Amanyangyun: Restored Ming and Qing dynasty stone village in a rescued sacred camphor forest in Shanghai with 2,840 sq m spa

Located on the serene outskirts of Shanghai in Minhang district, Amanyangyun opened in early 2018 as one of the most ambitious heritage conservation projects in modern hospitality history. Born from a 15-year rescue mission spearheaded by entrepreneur Ma Dadong and designed by architect Kerry Hill, the sanctuary preserves 50 antique Ming and Qing dynasty stone houses alongside 10,000 ancient camphor trees relocated 700 kilometres from Jiangxi province to save them from flooding. Today, 24 contemporary Ming Courtyard Suites and 13 restored antique stone villas sit embedded within a mystical, flourishing camphor forest centered around the sacred 80-foot King Camphor Tree.

Arrival immerses guests into an ancient world of Chinese scholarly arts: personal hosts welcome travelers through tranquil stone courtyards before an introduction to Nan Shufang, the resort’s 17th-century scholar’s pavilion. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating cultural and wellness journeys: master-guided calligraphy and tea ceremonies in Nan Shufang, botanical forest walks among centuries-old camphor trees, private culinary tastings of authentic Jiangxi and Cantonese cuisine, and scheduling thermal therapy in the expansive spa.

Resort wellness is monumental: spanning 2,840 square metres, the Aman Spa is the largest in the Aman collection, featuring an indoor 20-metre heated swimming pool, an outdoor forest pool, two private Spa Houses (Russian Banya and Moroccan Hammam), and holistic traditional Chinese medicine therapies. Dining spans authentic Jiangxi dishes and dim sum at the Chinese Restaurant, Italian fine dining at Arva, Japanese washoku at Nama, and afternoon tea in the Lounge.

Accommodations comprise 24 contemporary Ming Courtyard Suites (65 to 99 square metres) and 13 restored antique Ming-Qing villas measuring up to 800 square metres. Each suite features clean Kerry Hill timber lines, private walled stone courtyards, king beds, floor heating, and marble bathrooms with deep soaking bathtubs and twin rain showers.

Scholars, culture lovers, and luxury travelers seeking unprecedented historic Ming-Qing architecture, sacred camphor forests, and world-class spa facilities should book Amanyangyun without hesitation. Travelers seeking neon Bund skyscrapers or downtown shopping convenience should choose central Shanghai hotels instead. Grounded review consensus confirms exceptional standing with a 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 210 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 on Google across 160 reviews.