Occupying an 18th-century compound built by the Emperor Qianlong, the 51 rooms and suites of Aman Summer Palace provide a veritable conduit to the past. Its garden estate presents a web of ornate bridges and heritage-imbued pavilions over and around Kunming Lake. Elegant, traditional Chinese courtyard-style rooms (think high-ceilinged suites, exposed bamboo and Jin clay tiling) provide simple serenity, while a trio of restaurants cater to diverse tastes. Underground, the vast 5000sq m spa offers up traditional Imperial medicinal treatments, among other sybaritic delights.

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