lijiang is a must. The work of oscar-winning director Yang Zhimou (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony) involves 500 traditionally costumed local performers set in a rugged outdoor amphitheatre at 3,100m altitude with the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as a backdrop.

Last stop is Amanfayun in Hangzhou. The Chinese expression "Heaven on high and Hangzhou on Earth" hints at the fabled beauty of 'China's most liveable city'. The immaculately designed waterways and gardens of the West Lake make for an enchanting day trip as do the manicured tea plantations that beautifully contour the hillside. Amanfayun, the final of the three Aman properties in China, has the authentic feel of a Ming dynasty tea house. Dark wood villas hover in an often mist-shrouded bamboo forest and are the perfect refuge in which to enjoy your last spoiling nights before returning to the real world.

This luxury holiday is purely a suggested itinerary. It can be booked as it is or alternatively used as a starting point for creating your own ideal tailor made trip to China. If you'd like to see similar tours, take a look at our other Ultimate Luxury Villas Holidays or Honeymoons.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson