Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / China / Lijiang / Amandayan
Amandayan
Lijiang, China · Aman · Grand Luxury
Built on Lion Hill directly above Lijiang's UNESCO-protected Old Town, Amandayan (2015) is arranged around a preserved 1725 Wenchang Palace, a Qing Dynasty imperial examination hall that occupied the same hill since the Mu family, Lijiang's 13th-century Nakhi rulers, ran it as an academy. Ed Tuttle designed 35 suites using Dongba wood and Yunnan pine, without a single nail, in traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery; interiors by Jaya Ibrahim.
- 35 rooms
- Opened 2015
- Neighborhood: Gucheng District
- Rooms from 775 sq ft (72 m²)
- Architect: Ed Tuttle
- Interiors: Jaya Ibrahim
About Amandayan
- The resort's name fuses the Sanskrit word for 'peace' (Aman) with Dayan, the historic name given to Lijiang when the Nakhi Mu family founded it in the 13th century — so the hotel's name is itself a piece of local etymology.
- The original Wenchang Palace at the resort's heart dates to 1725 and was the Mu family's academy for Confucian scholars preparing for imperial examinations — the wooden structure, with its ornate carvings and colour paintings, was preserved intact within the resort.
- An in-house museum, developed in partnership with National Geographic, is dedicated to Joseph Rock, the Austrian-American botanist and explorer who made Lijiang his base for years before 1949 and whose photographs introduced the region to the West.
- The hotel's architecture is built entirely using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery — no nails — replicating the Nakhi 'Three Courtyards and One Screen Wall' layout that has defined the Old Town's residential fabric for centuries.
- Entry-level rooms start at 775 sq ft (72 m²).
History
Amandayan embraces Nakhi culture on Lion Hill above Lijiang's UNESCO-protected Old Town (historic Dayan from 13th century Mu family). Opened in 2015, it incorporates the preserved Wenchang Palace dating to 1725 and draws from traditional Naxi architecture with wood, stone, and courtyard designs.
The setting
Perched atop Lion Hill overlooking Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Black Dragon Pool Park; short walk to ancient cobblestone streets.
Restaurants and bars
- Man Yi Xuan — Restaurant
- The Lounge — Restaurant · Chinese
- Tea House — Restaurant · Chinese
Experiences
- Lijiang Old Town visit — Stroll Old Town's narrow lanes and 354 bridges, visit Mu Mansion (former residence of the founding Mu Clan, now a museum).
- Baisha and Shuhe villages — Visit the historic villages of Baisha (former Nakhi capital) and Shuhe (known for its cobblers).
- Baoshan Stone Village — Visit the picturesque village nearby where houses and furniture were traditionally made of stone.
- Wangu Pavilion — A 33m wooden landmark at the top of Lion Hill, a few minutes' stroll from the hotel, with views of the Old Town.
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain viewing — View of Shanzidou, its highest peak, from the white marble bridge over Black Dragon Pool in Jade Spring Park.
- Horse riding through wildflowers — Horse riding through wildflowers in summer, per the region's seasonal activities.
Amenities
- Aman Spa with TCM treatments
- 20m heated outdoor pool
- gym
- yoga/Pilates studio
- library
- private cinema
- boutique
- viewing platform
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- 2025 Asia 100 Luxury Hotels
- One MICHELIN Key
Open Amandayan in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Aman hotels
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- Aman New York — New York City, United States · Apex Luxury
- Aman Tokyo — Tokyo, Japan · Apex Luxury
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- LUX Tea Horse Road Lijiang — LUX* Collective · Core Luxury
- Blossom House Lijiang — Blossom House · Accessible Luxury
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Aman in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.