Adventures

Adventures and experiences at Aman Summer Palace

China’s cosmopolitan capital is one of the world’s richest repositories of Unesco World Heritage Sites, including the 270-year-old imperial estate from which Aman Summer Palace draws its name. Personalised excursions can be arranged into the heart of Beijing, where the Forbidden City lies amid maze-like hutongs and ancient temples are juxtaposed with gleaming skyscrapers, world-class restaurants and contemporary art galleries.

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Discover the Summer Palace

Step through a private gate from the resort’s walled garden into the Summer Palace grounds, then stroll this beautiful 290-hectare estate admiring its lakes, pavilions, temples and pagodas. Built in 1750, it long served the Qing dynasty as an imperial summer retreat and is considered one of the most peaceful and photogenic sites in Beijing.

Cultural Pavilion

At the heart of Aman Summer Palace lies the Cultural Pavilion, overlooking a serene courtyard. Here you can learn more about traditional Chinese arts from calligraphy and paper cutting, to kite making and tea ceremonies, demonstrated by masters happy to share their knowledge and skill.

Living history

Discover the ancient imperial secrets of the Forbidden City in Central Beijing, home to 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties, then explore the Temple of Heaven, another Unesco World Heritage Site, also completed in 1420. Lama Temple, the ancient imperial academy of Guozijian, Prince Gong Mansion and the Drum and Bell Towers are just a few of the capital’s other historic monuments.

Great Wall and Dynastic Tombs

The longest man-made structure in the world, the Great Wall is a monument to human achievement and the culture that created it. Visit remote sections including Mutianyu, Longquanyu, Jinshanling or lakeside Huanghuacheng with a private Aman guide. The Ming and Eastern Qing Tombs are other Unesco World Heritage Sites ideal for day trips.

Wander the hutongs

Whether on foot, bicycle or rickshaw, exploring Beijing’s hutongs offers a glimpse of what life was like in days gone by. Narrow lanes formed by lines of siheyuan – traditional courtyard residences – the hutongs are clustered around the Forbidden City and its outlying parks, home to traditional tea houses, restaurants and artisan workshops.

798 Art Zone

Beijing is a treasure trove of contemporary Chinese art. 798 Art Zone, a Soviet-designed former weapons factory, has been transformed into a centre for local modern art and fashion, offering insight into the artistic landscape of China today.

Special requests

No request is too great and no detail too small. We are also here to assist you before your trip begins