The Aman Summer Palace is a unique luxury resort. Situated just outside of Beijing, Empress Dowager Cixi's Summer Palace (she was the last of the imperial rulers in China, and used this man-made lakeside retreat as an escape from the bustle of the city) has been meticulously restored to reflect traditional Chinese architecture and Imperial taste.

The facilities

An excellent choice of restaurants on site: Naoki serves original French Kaiseki, a fusion of French technique and Japanese artistry. Then there's The Grill, which specialises in grilled-to-order prime cuts of meat and fresh seafood. Finally, the Chinese Restaurant (consisting of three large public rooms and six intimate private dining rooms) serves Peking duck and Imperial dishes, alongside traditional Cantonese cuisine.

The comprehensive spa features nine treatment rooms, mainland China's first KimRobinson Hair Studio and a dedicated Pilates and yoga studio - naturally lit through an extensive panel of skylights. The state-of-the-art fitness facilities will include an indoor lap pool, a gym, two squash courts and a juice bar. There's even a cinema and regular calligraphy demonstrations.

The rooms

Each of Aman Summer Palace's guestrooms shares the same tasteful, historically-relevant design as the communal areas. Each have flat screen televisions, DVD players and a nightly turn-down service. Be aware that the smaller bedrooms do not have bathtubs (only showers) due to size restrictions. Our top tip? Splash out on a Courtyard Suite, and have access to this tranquil inner space, a free-standing island bathtub and Ming-style armoires.