Amanyangyun
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Review
Character and identity
Amanyangyun sits on 25 acres of relocated forest 17 miles southwest of central Shanghai, the result of a decade-long project that moved 10,000 ancient camphor trees and 50 Ming and Qing dynasty houses stone by stone from Fuzhou. The grounds are anchored by the King Tree, a six-foot-wide giant draped in a red ribbon. Restored antique villas house the cultural centre Nan Shufang, where tea ceremonies and calligraphy run daily, while Yinlu offers floating afternoon tea and outdoor hotpot in warmer months. The 30,569-square-foot Aman Spa pairs a Russian banya with a Turkish hammam. Service follows the Aman register: quiet, considered, unhurried.
Who's it for
Best for:
Couples and design-literate travellers who want a meditative nature retreat with serious architectural and cultural depth, plus a properly large spa. Families are catered for too, with a Culture Discovery Center running kite-making and pottery for children aged five to 12. It suits guests who treat the hotel itself as the destination.
Should look elsewhere:
Anyone planning to actually see Shanghai. The outer Minhang District location is nowhere near public transport, so sightseeing means long taxi rides. Weekends and public holidays draw heavy domestic occupancy, denting the sense of seclusion.
Bottom line
The proposition here is the forest, the relocated dynasty houses and the spa, not the city: this is an Aman that asks you to stay put and slow down. Book it for a three- or four-night decompression, ideally mid-week to dodge the Shanghai weekend crowds, and pair it with a separate stay downtown if you want to see the city itself.