Amanfayun

It was a stay that left me wanting to stay longer. First location that really helped me to relax my active mind. Simply ZEN on earth. The sound of waterways and the michelin restaurants near by activities made sure this was a magical stay. Property is simply heaven on earth.

An Average—Perhaps Slightly Below-Average—Experience by Aman Standards This is another property we felt genuinely conflicted about reviewing. While many elements of the stay resonated with us, we ultimately left feeling that this was among the weaker Aman experiences we have encountered to date. That said, by broader hospitality standards—and particularly within China—it remains a top-tier offering. To begin, minor lapses can and do occur at Aman properties; this is simply a fact of life, and we are generally very forgiving of them. Our stay began with a few such issues—namely a mix-up with restaurant reservations and initial room expectations not being fully met. These were promptly addressed, and we appreciated the team’s responsiveness. Where the property truly shines is in its profound connection to place. The setting, with direct and unlimited access to Lingyin Temple and the Fei Lai Feng Scenic Area, is exceptional and deeply evocative. The food offerings are also among the strongest within Aman China. Both Hangzhou House and the vegetarian restaurant deliver a level of culinary quality that is genuinely difficult to surpass elsewhere. The principal disappointment, however, lay in the curation of experiences—traditionally one of Aman’s greatest strengths. While the seven-temple tour was outstanding and thoughtfully executed, the West Lake boat tour on our final day fell noticeably short. Communication was minimal; the boatman spoke little English (and while we do speak some Mandarin), there was no meaningful effort to share the rich history or cultural context of West Lake. The experience also ended earlier than expected, without clear explanation. We understand that this activity is operated by a third party. Still, at this level—and especially under Aman—stronger vendor curation and quality control are essential. In the end, the experience offered very limited added value and felt like something we could have arranged independently at a significantly lower cost. In summary, Amanfayun remains a beautiful property with undeniable strengths in location, cuisine, and atmosphere. Yet for a brand defined by exceptional storytelling, immersion, and experience design, it fell a bit short!

First time in Hangzhou, Amanfayun made the trip planning very easy. I had day trips planned with the hotel, with private tour guide & transport (very convenient). I stayed in the Deluxe Village Suite - antique feel, spacious for 2 adults, comfy bed but didn’t like the dim lightings. Hotel was just next to Lingyin temple, very good to visit but super crowded on a weekday. As the hotel allowed access to non-staying guests, there were random people walking around the premise visiting the restaurants or hotel. This didn’t feel exclusive for me. Hotel service was impeccable, buggy rides within the premise were a plus. Food at Tea House & Hangzhou House were fabulous - food was abundance & served in simplicity (highly recommend).

A unique hotel in a beautiful location within the old Longjing tea village. The hotel grounds are within a large and tranquil wooded area very close to the Lingyin temple. It’s about a 20 minute drive from west lake and is such a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Hangzhou. The villas are very traditional but with modern Aman styling which works really well. We only stayed 1 night but would have loved to stay longer because we were so comfortable and peaceful. We tried the restaurant, spa, pool & also breakfast which were fantastic and would really recommend. We particularly enjoyed the local Hangzhou specialties for breakfast. The staff were all so friendly and welcoming, really helpful & nothing was too much trouble. We would love to stay here again, but for much longer next time!!

Amanfayun is absolutely unique. It provides an opportunity to stay in great comfort in the midst of a beautiful wooded landscape among ancient temples and rock carvings, with access to both at any time. Every part of the hotel is in a restored, historic building in a series of courtyards spread over a kilometre, either side of an ancient (but very well maintained) path. Although the footpath is open to the public, very few people seem to use it even when the holiday crowds are visiting the temple complex. The rooms are enormous high ceilinged 'cottages' and beautifully decorated with modern facilities and highly effective air conditioning - the only drawback is that they are quite dark. The food is excellent - we enjoyed our meal in the Tea Room and our lunch in the Steam House. Breakfast is a la carte which is unusual, but the selection and quality were impressive. Staff are very thoughtful and helpful - language was not a problem at all for us. The hotel arranged a guide for us to view the temples which was very helpful - we would have missed a huge amount without her. It's a 50 minute walk from the hotel to West Lake, with its scenic views and extensive network of paths. We didn't go into Hangzhou itself, but the main area is around 15-20 minutes by taxi and the stations are around 30 - 40 minutes away.