Hi this will be my first trip to China. I've always wanted to go and also was dreaming of staying at the Aman hotels... and now I believe I will be able to do both.

After doing some research and finding out about very different climates in
Beijing and Hangzhou, where Aman Chinese properties are, I thought that end of May would be the best time to go - please advise me if you have strong suggestions otherwise.

Also, I am planning on staying 3 nights in each hotel, but will have
another 3 nights in the middle and wanted to get some ideas on what else to see that would be not completely out of the way in the vast geography of China.

I am also very much interested in art and understand that Beijing has a
thriving art scene. If anyone can please recommend a guide (an art expert) who that can assist, I would be very grateful. In doing some preliminary research, it seems like there are many forgeries and it is difficult to find
independent credible advice on both antique and modern art.

I plan on reading many history and guide books
between now and next May on history of China, but given limited time
there I would like the convenience of someone guiding me. While there
are two tours included in the package (Summer Palace and Forbidden City in Beijing and Longjing Tea Village and Ligyin Temple in Hangzhou) I would like some suggestions on additional tours.

I did read through this board and am aware of the strong suggesiton on exploring Beijing independently, but given the time constraint would very much prefer to do this with an expert guide.

Many thanks