| Aman at the Summer Palace |
| March 30, 2009 |
The Historic Sanctuary Offers Luxury and Tranquility in One Located steps away from the East Gate of the Summer Palace grounds in the capital of Beijing, is the newly opened luxurious and tranquil retreat of Aman at the Summer Palace. But this historic sanctuary dates back over a century and was once guest quarters for those awaiting an audience with Empress Dowager Cixi. Immersed in peace and harmony, the property's original spirit, architecture and materials have been conserved in the restoration process. Offering a variety of accommodation which pays homage to the traditional architecture of the Summer Palace, guest rooms surrounding internal courtyards are crisscrossed by pathways separating serene formal gardens. Aesthetic references draw upon traditional materials and the architecture and design of the Ming Dynasty period and the dwellings feature ceilings with exposed wooden roof beams and structural columns and natural materials such as Jin clay floor tiles. Those lucky enough can reside in the Imperial Suite, which comprises a living area, a private dining area and spa treatment room set around a private courtyard. Arguably, the most notable feature of the resort is the 5,000 square metre Aman Spa featuring beauty, health, fitness and wellness facilities. Both expansive and comprehensive, it includes nine self-contained double treatment rooms, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a gym with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment (including Kinesis), a juice bar, two squash courts, a dedicated Pilates and yoga studio and the exclusive Kim Robinson hair salon. The Spa's treatment rooms are an oasis of calm, combining both Eastern and Western elements, ideal for indulging in a vast selection of massages, facials and other holistic therapies. Popular and exclusive to Aman, their signature Gemstone Body Massage uses crystal therapy with essential Jojoba, Peach and Chamomile oils to pamper, rejuvenate and heal. Crystals used and properties include: Jade (Yellow and White) Jasper (Red, Yellow and Green) Obsidian (Golden) On offer is the deeply therapeutic Traditional Chinese Massage focusing on internal organ chi transformation, or try the Oriental Massage with Hot Poultice, a combination of healing techniques from China, Thailand and India to deeply penetrate muscles. Other services include Thai Massage, Four-Hand Massage, and Reflexology Hand and Foot Massage. A relaxing and indulgent environment in which to pamper the body and soothe the mind, the luxurious body scrubs, wraps and baths offered are distinguished by the superb healing quality of ingredients administered. Ideal for exfoliating, detoxifying and nourishing the skin, body scrub choices range from the Black and White Sesame Scrub with Gold Leaf and Honey to the Green Tea and Ginger Scrub. For body wraps, the selection includes Lotus, Aloe Vera and Pearl Powder Wrap (a traditional Chinese Medicine trio with the soothing quality of aloe vera, refining properties of pearl powder and spiritually uplifting lotus flower), stimulating Citrus Detox Wrap or Rose Hydrating Wrap which incorporates rich Damask Rose oils for silky soft and glowing skin. Customized baths feature Vitality (featuring ho wood and lavender), Renew (including ginger, black pepper and rosemary) and Revive (with juniper berry and grapefruit). Another unique facility within the Spa complex (and in China) is the deluxe Pilates studio featuring a programme encompassing the highest level of instruction in Pilates that debuted recently at Amanpuri - Aman's flagship property in Phuket, Thailand. A physical fitness system that focuses on core postural muscles to maintain balance and provide essential support to the spine, Aman Pilates provides a holistic approach to fitness that views posture, movement and alignment as integral to optimal health. Practitioners create a customized programme for guests to utilize during their stay at Amanresorts which can be taken home when guests leave. Esther Ng
Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing
           
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