Beijing Yihe Hotel, the Qing-dynasty garden retreat that operated as Aman at Summer Palace until December 2025, ranks #20 on our 2026 list of the best anniversary hotels in the world. Fifty-one rooms in restored century-old pavilions, imperial-garden calm beside the Summer Palace gates, and slow, private service make it Beijing's most atmospheric address for a milestone celebration.
One thing to know before anything else: the name on the door changed at the end of 2025, and the reasons it earns a place on an anniversary list did not. Below is the honest case, the setting, what it does specifically for a celebration, an editorial score, the drawbacks worth weighing, and the properties we measured it against.
The hotel itself
Beside the East Gate of the UNESCO-listed Summer Palace, the hotel gathers 51 rooms and suites into restored century-old courtyard buildings rather than a single tower. That low, walled, garden-first layout is the whole point: you stay inside a piece of imperial Beijing, a short walk from the lake and pavilions that Qing emperors used as a retreat from the Forbidden City.
The interiors carry the quiet, material-led style the property became known for during its Aman years: dark timber, stone, grey brick, and courtyards you can sit in without a reason to. There is an indoor pool, a spa, and dining rooms serving Chinese and Western menus. Guests continue to report that the strongest asset is the setting and the privacy rather than any single showpiece restaurant or bar.
Why it works for an anniversary
An anniversary here is built on privacy and setting rather than on a grand-hotel social scene. The reward is a courtyard you can have to yourselves and, on some room bookings, early access to the Summer Palace before the day visitors arrive, which is the kind of moment a milestone trip is actually looking for.
Where the great city anniversary hotels of Paris, London, and Tokyo sell a centuries-old public room and a restaurant of the trip, this property sells the opposite: seclusion, garden light, and a version of Beijing that most visitors never see from the inside. For couples who want calm and cultural depth over a buzzy lobby and a Michelin tasting menu at the hotel, it is a rare fit. For couples who want the celebration handed to them by a full-throttle luxury operation, the honest cons below matter.
The HotelsForKings editorial score
Our score is one editorial opinion, not aggregated user reviews. We weight the criteria that decide an anniversary stay, then say plainly where the property is strong and where it is not.
Setting and romance carry the score. Location convenience is deliberately the lowest mark: the address is a feature for the garden and a drawback for everything else in the city. Service is scored with a note of caution while the newly independent operation settles in. See our methodology.
Honest cons
No property is the right call for every couple, and this one has clear trade-offs worth naming before you book a milestone trip here.
- The location cuts both ways. You are next to the Summer Palace but a 40 to 60 minute drive from the Forbidden City, Wangfujing, and most central dining, and Beijing traffic is unforgiving. Plan the trip around the garden, not around the city.
- Post-rebrand uncertainty. The property left the Aman network at the end of 2025. Booking channels, loyalty recognition, and some service programmes now run independently, and the settled standard of the new operation is still being proven. Confirm details directly rather than assuming the prior brand's systems apply.
- Quiet, not lively. This is a secluded retreat, not a scene. If your idea of a celebration includes a landmark bar and a buzzy lobby, the calm here can read as remote.
- Rates stay high. A stay here still sits at the top of the Beijing market, and the rebrand has not made it a value play.
Where it ranks against rivals
For a 2026 milestone anniversary at this level, the closest comparisons on our list are its immediate neighbours. The table lays out who each suits best.
| Hotel | Rank | Setting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Yihe Hotel | #20 | Imperial garden, Beijing | Private, culturally deep city retreat |
| Rachamankha | #19 | Old-town courtyards, Chiang Mai | Small, serene, design-led calm |
| Vista Lago di Como | #18 | Lakefront, Lake Como | Classic Italian-lake romance |
The other properties are not lesser hotels. For a celebration that wants Italian-lake glamour, Vista wins; for a small design-led hush, Rachamankha does. The Beijing address earns its place when cultural depth and privacy in a great world capital are what you are actually buying.
Practical: booking a milestone stay
Book the courtyard and larger suite categories six to twelve months ahead for spring and autumn, Beijing's most reliable seasons for weather and garden colour. Address: 1 Gongmenqian Street, Haidian District, Beijing. Because the property now operates independently of Aman, confirm rates, transfers, and any anniversary or dining arrangements directly with the hotel before you commit. Use our anniversary occasion page for the broader shortlist, or the Beijing city guide for what to plan around the stay.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aman at Summer Palace still called Aman?
No. The property ended its partnership with Aman on 29 December 2025 and has operated as the Beijing Yihe Hotel since 30 December 2025. The building, gardens, and address are unchanged, and existing and new reservations continue to be honoured. The name and management structure changed; the physical retreat did not.
Where exactly is the Beijing Yihe Hotel located?
It sits beside the East Gate of the Summer Palace in Haidian District, northwest Beijing, roughly 20 kilometres from the Forbidden City and Wangfujing. That places it next to a UNESCO World Heritage garden but a 40 to 60 minute drive from central sights in traffic, which is the main trade-off of staying here.
What makes it good for an anniversary?
The rooms occupy restored century-old courtyard pavilions rather than a tower, giving a quiet, private, distinctly Chinese sense of place that a milestone celebration rewards. Early garden access before day visitors arrive, unhurried service, and a spa and pool complex make it a slow, romantic base rather than a sightseeing hub.
How far ahead should I book?
Book the courtyard and larger suite categories six to twelve months ahead for spring and autumn, Beijing's best-weather seasons. Confirm rates and any post-rebrand programme changes directly with the hotel, since the property now operates independently rather than through the Aman reservations network.