Villas
Schedule precious time together this year in the comfort and privacy of Aman’s Villas.
The Destination
Amanyangyun is the culmination of an ambitious feat of architectural and ecological conservation that has in turn created unimaginable new beginnings.
The story begins 700 kilometres from Shanghai in rural Fuzhou. A cultural heartland in eastern China's Jiangxi province, Fuzhou is characterised by camphor forests and historic villages. When plans for a much-needed reservoir were approved in 2002, the fate of these remnants of Old China appeared to be sealed.
Help was at hand, however, in the form of a Shanghai philanthropist. A Fuzhou native, the philanthropist was determined to prevent the destruction of these important fragments of Chinese history. He conceived a bold plan to relocate 50 Ming- and Qing-dynasty villas and ultimately ten thousand of the trees to Shanghai.
The plan was monumental and at times dangerous - but perseverance prevailed. As the trees began to flourish in their new home, the centuries-old villas were being given new life as they were carefully reassembled, brick by ancient brick. In 2009, Aman began collaborating on a sensitive restoration project, and the future of these historic marvels was secured.
A decade on, Amanyangyun opened its doors. The ethereal camphor forest sets the tone for a peaceful, introspective retreat, where old and new, natural and manmade, coexist in perfect harmony. A notable piece of China's past has been preserved for generations to come – and Amanyangyun is a living part of that history.
