Amandayan is set on just over a hectare above the winding lanes of Lijiang Old Town - described by UNESCO as "an urban landscape of outstanding quality". The resort draws its name from the Sanskrit-derived word for peace and Dayan, the historic name for Lijiang when it was first established by the ruling Mu family in the 13th century. Designed in the traditional architectural style of the Nakhi - the indigenous people of north western Yunnan and the ethnic group responsible for Lijiangs historic prominence - Amandayan is housed in a series of dwellings with beautiful views, arranged around peaceful courtyards.