Some of the 3,000 ancient buildings at the Summer Palace are being turned into a limited-membership luxury hotel club, owned by Singapore-based hotel chain Aman Resorts.
The hotel was expected to open in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, but it has been delayed due to the complexity of the construction work.
The plans have already provoked indignation from Beijing residents and tourists, who state that world heritage sites should not be used for commercial purposes and access to them should not be restricted.
Local authorities have so far declined to comment on the situation.
The first buildings of the 290-hectare Summer Palace complex, situated in hills some 15 km (9.3 miles) west of Beijing, were built in the 12th century and extended continuously until the 19th century.
A year ago, public outcry forced the U.S. coffee chain Starbucks to close its outlet inside the 587-year-old imperial palace grounds.
