Aman Private Jet Expedition 8-20 September 2019
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Am a n Pri va te Jet Exp ed i ti on
8 –2 0 Sep tem ber 20 19
CHINA 1
WHAT’S INSIDE Page 4: YOUR PRIVATE JET Page 5–6: THE JOURNEY AT A GLANCE Pages 7–36: THE EXPERIENCE IN DETAIL Chapter One... Aman Summer Palace, Beijing, China Chapter Two... Amanfayun, Hangzhou, China Chapter Three… Amandayan, Lijiang, China Chapter Four… Amanyangyun, Shanghai, China Page 37: TOUR LEADER Page 38: CLIENT AGREEMENT
Beijing
GMT +8
Xian
GMT +8
Shanghai
GMT +8
Chengdu
GMT +8
Hangzhou
GMT +8
Zhangjiajie
Lijiang GMT +8
GMT +8
SCHEDULED FLIGHTS:
DATE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE DURATION
11 September 2019 Beijing (PEK) Xian (XIY) 09:00 11:10 2 hours 10 minutes
11 September 2019 Xian (XIY) Hangzhou (HGH) 19:00 21:10 2 hours 10 minutes
14 September 2019 Hangzhou (HGH) Chengdu (CTU) 09:00 12:05 3 hours 5 minutes
14 September 2019 Chengdu (CTU) Lijiang (LJG) 19:00 20:35 1 hour 35 minutes
17 September 2019 Lijiang (LJG) Zhangjiajie (DYG) 09:00 TBA TBA
17 September 2019 Zhangjiajie (DYG) Shanghai (PVG) 19:00 21:00 2 hours
3
YOUR PRIVATE JET
BOEING BUSINESS JET (BBJ)
• 24 seats
• 2 restrooms
• 3 flight attendants
• 1 engineer
• 3 pilots
4
THE JOURNEY AT A GLANCE
DAY 1 DAY4
Sunday, 8 September 2019 Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Aman Summer Palace, Courtyard Guestroom (Beijing, Amanfayun, Village Room (Hangzhou, China)
China) B D
D • Private transfer to the airport at 07:00.
• Arrive in Beijing, China, on your flight. • Fly Beijing to Xian (09:00–11:10).
• Private transfer to Aman. • Touring of the Terracotta Warriors and other sites in
• Welcome cocktails and dinner. Xian, as time permits.
• Fly Xian to Hangzhou (19:00–21:10).
• Dinner on the jet.
DAY 2 • Private transfer to Amanfayun.
Monday, 9 September 2019
Aman Summer Palace, Courtyard Guestroom (Beijing,
China) DAY 5
B L Thursday, 12 September 2019
• Full day touring of the Great Wall with an expert. Amanfayun, Village Room (Hangzhou, China)
B
• Full day touring in Hangzhou.
DAY 3
Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Aman Summer Palace, Courtyard Guestroom (Beijing, DAY 6
China) Friday, 13 September 2019
B Amanfayun, Village Room (Hangzhou, China)
• Full day touring in central Beijing. B D
• Full day touring in Hangzhou.
• Farewell cocktails and dinner.
5
DAY 7 DAY 10
Saturday, 14 September 2019 Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Amandayan, Courtyard Suite (Lijiang, China) Amanyangyun, Ming Courtyard Suite (Shanghai,
B D China)
• Private transfer to the airport at 07:00. B D
• Fly Hangzhou to Chengdu (09:00–12:05). • Private transfer to the airport at 07:00.
• Panda Keeper Experience at Dujiangyan Panda Base. • Fly Lijiang to Zhangjiajie (09:00–TBA).
• Fly Chengdu to Lijiang (19:00–20:35). • Touring in the National Park ‘Avatar Forest’.
• Dinner on the jet. • Fly Zhangjiajie to Shanghai (19:00–21:00).
• Private transfer to Amandayan. • Dinner on the jet.
• Private transfer to Amanyangyun.
DAY 8
Sunday, 15 September 2019 DAY 11
Amandayan, Courtyard Suite (Lijiang, China) Wednesday, 18 September 2019
B Amanyangyun, Ming Courtyard Suite (Shanghai,
• Full day touring in Lijiang. China)
B
• Full day touring in Shanghai.
DAY 9
Monday, 16 September 2019 DAY 12
Amandayan, Courtyard Suite (Lijiang, China) Thursday, 19 September 2019
B D Amanyangyun, Ming Courtyard Suite (Shanghai,
• Full day excursion to Tiger Leaping Gorge. China)
• Farewell cocktails and dinner with entertainment. B D
• Full day touring in Shanghai.
• Farewell cocktails and dinner with entertainment.
DAY 13
Friday, 20 September 2019
B
• Private transfer to the airport to catch your flight
home.
6
AMAN SUMMER PALACE
Aman Summer Palace lies just outside the east gate of Beijing’s Summer Palace, home to generations of emperors
and empresses, who have all left their mark in the form of inspiring temples, halls, bridges, gardens, theatres and
dwellings. Today it is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Aman Summer Palace has been meticulously designed to exist in perfect balance with the graceful architecture
of the former retreat of China’s emperors. A series of century-old guesthouses, built for dignitaries awaiting an
audience with Empress Dowager Cixi, have been transformed into a retreat of just 18 rooms and 25 suites. With
characteristic sensitivity towards historic properties, Aman has decorated the interiors with period furniture and
rich fabrics that evoke the grandeur of the palace itself.
7
SUITES
Aman Summer Palace interiors reflect the distinctive architectural style found throughout the grounds. The eight
Suites have a combined bedroom and living area, with a further 17 Deluxe Suites enjoying a separate bedroom
and living space. Each of the suites is decorated with hand-picked furniture inspired by the Ming period and has a
kingsize bed, daybed, reading chair and desk. Bathrooms feature indulgent freestanding bathtubs with a separate
shower area and WC.
8
DINING
The Chinese Restaurant
Classic Ming dynasty-inspired furniture and imperial dishes such as Peking duck, along with traditional Cantonese
cuisine, offer an authentic flavour of the region. In addition, six intimate spaces offer a thoroughly private setting for
gatherings and celebrations.
The Grill
Western cuisine with an emphasis on grilled-to-order, prime cuts of meat and fresh seafood, available for breakfast,
lunch and dinner.
The Japanese Restaurant
French technique meets Japanese culinary artistry in French-kaiseki concept. An open kitchen with counter seating
invites guests to experience the chefs’ culinary flair up close, for both lunch and dinner.
9
Day 1
Sunday, 8 September 2019
Aman Summer Palace, Courtyard Guestroom (Beijing,
China)
Included Meals: D
You will be met in the arrivals hall at Peking Airport in
Beijing. Look for an Aman signboard.
Private transfer to Aman Summer Palace
(approximately 45 minutes).
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:
Afternoon Tea – 16:00–18:00: Join other hotel guests
for Chinese afternoon tea with a tea master at the
Cultural Pavilion.
Cocktails and Dinner – 18:00: A private cocktail
reception with a history talk, followed by a live
performance, will be held at the reflection and music
pavilions. Meet your fellow travellers and enjoy dinner
afterwards.
Day 2
Monday, 9 September 2019
Aman Summer Palace, Courtyard Guestroom (Beijing,
China)
Included Meals: B L
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at the Lobby.
Pick-up time: 07:30
Return time: 17:00
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Please note that
the touring vehicles and touring will be shared today.
Great Wall: Meet Great Wall expert William Lindesay
and private transfer together to the Great Wall in two
shared vehicles (approximately 1.5 hours).
Explore this ancient wonder, where you can marvel at
unrestored segments stretching and snaking as far as
the eye can see. Jinshanling was the scene of a major
10battle against the Mongols, the Chinese successfully
repelling them here about 600 years ago. Because it
is farther from Beijing than other sections of the Wall,
there will be fewer crowds. Wear comfortable shoes
and be prepared to walk for three hours.
Lunch: Drive approximately 1.5 hours to the Commune
and walk 20 minutes on the Wall to the lunch site.
Enjoy a specially prepared gourmet lunch, complete
with tables, champagne and fine china, with the
incredible backdrop of the Great Wall winding over the
mountain ridges into the far distance.
Upon arrival back at Aman Summer Palace, relax and
explore the gardens. Please note there may be heavy
traffic during the return transfer.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at your leisure at one of the Aman
Summer Palace restaurants. Alternatively, drive into
central Beijing to dine at a local restaurant.
Day 3
Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Aman Summer Palace, Courtyard Guestroom (Beijing,
China)
Included Meals: B
Morning Tai Chi - 06:00: If you wish, start your
day early with a tai chi session in the courtyard and
reflection pavilion. Subject to availability. Reserve in
advance to guarantee a spot.
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at the Lobby.
The Summer Palace: If you wish, independently explore
the Summer Palace. Enter through a hidden door,
connecting the hotel to the palace grounds. Once the
royal retreat from Beijing’s summer heat, the Unesco
World Heritage Site is a masterpiece of Chinese
landscape and garden design, with its exquisite
combination of pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and
bridges surrounded by lush gardens and a large, serene
lake. Walk through the Summer Palace grounds and
discover the palace monuments and structures, which
date back nearly a thousand years.
09:00: Meet for private transfer to central Beijing.
11TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
The Forbidden City: A Unesco World Heritage Site and
the world’s largest palace complex, the Forbidden City
comprises 9,999 rooms and is divided into two parts:
the southern section, also known as the Outer Court,
where the emperor held imperial proceedings, and the
Inner Court to the north, where he lived with his royal
family.
Tiananmen Square: Walk through the nearby
landmark, where an oversized portrait of Mao Zedong
keeps a watchful eye on passers-by. Mao’s Mausoleum
is located in the Square, as are the Great Hall of the
People, seat of the National People’s Congress; Qian
Men, a tower that was once a gate to the city; and
the Monument to the People’s Heroes, a granite pillar
erected in 1958 that is decorated with bas-reliefs
depicting episodes of China’s revolutionary history.
National Museum: First open in 2011 on the east side
of Tiananmen Square, this may be the largest museum
in the world, with a footprint of more than 186,000
square metres (two million square feet).
Lunch: Stop at the nearby Temple Restaurant for lunch.
Enjoy contemporary European cuisine in a converted
dining space that was formerly the television factory
which produced the capital’s first black-and-white TVs.
Hutong District: Board a bicycle rickshaw and thread
your way around the hutongs, narrow alleyways lined
with siheyuan, the old courtyard houses that are
quickly disappearing in central Beijing, where prime real
estate is in short supply. As with property anywhere,
the larger the siheyuan and the wider its alleys, the
more wealthy its residents. Still, virtually every Beijinger
lived in this type of house, with rooms opening out
onto a courtyard, until the turn of the twentieth century
when China’s dynastic era began to collapse. Today,
many have been razed to make room for modern
buildings, but there are still a fair number left in the city
due to concerted preservation efforts. Many of Beijing’s
wealthy have bought siheyuan and renovated them to
live in. The trend is no longer to live in a modern high-
rise but to return to the old and refurbish it to meet
modern ideals of luxury and elegance.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at your leisure at the hotel or in
town.
12Day 4
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Amanfayun, Village Room (Hangzhou, China)
Included Meals: B D
07:00: Meet in the lobby for your private transfer to the
airport (approximately 45 minutes).
09:00–11:10: Private jet from Beijing to Xian (2 hours 10
minutes).
Brunch will be served on board the jet during this flight.
Upon arrival in Xian, private transfer into town
(approximately 30 minutes).
TODAY’S SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES:
Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses with
History Expert: Explore the museum with a history
expert. Arguably the most significant archaeological
discovery of the twentieth century, the 7,000 relics
dating back to 210-209 BC, during the reign of the
first emperor of China, comprise an inanimate army of
warriors with their horses, chariots and weapons, as well
as acrobats, strongmen and musicians. Making life-size
images of the emperor’s army – each figure unique, with
individual faces – was a funerary art form practised in the
belief that the terracotta figures guarding the deceased
emperor’s mausoleum would help him rule another
empire in the afterlife.
The first terracotta figures were discovered in 1974 when
local farmers were digging a water well. Archaeologists
arrived at Xian soon after to investigate, discovering over
the course of a few years an astounding archaeological
treasure notable not only for the sheer size of the
discovery, but also for the figures’ amazing preservation.
Lunch: Have lunch on at your leisure at a casual local
restaurant.
After touring, private transfer back to the airport
(approximately 30 minutes).
19:00–21:10: Private jet from Xian to Hangzhou (2 hours
10 minutes).
Dinner will be served on this flight.
13HANGZHOU, CHINA
In traditional Chinese aesthetics, the ultimate harmony in a landscape arises from the concept of shan-shui, or the
interplay between mountains and waters. Hangzhou, a beautiful city home to the vast, scenic West Lake, possesses
this concept in abundance. A thriving, commercial city for hundreds of years, Hangzhou hosted, among others, Arab
traveler Ibn Battuta and Italian merchant Marco Polo, who once described the city as ‘beyond dispute, the finest and
noblest in the world’.
14AMANFAYUN
Surrounded by tea plantations and bamboo groves, Amanfayun is a spiritual sanctuary informed by Chinese
tradition and Buddhist monastic culture. Explore this centuries-old village, restored using ancient techniques, at
your own pace. Each of the 46 Rooms, Suites and Villas is unique, showcasing its history within this former tea-
planting village and accented with contemporary touches.
15SUITES
Embracing the layout and spirit of a traditional Chinese village, Amanfayun is a place of winding stone footpaths and
shaded courtyards through which the dwellings – some dating back over a century – are accessed. Roofs are clay tile
and interior floors are stone or wood, and some offer upper floors with views over the treetops. Fine calligraphy art
pieces decorate the walls.
DINING, WELLBEING & FACILITIES
Amanfayun’s varied culinary options are dotted across the grounds: the glass-walled Restaurant looks out over
an evergreen grove, while the relaxed Steam House serves up traditional fare in a simple high-ceilinged pavilion,
with outdoor tables for summer dining. Three independently operated eateries are also set within the village: the
Hangzhou House, the Tea House and the Vegetarian House.
16Day 4
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Amanfayun, Village Room (Hangzhou, China)
Included Meals: B D
21:10: Arrive in Hangzhou by private jet.
Private transfer to Amanfayun (approximately 1 hour).
Day 5
Thursday, 12 September 2019
Amanfayun, Village Room (Hangzhou, China)
Included Meals: B
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Pick-up time: 09:00
Return time: 17:00
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Boat Ride on West Lake: Go on a private, two-hour
cruise on the waters that inspired the Chinese saying,
‘In heaven there is paradise; on earth, Hangzhou and
Suzhou’. Traditionally, there are ten beautiful scenic
spots on the West Lake, each remembered by a four-
character mnemonic. Collectively, they are known as
the ‘Ten Scenes of West Lake’: Spring Dawn on the Su
Causeway, Orioles Singing in the Willows, Viewing
Fish at Flower Pond, Lotuses in the Breeze at the
Crooked Courtyard, Evening Bell Ringing at Nanping
Hill, Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, Leifeng Pagoda
in Evening Glow, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon,
Lingering Snow on the Broken Bridge, and Twin Peaks
Piercing the Clouds. Visit a selection of these ten
scenes in a motorised boat with a covered deck.
Leifeng Pagoda: Visit the Leifeng Pagoda for a bird’s
eye view of Hangzhou. Originally built in 975 AD to
commemorate the birth of King Qian Chu’s son, the
first Leifeng Pagoda was set ablaze by marauding
pirates during the Ming dynasty, leaving nothing but
a charred brick skeleton. In 1924, the temple finally
collapsed, leaving nothing but a foundation, until
172002, when the pagoda was rebuilt. To satisfy both the
historical concerns of scholars and the convenience of
visitors, the pagoda has been reconstructed according
to ancient specifications, using modern architectural
techniques and featuring the amenities of a modern
museum, such as climate control and flat screen
monitors.
On the first floor of the pagoda, visitors will find the
crumbling foundation of the original pagoda, encased
in glass and surrounded by wall murals, depicting the
Legend of the White Snake, a local folk tale dating
back to the Ming dynasty that prominently features
the Leifeng Pagoda. From here, you can take either an
escalator or an elevator to the pagoda’s fourth storey,
where a panoramic view of Hangzhou awaits you.
Beside the museum, a smaller contemporary temple
houses a gold and silver plated hair of the Buddha, a
relic from a mausoleum, long-rumoured to be buried
beneath the Leifeng ruins and finally unearthed in
2001.
‘Soul’s Retreat’ Temple: Visit the renowned Buddhist
temple Lingyin Si, or ‘Soul’s Retreat’. Founded in
the first year of Xianhe of the Eastern Jin dynasty
(326 AD), the temple once housed 3,000 monks,
who worshipped in more than 70 halls. Although
now reduced in size, it remains one of the ten most
important Buddhist temples in the country. In the main
hall sits a 25-metre (or 82-foot) high, gold-gilded
statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, the largest sitting Buddha
in China.
Temple of Goodness: Adjacent to Lingyin Temple
is Yongfu Si (Temple of Goodness). Set in the forest
with meandering paths and extensive gardens, this
is one of the prettiest temples in the area. Higher up
the mountain lies the Temple of Taoguangguanhai,
boasting views across the hills and valleys to West
Lake and Hangzhou City in the distance. At the very
top of North Peak Mountain, the highest peak in
Hangzhou district, is the 1,600-year-old Lingshun
Temple (Temple of Wealth). This popular temple sees
a constant stream of pilgrims lighting incense and
praying for increased fortunes.
Hike through Tea Trails: Go on a hike through tea
trails. The tea grown here is the ‘Bordeaux’ of Chinese
teas, and comprises all the tea grown in the valleys
18around Hangzhou that are watered by a single source.
Although it is a hotly debated point, the best brew may
be made from well water drawn in Longjing. The result
is a mild tannic ‘green tea’ that is actually the palest of
yellows. Sipped slowly from tall, thin glasses, it is an
astringent drink that sharpens the senses.
The most precious tea is designated ‘first leaf’,
traditionally harvested before 5 April. Tea cultivation
is a labour-intensive process, as all picking is done
by hand so that the young leaves are not damaged.
The leaves are pan-dried immediately after picking to
prevent oxidation and bacterial growth. They are then
rolled by hand to squeeze out excess moisture and to
release flavour enzymes. Finally, the leaves are fired in
large driers and packed.
Day 6
Friday, 13 September 2019
Amanfayun, Village Room (Hangzhou, China)
Included Meals: B D
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Pick-up time: 09:00
Return time: 17:00
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
China National Tea Museum: China is the birthplace
of tea and the country with the longest history of tea
culture. China National Tea Museum has no external
walls, but is enclosed by vegetation, giving the unique
impression that the halls and the tea plants inside
depend upon each other. The museum consists of
four groups of buildings which display the history and
development of tea in China.
Hefang Street: Stop by Hefang Street for a taste
of ancient Hangzhou. Built adjacent to the former
location of the Southern Song dynasty’s imperial
palace, this pedestrian market evokes antiquity, with
Ming- and Qing-style restaurants, teahouses, street
vendors and shops, as well as live performers, dressed
in traditional regalia, who enact the everyday lives of
ancient people. Pending availability, sample beggar’s
19chicken, a Hangzhou speciality of marinated, spiced
chicken covered in a clay shell and baked for several
hours - resulting in a moist, tender and flavourful dish.
Traditional Chinese Check-Up: Enjoy a traditional
medicine check-up at Huqingyutang, the most famous
Chinese pharmacy in southern China. Medicine in
China dates back some 4,000 years and began with
the ancient emperors’ interest in finding the elixir of
life. Today, treatment is still founded on the use of
herbs, diet and acupuncture, with an emphasis on
qi, the vital force of living things. Qi gives rise to the
opposite and interdependent forces of yin and yang.
Unlike in Western medicine, where an outside force,
such as bacteria or a virus, is cited as the cause of
disease, in Chinese medicine a medical problem is
caused by a yin/yang imbalance within the patient.
Pagodas of Hangzhou: Visit the three main pagodas
of Hangzhou, all built during the reign of the Northern
and Southern Song dynasties (960-1276 AD). Lin’an
(now called Hangzhou) became the capital of the
Southern Song dynasty in 1127, when the Song dynasty
lost control of the Yellow River to the Jin dynasty and
was forced to retreat to the south, where it continued
to flourish, innovating new agricultural and military
techniques and inventing the concept of paper money.
Spa: Enjoy one complimentary spa treatment per
person. The Aman Spa consists of five separate
buildings surrounded by bamboo groves, tea bushes
and magnolia trees: the Reception and Reflexology
House, the Bath House, the Fitness Centre, the
Finishing Salon and a two-storey Treatment House.
Massage and body treatments draw from traditional
Chinese massage and reflexology, as well as from
ancient Asian healing therapies. At the end of every
treatment, guests are served fresh herbal tea in their
own private relaxation area.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY
Calligraphy Lesson – 16:00–18:00: If you wish, join
other hotel guests for a calligraphy lesson with a local
artist.
Farewell Cocktails and Dinner – 18:00: Gather for
cocktails and dinner with the group this evening.
20Day 7
Saturday, 14 September 2019
Amandayan, Courtyard Suite (Lijiang, China)
Included Meals: B D
07:00: Meet in the lobby for your private transfer to
the airport (approximately 1 hour).
09:00–12:05: Private jet from Hangzhou to Chengdu (3
hours 5 minutes).
Brunch will be served on board the jet during this flight.
Upon arrival in Chengdu, private transfer to Dujiangyan
Panda Base (approximately 1 hour).
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Panda Keeper Programme: Visit the Panda Base, which
plays an important role in the captive conservation of
this endangered species. Accompanied by an expert
from the centre, you will explore the grounds, where
giant pandas thrive alongside red pandas and black-
necked cranes, also endangered, among more than 300
varieties of bamboo. The giant panda must take in 20-
30 pounds of bamboo each day to derive the necessary
energy and protein. Due to its dependence on the crop,
bamboo deforestation has significantly threatened the
survival of the species. This, in combination with fragile
breeding habits – a female giant panda in the wild will
only have two or three cubs in her lifetime and is only
fertile two to three days per year – makes them among
the rarest and most protected animals in the world.
Please note: The availability of the Panda Keeper
Experience at panda bases is subject to availability and
can be cancelled quite suddenly. Therefore, Remote Lands
maintains relationships with panda bases in Chengdu,
Bifengxia and Dujiangyan. Remote Lands will continue to
monitor the status of all three panda bases during your trip
planning and travel and will update you with any concerns.
- Tour of the grounds: Begin your session here with a
tour of the grounds. Today, you will have the special
privilege of going behind the scenes and seeing the
pandas up close. Please note that this experience is
dependent on availability; if it is not available, we will
21offer you a full refund.
- Feeding your panda: Pandas love to eat fresh
bamboo, apples, special biscuits and vegetables. The
centre produces specially formulated biscuits made of
beans, oats, corn and essential vitamins and minerals
for the pandas to consume. Give food to the pandas for
them to enjoy.
- Cleaning your panda’s enclosure: Like you, pandas
need a clean and comfortable place to live.
- Cleaning bamboo: Bamboo is the panda’s favourite
food, and the Panda Base stocks up on tons of this
hardy plant. Before feeding it to the pandas, the
bamboo has to be cleaned of dirt and other sediments
that might harm them. Over 10,000 clumps of bamboo
have been cultivated to provide for the giant pandas’
diet and habitat.
- Weighing fresh bamboo: Monitoring how much
bamboo a panda consumes is vital to their health.
Bamboo actually contains very little nutritional value,
which is why pandas in the wild have to eat so much
of it just to stay healthy. It is important to keep track
of the pandas’ dietary habits by constantly checking
to see how much food is offered to them versus how
much they consume.
Please note that while we cannot book a panda photo
experience in advance, there is a chance it may be available
on the spot.
17:00: Private transfer back to the Chengdu airport
(approximately 1 hour).
19:00–20:35: Private jet from Chengdu to Lijiang (1
hour 35 minutes).
Dinner will be served on this flight.
22LIJIANG, CHINA
With its charming canals, brightly coloured wooden homes and winding cobbled alleyways, Lijiang’s unspoilt beauty
belies its 800 years.
Thanks to its remote location, as well as a concerted effort on the part of its inhabitants, Lijiang’s particularly well-
preserved Old Town earned a designation as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999.
23AMANDAYAN
Perched above the winding lanes of Lijiang Old Town, Amandayan takes its name from the Sanskrit-derived word for
‘peace’ and ‘Dayan’, the historic name for Lijiang when it was first established in the thirteenth century. Open views
from Amandayan offer a glimpse of the sights to explore close by, from the centuries-old Unesco World Heritage-
protected Old Town to the patchwork fields of the surrounding villages and the snow-capped summits that define
the horizon.
Designed in the traditional architectural style of the Nakhi people, Amandayan is housed in a series of small
buildings arranged around peaceful courtyards with views of the landscape.
24SUITES
Elegant, clean lines ensure Amandayan’s Suites are contemporary in style yet unmistakably Chinese. The 35 Suites
are decorated with materials and fabrics from the region, including Yunnan pine and Dongbei elm-wood carvings.
Every Suite opens onto a courtyard or a terrace with views of Lijiang’s rooftops, Lion Hill or the Old Town, and the
mountains beyond. Stone floors subtly reference the resort’s proximity to the mountains, while furniture is crafted in
tactile elm.
DINING, WELLBEING & FACILITIES
Dine at your choice of Chinese and Western restaurants and enjoy the Tea House, library, boutique, cinema, and the
Aman Spa’s gym, Pilates/yoga studio and swimming pool.
The resort’s Chinese restaurant, Man Yi Xuan (‘lingering peace’), includes four private dining rooms and serves
Yunnan and Cantonese cuisines for lunch and dinner, and a steaming dim sum lunch. The Lounge serves Western
and Asian cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an emphasis on locally grown, seasonal produce and organic
meat. The Tea House enjoys views of Lijiang Old Town, and offers indoor and outdoor dining. In the afternoons,
traditional Chinese and Western tea ceremonies with savoury bites, cakes and pastries can be enjoyed alongside
dim sum.
25Day 7
Saturday, 14 September 2019
Amandayan, Courtyard Suite (Lijiang, China)
Included Meals: B D
20:35: Arrive in Lijiang by private jet.
Private transfer to Amandayan (50 minutes).
Important Notes for Lijiang:
• The altitude at Lijiang is around 2,400 metres
(7,800 feet).
• Symptoms of altitude sickness can include
headaches, diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea, heart
palpitations and raised blood pressure.
• Owing to the high altitude, the air humidity is low.
We would therefore advise that you drink lots of
water to stay fully hydrated.
• While you are acclimatising, try to avoid any
strenuous activity.
• Be sure to keep yourself warm by wearing
appropriate clothes, as the temperature drops at
night in Lijiang.
• The sun’s rays are especially strong at high altitude,
so ensure you have sunglasses and adequate
sunscreen.
Day 8
Sunday, 15 September 2019
Amandayan, Courtyard Suite (Lijiang, China)
Included Meals: B
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Pick-up time: 09:00
Return time: 17:00
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Old Town: Explore the charming Old Town, a world of
narrow cobbled streets, virtually unchanged since the
Ming dynasty, where canals are lined with weeping
willows and decorative arched bridges connect one
alley to the next. The buildings’ colourful façades lead
to shops selling local arts and crafts.
26Impression Lijiang Show: Watch a showing of
Impression Lijiang, an outdoor cultural performance
featuring singing and dancing demonstrating the
traditions and lifestyles of the Nakhi, Yi and Bai regional
minorities. Directed by renowned Chinese director
Zhang Yimou, this high-altitude experience has Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain as its backdrop at 3,000
metres (10,100 feet). Note: It is much colder at altitude
and a winter coat is provided.
Mu Mansion: Explore the grounds of the Mu Mansion,
the rebuilt palatial estate of the Nakhi leaders who
ruled over Lijiang for more than 400 years, which is
set in the southwest of the Old Town. The original
Mu estate was built in 1382, but war and revolution
left their mark before a severe earthquake in 1996
destroyed the original structure. What stands today is
a faithful re-creation, completed in 1998, comprising
100 buildings spread across 3.2 hectares (8 acres).
Golden Pagoda: Visit the Golden Pagoda, a Tibetan
temple in Lijiang.
Dinner: Have dinner at your leisure at the hotel or in
the Old Town.
Day 9
Monday, 16 September 2019
Amandayan, Courtyard Suite (Lijiang, China)
Included Meals: B D
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Pick-up time: 09:00
Return time: 17:00
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Tiger Leaping Gorge: Drive for approximately 1.5 hours
to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, a stunning river canyon
and a must-see for any traveller. It earned its name
from an ancient story in which a tiger successfully
eluded a hunter by jumping across the narrowest
gap in this mighty canyon. Home to the indigenous
Nakhi people, the region features a plethora of micro-
ecosystems and hiking opportunities.
27Cocktails and Dinner – 18:00: Gather together to sip
cocktails on a platform overlooking the Old Town. For
dinner, enjoy a special menu of seasonal Nakhi cuisine.
There will be a live performance on the guzheng (a
traditional Chinese instrument) during cocktails.
Day 10
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Amanyangyun, Ming Courtyard Suite (Shanghai,
China)
Included Meals: B D
07:00: Meet in the lobby for your private transfer to
the airport (approximately 1 hour).
09:00–TBA: Private jet from Lijiang to Zhangjiajie.
Brunch will be served on board the jet during this
flight.
Upon arrival in Zhangjiajie, private transfer to
Wulingyuan (approximately 1 hour).
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Kindly note that touring in Zhangjiajie National Park must
be by shared shuttle bus, because no private cars are
allowed in the park.
Zhangjiajie National Park: Deep in Hunan Province,
Zhangjiajie National Park has massive quartzite
sandstone pillars that are over 750 metres (2,600 feet)
tall. The National Park is home to more than 3,000 of
these towering formations, the result of erosion over
centuries, which can be seen as you hike through the
lush greenery. Explore the dense foliage in the humid
climate and look for the ‘Avatar Hallelujah Mountain’,
so-named after its appearance in the January 2010
film, Avatar.
Bailong Sky Lift: Take the Bailong Elevator, a.k.a. the
Hundred Dragons Elevator. Regarded as the world’s
highest and heaviest elevator, the sky lift stands over
300 metres (1,000 feet) high, and scales the side of a
massive cliff in the Wulingyuan region. This will take
you to a viewpoint, providing stunning vistas of
28Zhangjiajie National Park. Those with a fear
of heights should be wary: this lift is infamous for
causing powerful bouts of vertigo. Please note that
there will be a long queue to take the elevator; however,
we recommend you visit to see this architectural
wonder.
17:00: Private transfer back to the Zhangjiajie airport
(approximately 1 hour).
19:00–21:00: Private jet from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai
(2 hours).
Dinner will be served on this flight.
29SHANGHAI, CHINA
Shanghai is one of Asia’s most dynamic metropolises, buzzing with new architecture, world-class dining, shopping,
arts and nightlife. Of the city’s many unique traits, perhaps the most striking is its mix of architectural styles:
traditional Chinese, European colonial and ultra-modern. From the dense shikumen, two- to three-storey tenements
protected by brick walls, to the stately, colonnaded financial buildings on the Bund, to the newest stamps on the
city’s landscape made by the world’s ‘starchitects’, Shanghai’s skyline is truly unforgettable.
30AMANYANGUN
Aman’s fourth property in China is a tranquil village of historic dwellings, surrounded by sacred camphor woodland
– a peaceful, introspective setting that belies its proximity to vibrant downtown Shanghai. Both forest and village
tell an incredible story – of millennia of history, daring engineering feats and a philanthropic endeavour spanning
hundreds of kilometres along the country’s eastern reaches.
31SUITES & VILLAS
Surrounded by the camphor forest, Amanyangyun’s Suites and Villas are a mix of historic and contemporary
dwellings that harmonise with their environment. Light-filled and embracing woodland views, Amanyangyun’s
Suites combine expansive living areas with tranquil courtyards, creating an inviting retreat throughout the seasons.
Each Club Suite features two courtyards, one of which includes a fireplace, and an outdoor bathtub and shower.
Safeguarding a piece of Chinese history, each of the Antique Villas has been meticulously and sensitively restored
to include four Suites, divided between the historic villa and a newly built wing. Combining contemporary comforts
with a restful, nature-inspired aesthetic, each Suite has a private courtyard from which to enjoy the forested
surroundings in peaceful seclusion.
DINING FACILITIES
Amanyangyun’s six dining venues – including Lazhu (Chinese), Arva (Italian), Nama (Japanese), The Bar and Cigar
Lounge – each enjoy a distinctive ambience. From fine dining to relaxed alfresco meals, guests can expect the
freshest locally sourced delicacies wherever they choose to dine.
32Day 10
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Amanyangyun, Ming Courtyard Suite (Shanghai,
China)
Included Meals: B D
20:00: Arrive in Shanghai by private jet.
Private transfer to Amanyangyun (approximately 1
hour).
Day 11
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Amanyangyun, Ming Courtyard Suite (Shanghai,
China)
Included Meals: B
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Pick-up time: 09:00
Return time: 17:00
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall with Expert:
Visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall,
which presents Shanghai’s past, present and future
from an urban planning perspective. Housed in a
striking modern five-storey building made of microlite
glass, this is one of the world’s largest showcases of
urban development and renewal. The highlight is on
the third floor: an awesome vast scale model of urban
Shanghai as it will look in 2020, along with descriptions
of world-renowned architects and their projects
currently under construction in the city.
Bund Walking Tour with Expert: Enjoy a lively tour of
the city via its architecture, which encompasses
classical Chinese, Sino-European versions of Art
Deco architectural styles and contemporary designs.
An expert will regale you with tales of the city’s past
and present as they relate to single-storey shikumen
dwellings and towering skyscrapers. Great foreign
commercial houses, banks and consulates built their
imposing office buildings on this stretch of Zhongshan
33Lu on the Huangpu River. The area was initially a British
settlement; later the British and American settlements
were combined into the International Settlement.
Lunch: Have lunch at a restaurant of your choice.
M50 Art District with Expert: One of the best places
to view (or even buy) contemporary art in Shanghai is
among the galleries in the Moganshan Lu warehouse
district, colloquially known as ‘M50’. Start at the city’s
first contemporary art space, ShanghART Gallery,
which focuses on local artists and, to a lesser degree,
the rest of China, and then stop by the massive Art
Scene Warehouse.
Day 12
Thursday, 19 September 2019
Amanyangyun, Ming Courtyard Suite (Shanghai,
China)
Included Meals: B D
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Pick-up time: 09:00
Return time: 17:00
TODAY’S SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Yu Gardens: Visit the old Chinese city and the Yu
Gardens. The Yu Gardens are the most celebrated
classical Chinese gardens in Shanghai, capturing the
essence of southern Chinese landscape design from
the Ming and Qing dynasties and characterised by
an exquisite layout, beautiful scenery and artistic
architecture.
Jade Buddha Temple: Built between 1918 and 1928,
Jade Buddha Temple is a Chinese Buddhist temple
recognised for its symmetrical halls and bright yellow
walls. Explore its rooms and halls, which contain
statues of Buddha, paintings, Buddhist scriptures and
various other relics. The highlights of this working
temple are a pure jade seated Buddha and reclining
jade Buddha, both originally from Burma. The seated
Buddha is said to weigh over 900 kilograms (2,000
pounds) and is decorated in agates and emeralds.
34Shanghai Tower: Completed in 2014, the Shanghai
Tower stands at 632 metres (2,073 feet) tall, making it
the second tallest building in the world and the tallest
building by height to highest useable floor. Take a trip
up to the observation deck to get an excellent view of
Pudong’s ultramodern skyline.
Lunch: Have lunch at a restaurant of your choice.
French Concession Streets: Relive Shanghai’s Jazz-Age
heyday while strolling the tree-shaded streets of the
French Concession, whose Huaihai Road is lined with
smart boutiques. Little disrupts the pre-World War II
layout and architecture of the neighbourhood, making
it easy to imagine the glamorous life of Shanghai’s elite.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:
Jewish History Tour: Go on a private Jewish history
tour with one of the world’s foremost experts on
the little-known history of Jewish life in Shanghai.
Drive to Hongkou District, an area of great historical
significance, as well as other important sites in the city.
Jews have long been in Asia; the first Jews to arrive
in Shanghai came from Iraq via India in the 1840s and
soon made this formerly sleepy town on the Huangpu
River the ‘Pearl of the Orient’.
Farewell cocktails and dinner - 18:00: Gather for
cocktails and enjoy a Kunqu Opera performance,
followed by dinner together.
35Day 13
Friday, 20 September 2019
Included Meals: B
Breakfast from 07:00: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Official check-out time is at 12:00. Leave your luggage
with the bell desk and enjoy the hotel’s facilities until
your private transfer.
Private transfer to the airport (approximately 1 hour).
End of Aman Remote Lands Private Jet Expedition.
36TOUR LEADER
Catherine E. Heald
CEO and Co-Founder of Remote Lands
Catherine is an adventurer, an Asiaphile and a serial entrepreneur. She
describes her greatest fear in life as mediocrity, her second greatest as
boredom and the combination as the stimulus for Remote Lands. A former
software engineer and technology entrepreneur, she considers herself lucky
to have found her true calling at the age of 42, and to have been able to turn
her life’s passion for Asian travel into her profession.
Some of her most memorable travel experiences include having a private lunch with the Queen of Bhutan in her
palace; a magical New Year’s Eve in Mongolia sharing a ger with a nomad family at -37°C (-35°F); hiking to far-flung
hill tribe villages off the grid in eastern Myanmar; off-piste skiing in Gulmarg, Kashmir, in 1989; trekking alone in the
Everest region of Nepal; taking a private helicopter up to view the peak of the third highest mountain in the world,
Kanchenjunga in Sikkim; cruising in Siberia from the Arctic Circle to Vladivostok in a Russian icebreaker; chartering
a private plane to visit remote corners of the Gobi Desert and eastern Mongolia; getting married in an Iban tribal
longhouse in Borneo, a Hindu temple in Kerala and a Buddhist temple in Bhutan; and travelling solo across North
Korea.
Catherine (née Evans) graduated from Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, and then headed to New York to attend
Columbia University (Barnard College) in 1980. This was the first year Columbia offered Computer Science as a
major, and her instinct told her computers would become increasingly integral to business and life in general. She
earned her BA in Computer Science in 1984 and then spent four years writing code for Wall Street’s L.F. Rothschild,
Unterberg, Towbin while attending NYU’s Stern School of Business, but she left for Hong Kong before earning her
MBA.
She lives with her husband, Donald Heald, a collector and purveyor of rare books and manuscripts, and their white
Labrador, Bali, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and in Sherman, CT. Her proudest accomplishments include having
been the youngest female CEO of a publicly traded American company at the age of 33 (as Catherine Winchester);
being featured onstage with Bill Gates in two of his major keynote speeches in 1991 and 1993; and finishing the 1985
NYC Marathon in 101st place with a time of 3:17. She still runs 40 miles a week, albeit rather slowly now, and credits
running and the self-discipline she learned from daily training as being the foundation for all her achievements in
life.
37Client Agreement
I, the client, acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied for the trip as specified above. I understand that I may travel to remote countries
and areas in Asia that are inherently risky including the above-stated destinations. I am prepared to assume the risks associated with this trip
including: forces of nature; weather; terrorism; civil unrest; war; strikes; local laws; accidents; and all transportation including land vehicles,
boats and aircraft that are not necessarily operated or maintained to standards found in North America. I assume all risks associated with altitude,
illness, physical injuries sustained, disease, alcohol consumption, physical exertion and sporting activities, knowing that access to evacuation
and/or suitable medical supplies and support may not be available. I also assume full responsibility for my own baggage and personal possessions
and effects.
Remote Lands, Inc., including its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and successors, does not own or operate any entity which is
a service provider for client journeys. Remote Lands purchases all transportation, accommodation, dining and all other services from a variety of
independent entities. Remote Lands is not responsible or liable for the gross negligence or intentional acts by any service provider or other third
party.
I agree that I am responsible for purchasing comprehensive travel and emergency medical insurance that will cover all expenses related to trip
cancellation; loss of luggage and personal effects; medical expenses including evacuation; and all other issues related to personal injury, death,
property damage, or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of (1) any wrongful, negligent,
willful or unauthorized acts or omissions on the part of any service provider including airlines, hotels and restaurants, or their employees or
agents or any other third party (2) any defect or failure of any vehicle, equipment, aircraft or instrument owned by any service provider (3) any
wrongful, negligent, willful or unauthorized acts or omissions on the part of any third party.
I understand that unforeseen events beyond the immediate control of Remote Lands may occur, such as flight/train/boat/other transportation
cancellations, hotel issues/problems, and other unexpected schedule changes. I agree that Remote Lands is not responsible for such
unanticipated and uncontrollable changes, and that any expenses resulting from such changes (e.g. additional hotel, transportation, or guide
fees, etc.) would be my sole responsibility, and I further understand that I may be eligible to recoup such costs from my travel insurance carrier.
I hereby agree that everyone in my party, including myself, is of adequate health, and no one has any physical condition or disability that could
prevent them from taking part in the journey or present a hazard to themselves, or have, hereby, disclosed any conditions that may hinder our/my
ability to endure the exertions of this trip.
By accepting this document I agree to take full responsibility for my own and the members of my party’s actions, safety and welfare, including
unanticipated events including injury, illness, theft, emotional trauma, death, forces of nature, war and terrorism. I hereby release and discharge
Remote Lands, Inc. and its agents and employees from and against any and all liability arising from my participation in the above trip. I agree that
this release will be legally binding upon me, my heirs, successors, assigns and legal representatives, it being my intention to fully assume all risk of
travel and to release Remote Lands, Inc. from any and all liabilities to the maximum extent permitted by law.
For information concerning possible dangers at destinations, Remote Lands recommends contacting the Travel Warnings Section of the U.S. State
Department at (202) 647-5225 or www.travel.state.gov. For medical information, Remote Lands recommends contacting the Centers for Disease
Control at (877) FYI-TRIP or www.cdc.gov/travel.
I assume full and complete responsibility for checking and verifying any and all conditions regarding health, safety, security, political stability,
and labor or civil unrest at such destination(s). It is my responsibility to obtain any vaccinations or medications. Any issues or claims relating to
terms and conditions or in any way relating to the journey shall be settled by binding arbitration in the State of New York, in accordance with the
current rules of the American Arbitration Association.
38For reservations or more information, email amanprivatejet@amanresorts.com or call +1 646 403 4128
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