WILDCHINA JOURNEYS

Recommendations for Winter 2020

Here at WildChina, we’ve been pioneering sustainable travel in China for the last 20 years. Our mission remains the same as it di d when we first started: to connect people through travel and to change the Chinese travel industry for the better. This year, we remain more dedicated to that mission than ever. We're here to support our local communities and to get you off-the-beaten-path in a safe and responsible way.

On every WildChina journey, you’ll be greeted by local guides, hosts, and experts who will help you see your destination more closely. We’ll never cocoon you in a tourist bubble and we'll never follow the crowds (unless they're heading to a local wedding party, of course). You’ll stay in homegrown boutique accommodations whenever possible, but they'll always meet our high standards for sustainable practices. And, you’ll always have the flexibility in an itinerary to enjoy the spontaneous moments that make travel in China so memorable. We’re WildChina and we’re here to show you the real China. A Little guide A land of epic plains and lonely mountains, here is where you’ll fnd the nomadic To Where We Travel roots of the infuential Mongol and Manchu peoples.

Beyond the Great Wall

Silk road Beijing

yellow river Valley Panda Country Southern regions Mountain kingdoms

Hong kong

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys Nov. 24th – 29th 2020 Travels Through Dali Thanksgiving Edition

Dec. 12th – 15th 2020 : Avatar Mountains

Dec. 16th – 21st 2020 Xishuangbanna: Winter in the Tropics

Dec. 20th – 27th 2020 Yunnan: Christmas in Cizhong

Dec. 26th – 29th 2020 : The Yellow Mountain

Jan. 1st –4th 2021 Harbin: Ice City

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2021 COMING SOON

Feb. 24th – Mar. 2nd 2021 Guizhou: Festival Season

All our small group journeys can also be customized to create a private journey www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys Buy the book at travelsthroughdali.com | Photos by Elizabeth Phung Travels Through Dali: Thanksgiving Edition Dali – Yunlong – Shaxi - Dali

Best for: Thanksgiving, Food Culture, Local life Trip length: Small group departure: Nov. 24th – Nov. 29th (max. 12 pax) Spring Summer Autumn Winter 6 days Price: Twin share from RMB8,230 per person

This journey can also be customized as a private tour

Inspired by WildChina Founder Mei Zhang’s travelogue and cookbook, Travels Through Dali: with a leg of ham, what better way to celebrate a rather unconventional Thanksgiving than with a journey into the heart of Yunnan on a quest to find the local specialties. This region is cherished for its unique food – famed cured ham, mushrooms varietals, cheese-making (a rarity in China), and rare herbs. We’ll hear stories from chefs, artisans, and farmers who have been living ‘farm-to-table’ for generations and have the honor of becoming immersed in their lives.

Day 1-2: Dali | The Linden Centre Sunrise by Erhai Lake • Stroll though the early-morning ma r kets in Xizhou village • Become guest of honor at a Bai ceremony • Cangshan Mountain ★ Participating in a traditional Bai Tea Ceremony Day 3-4: Yunlong | Mr. Zhang’s Guesthouse ★ Learning traditional methods of sa l t packing in Yunlong Yunlong Village and salt wells • Sa l t packing with Mr. Yang • Village Ham curing with a different Mr. Yang • Thanksgiving festival dinner • Shundang ancient village • Shaxi market town ★ Dining on the region’s famous sa l t–cured ham at a Thanksgiving feast after watching fa r mer Yang’s curing Day 5-6: Shaxi | Sunyata, Shaxi process in action Shibaoshan Grottoes • Meet the musicians of Stone Dragon Village • Visit a local cheesemaker • Learn to stitch cloth shoes • Transfer back to Dali

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys

Zhangjiajie: Avatar Mountains Zhangjiajie

Best for: Hiking, Photography, Landscape Trip length: Small group departure: December 12th – 15th 2020 Spring Summer Autumn Winter 4 days Price: From RMB4,475 per person

This journey can also be customized as a private tour

Explore the celestial landscape of Scenic Area, where a forest of natural stone skyscrapers forms an ancient cityscape. This UNESCO World Heritage Site’s biggest draw is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home to the towering sandstone pillars that inspired the mythical world of Pandora in James Cameron’s Avatar. On a cloudy winter’s day, these pillars appear to be floating in the sky and, when you visit in winter, you’ll be one of the only visitors in the park. We’ll have our finger’s crossed for snow, too!

Day 1-2: Zhangjiajie A morning of photography tuition with a local photographer • Ride the Bailong Panoramic Elevator •The Pillar of the Southern Sky • The Platform of Forgetfulness • The No.1Bridge under ★ A morning of photography tuition with a local photographer Heaven • The Son of Heaven Mou ntain (Tianzishan)•Ascend the mountain by cable-car • Golden Whip Stream ★ Walking over the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge (if you dare!) Day 3-4: Zhangjiajie ★ Feeling like you have the mountains all to yourself Zhangjiajie Grand Ca nyon • Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge • Yellowstone Village • The Five Fingers Peak • Heavenly Door Mountain • Ghost Valley •Glass bottomed walkway • Tianmen Cave and Tianmenshan Temple

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys Photos by Jeff Fuchs Xishuangbanna: Winter in the Tropics Jinghong - Mengla County - Jinghong

Best for: Winter warmth, Tea culture, Ethnic minority culture Trip length: Small group departure: Dec. 16th – 21st 2020 (max 12 pax) Spring Summer Autumn Winter 6 days Price: Twin share from RMB7,465 per person

This journey can also be customized as a private tour

Xishuangbanna is just one of three names for Yunnan's southernmost prefecture – peopled and named by theDai. Over the borders in Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, travelers ma y hear Sipsongpanna or even Sibsongbanna. Whichever you hear, it will lead you to the same pref ecture, to the jungles south of the southern clouds that hug the Mekong as it makes its way out of the mountains. Banna remains, as it always has been, a hidden enclave, tucked awayin the greenery of southern China.

Day 1-2: Jinghong and the surrounding area Menghai Market, where you’ll find everything from high-quality Pu’er tea to lively eels • Meet the descendants of the first tea cultivators • Drive past sugarcane fields and verdant tea plantations to reach the ancient tea tree forest of Nannuo ★ Meeting the descendants of the first tea cultivators Mountain • Take a load off and enjoy a warming cup of tea made with leaves from the age-old trees • Gaozhuang night market ★ Looking out for the 100 wild elephants that call Wild El epha nt Valley home Day 3-6: Mengla County Dadugang Tea Plantation, the largest in the world • Sa ncha he ★ Drinking Pu’er tea at it’s source Forest Park, also known as Wild Elephant Valley • Mengla County • Sky Tree scenic area, China’s only tropical rainforest • Trek to a Dai Village and spend time with the local residents • Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys

Yunnan: Christmas in Cizhong Shangri-La – Deqin – Cizhong – Tacheng –

Best for: Christmas, Cultural Immersion, Nature Trip length: Small group departure: Dec. 20th – 27th 2020 (max. 12 pax) Spring Summer Autumn Winter 8 days Price: From RMB10,280 per person

This journey can also be customized as a private tour

Hidden away among the misty, terraced hills above the Mekong valley, the picturesque village of Cizhong was settled by French Catholic mi ssiona r i es 150 years ago. Today, the town is home to Lisu, Yi, and Tibetan people, who still tend the vineyards the French grew and attend the church built in a captivating blend of Chinese and European architectural styles. Get ready for a Christmas like no other as you join the town in their annual festivities.

Day 1-4: Shangri-La - Deqin Arrive in Zhongdian • Songzanlin Monastery • Thangka pa i nti ng class • Shangri-La Old Town • Baijisi Temple • Nixi artisan village • Sample “tsampa” with a Tibetan family • Dhondrupling Gompa ★ Dining in the shadow of the Meili Snow Mountains • Meili Snow Mountains • Mingyong Glacier

★ Celebrating Christmas Day with Tibetan Catholics in Cizhong Day 5-7: Cizhong - Tacheng Meet a family of Tibetan Catholics • Participate in the Christmas ★ Learning about Snub-nosed Monkey conser vation in the service in Cizhong • Join the Christmas dancing celebrations of Tacheng National Park Cizhong • Learn about Snub-nos ed Monkey cons ervation in Tacheng • Transfer to Lijiang

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys

Huangshan: The Yellow Mountain Huangshan and Nearby Villages

Best for: Hiking, Hui architecture, Artisanal craftsmanship Trip length: Small group departure: Dec. 26th – 29th 2020 (max 12 pax) Spring Summer Autumn Winter 4 days Price: Twin share from RMB5,540 per person

This journey can also be customized as a private tour

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is eastern China's most sublime mountain landscape, where delicate songshu pines cling to the vertiginous sides of soaring granite peaks. Its mist-swathed vistas are a recurring motif in Chinese art and literature, and, tamed by thousands of stone steps (and a few cable cars), are accessible to anyone with a head for heights. Scattered throughout the bamboo- forested lowlands are UNESCO-listed villages once home to prosperous tea and sa l t merchants who developed an elaborately decorative architectural style unique to this region.

Day 1-2: Huangshan Explore the Hui-style homes in Village • Meet a local artisan and learn to weave bamboo • Ride a bike around Bishan,a traditional Huizhou village • Village

★ Learning to weave bamboo with an artisan Day 3-4: Huangshan Ascend Huangshan on foot or by cable car • Less frequented by ★ Hiking in Huangshan’s Xihai Grand Canyon in winter with no tourists, the deep valleys and staggering peaks of Huangshan’s one else around Xihai Grand Canyon are the best vantage point for viewing the mountain’s “Sea of Clouds” • 1800-year-old Chengkan Village, ★ Dining with a local family in a traditional Hui-style home where all the walls have rounded edges • Dine with a local family • Learn a traditional ink-making process in Tunxi • Take a landscape painting class with an artist

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys

Harbin: Ice City Harbin

Best for: Ice festivals, Russian heritage, Jewish history Trip length: Small group tour departure: Jan 1st –4th 2020 (max. 12 pax) Spring Summer Autumn Winter 4 days Price: From RMB5,840 per person

This journey can also be customized as a private tour

When it was founded in 1898, Harbin's population primarily consisted of Russian and Jewish immigrants. Although the European citizenry diminished through the years, the remnants of the city's international past live on in its architecture and folklore. Harbin is famous for its freezing temperatures and record-breaking Ice and Snow Festival. During the festival, which takes place between December and March each year, ice is hauled from the frozen river by over 10,000 workers. Sculptures (including a full- sized steam train) are built to reach heights of 46m.

Day 1-2: Harbin Church of St. Sophia • Walking tour of Central Street, home to Russian heirloom shops and a fa sci na ti ng bl end of architectural styles • Harbin New Synagogue • Chair skating on Songhua River ★ Iceand Snow World;aspectacle you’ll never forget • Iceand Snow World • (Optional) Dinner at Café Russia 1914

★ Exploring Harbin’s Russian heritage on Lao Daowai Day 3-4: Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo • Explore Harbin’s ★ Watching artists at work at the International Snow Sculpture Russian heritage on Lao Daowai • Learn Chinese paper cutting • Art Expo Dumpling dinner

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys

Guizhou: Festival Season Guiyang - Kaili – Liping – Rongjiang - Guiyang

Best for: Minority culture, New Year celebrations, Hiking Trip length: Small group departure: Feb 24th – Mar 2nd 2021 (max. 12 pax) Spring Summer Autumn Winter 7 days Price: Twin share from RMB7,960 per person

This journey can also be customized as a private tour

Guizhou may be one of the poorest provinces in China, but it is remarkably rich in minority culture. And there is no time of year that’s better to experience the province’s vibrancies than during festival season. Join a small group of like-minded explorers to Day 1-2: Guiyang – Kaili - Liping discover the real Guizhou. Pull up a seat at the Long Table and Travel to Kaili for our first annual festival, the Lusheng Festival become part of the celebration. This is absolutelynot a tourist loop, in Qingman • Wa tch bullfighting and lusheng dance competitions this is a journey that will be unrefined and filled with delightful • Spend time with the Qingman locals who are fa mous for their surprises. spinning and weaving • Take a seat at a Long Table banquet

Day 3-4: Liping – Rongjiang - Guiyang Celebrate the Dragon Dance Festi val in Longli • Watch the tradition of painting the dragon’s face • Join Longli’s annual dragon dance competition • Learn water-painting with Master ★ Taking a seat at the Qingman Long Table banquet Shui • Experience the Danzhai batik making process

★ Participating in the annual Tunpu “Carrying Wanggong” ritual Day 5-7: Guiyang– Cave Camping - Guiyang Participate in the annual “carrying Wa ng g ong” ritual in a Tunpu ★ Hiking between villages and camping in a hermit cave village • Hike to a nearby hermit cave and camp overnight • Trek in the karst landscape • Visit the ancient town of Qingyan

www.wildchina.com | [email protected] | +86 10 6465 6602 | wildchina_journeys FOLLOW US ON WECHAT @WILDCHINA_JOURNEYS

Learn more, ask questions, customize and book your journey WWW. WILDCHINA. COM