Live Better Than an Emperor at Aman Beijing

Hit the spa

As with most Aman properties, a state-of-the-art spa offers a rejuvenating escape with nine fully furnished treatment rooms offering a mix of Eastern body treatments and Western-style procedures. The in-house gym is rather impressive, given the lack of quality Western-style gyms in China: complete with Techo-cardio equipment, two squash courts and an array of trainers to nudge you through your workout. A staff of yoga and pilates experts can also accommodate even the most fickle fitness addicts with personalized classes. Afterward, there's an indoor lap pool as well as a natural juice bar to refresh and replenish your fluids.

Restaurants and lounge

Morning begins with a casual breakfast in The Lounge, located off the main reception area overlooking an Eastern-style courtyard while dining on a mostly Western menu of continental breakfast, homemade pastries and coffee. The resort is home to three full-service restaurants including Naoki, a French-inspired Japanese eatery overlooking a central courtyard.

The Grill serves a more Western dining experience with a selection of steaks, seafood and vegetarian dishes. At the top end of the dining spectrum is the Chinese Restaurant, cooking up traditional staples like Peking Duck and Cantonese cuisine in an elegant parlor of nine interconnecting spaces fully functional as private dining rooms. For late-night spirits there is The Bar, overlooking an outdoor water garden as well as the Music Pavilion, where musicians serenade the night during warmer months.

What's the real deal? Beijing is one of the better Asian bargains for American travelers right now, given the vast array of post-Olympic hotel options and all-new city infrastructure. Prices at Aman Summer Palace start at $495 for entry-level guestrooms and under $995 for larger deluxe suites, based on late-autumn availability.