April 2-7 | South Yunnan Photography Workshop
South Yunnan
Photography Workshop
Destination: Yunnan
Visiting: Kunming - Yuanyang - Jianshui
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Departure: April 2, 2023
Introduction
China is a vast and unique country that is home to many natural wonders. The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are one of these hidden gems located south of the Ailao Mountains in the southern region of Yunnan province. Visitors to this beautiful destination are met with stunning views of terraced fields, which beautifully reflect the colours of the sky and the sun’s rays. Also unique to this area is the culture of the Hani people, who cultivated these rice terraces for centuries.
This immersive six-day photography tour led by our expert François Nadeau will start in Kunming where you will have the chance to visit the Western Hill, Dragon Gate, and Stone Forest UNESCO Global Geopark. We will then transfer south to Yuanyang for the UNESCO World Heritage listed Yuanyang Rice Terraces to visit the local village of Azheke, famed for it’s mushroom-shaped houses and home to the Hani and Yi minority groups. Before heading back to Kunming, we end our trip in Jianshui to enjoy a scenic journey by train to see the Double Dragon Bridge, Tuanshan Folk Houses, and Tuanshan Village, which was built in the the Ming Dynasty and regarded as a gem of Chinese Civil Houses.
Our Expert
François Nadeau
An award-winning photographer from Montreal, François Nadeau has been selected and invited five times at the "World Photographers focusing on Beijing". He worked in Turkey for the project ‘Izmir, a legacy for tomorrow’ organised by the Arkas Art Center and his photos were displayed at the Arkas Museum in Turkey. He won the first prize at the 2014 international photo contest ‘Chinese dream in the Eyes of Foreign Friends’ and in 2017 he was invited to the Photo Beijing event to present an important exhibition of his work. His book 'China: photographic narrative in the Middle Kingdom' was published with Les Editions Cayennes and his photos have been published in National Geographic Magazine as well as many other notable magazines and websites. François now lives in Beijing where he works on assignments for a range of magazines and also teaches photography.
Trip Highlights
This photography tour is a great opportunity to put into practice some important notions of photography. Here are some of the topics our expert will approach on this trip:
Preparation for a day of shooting
How to be ready for situations
Landscape, portrait, and panoramic photography
Best setting to take pictures of the rice terraces
Capturing beautiful sunrises and sunsets
Composition
Neutral density filters
Digital workflow
This workshop will adapt to all situations in order for you to learn how to take stunning pictures. It will help you to photograph subjects and create the best composition. Our expert will have daily group discussions as well as one-on-one sessions throughout the trip about different subjects, methods, and approaches.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Kunming
Suggested Flight: CA1403 Beijing Capital - Kunming 06:30-10:20
Arrive at Kunming airport to meet and greet with your guide before transfering to the city center for lunch. In the afternoon visit the Western Hill and Dragon Gate where you will have a panoramic view of Dianchi and pass the Dragon Gate. As the Chinese idiom goes, 'Once you ascend Longmen (Dragon Gate), you would receive a sudden boost in your prestige'. Dragon Gate is a certain gorge on a river flanked by precipices and with a natural dam. If carps swimming upstream could jump over the dam, they would become dragons. If time allows, enjoy a leisurely walk to the Dianchi Dam, where you may have chance to photograph the flying seagulls.
Overnight: Kunming
Meals: -/L/-
Day 2
Kunming - Yuanyang (300km, 4h)
Depart for Yuanyang after breakfast and visit Stone Forest en-route. Stone Forest has the most unique karst landform in the world due to its long history, large scale, and rich categories. It’s reputed as the ‘First Wonder under the Heaven’ and enjoys a high reputation in world geography circles. Continue driving south to arrive in Yuanyang and check into your hotel.
Overnight: Yuanyang
Meals: B/L/-
Day 3
Yuanyang
On this day enjoy a full day of exploration to the Yuanyang Rice Terraces. The scenery of the terraced fields in Yuanyang is at its best from November to the following April when the fields are filled with water offering photographers stunning scenery to capture. Proceed to a local Village called Azheke, famous for it’s mushroom-shaped houses. The village is home to the Hani and Yi minority groups who live together peacefully. We will hike around the villages to discover and photograph the daily life of the locals and enjoy the sunset on the terrace fields (weather permitting).
Overnight: Yuanyang
Meals: B/L/-
Day 4
Yuanyang - Jianshui (140km, 2h)
In the morning visit Duoyishu Scenic Area, the most beautiful natural and cultural landscape of the Yuanyang Terraces and the best place to go to photograph the sunrise. Hike the terraced fields and enjoy the beautiful views before setting off to Jianshui to visit Ant Workshop by Luo Xu, a native artist of Yunnan. The project was built after the transformation of an original waste brick factory and consists of a large maze built with hollow bricks. All of the buildings in the “Ant Workshop” have been developed in accordance with local ceramic culture. Arrive in Jianshui and check into a boutique guesthouse converted from an old Chinese courtyard.
Overnight: Jianshui
Meals: B/L/-
Day 5
Jianshui
In the morning enjoy a scenic journey by taking a sightseeing train to travel out of Jianshui Ancient Town to see the Double Dragon Bridge and Tuanshan Folk Houses. Jump on the train at Lin’an Station (near Chaoyang Tower) and admire idyllic farming scenery along the route before making a stop at Double Dragon Bridge and Xianghui Bridge for some sightseeing and photography opportunies. Double Dragon Bridge, also called Shuanglong Bridge, is a seventeen arch bridge 148m long and 3m wide. It crosses above the injunction of Lu River and Tachong River, which looks like two Chinese dragons, hence the name Shuanglong Bridge. Afterwards continue your train journey to Tuanshan Village. Built in the Ming Dynasty, Tuanshan Village is regarded as the Gem of Chinese Civil Houses and the most beautiful village in Yunnan. Its architectural style of the 19th century and beyond remains intact and the distinctive way of people's life is preserved, fully showcasing China's indigenous cultural characteristics. Enjoy a wonderful stroll in this historic village to experience the unique lifestyle and folkways of Tuanshan villagers and explore distinctive buildings such as Zhang Family Garden.
Overnight: Jianshui
Meals: B/L/-
Day 6
Jianshui - Kunming (195km, 2.5h)
Suggested flight: CA1414 Kunming - Beijing Capital 19:50-23:25
On your final day explore Jianshui Old Town at your own pace. Take a stroll to the local market like a local and encounter goods you may have never seen before. Step into hidden temples and admire the local wooden carvings and delicate gardens. Visit the ancient wells and walk into a traditional tofu workshop to learn how to make your own Jianshui tofu. Transfer back to Kunming and to the aiport for your flight back home.
Meals : B/L/-
End of Services
Accommodation
Day 1
Cachet Boutique Kunming Artime
Days 2 & 3
Oneness Resort Yuanyang Terrace
Days 4 & 5
Jianshui Guesthouse
Tour Price
From CNY 7,600/pp based on two people sharing one room.
Please contact us for single room supplement pricing.
What's Included
Professional photographer accompanying throughout the whole trip
Transfers and tours by A/C vehicle with an English-Speaking guide
5 nights accommodation in sharing twin/double room with breakfast as well as meals indicated in the program (Meal Symbols: B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)
Entrance tickets listed in the itinerary
Sightseeing train tickets (soft seat) in Jianshui
A Trails Hotline: 400-860-0836
What's Not Included
Ticket(s) for international and domestic flights
Personal expenses such as other meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, and optional tours/visits unless otherwise stated
Any meals not indicated in program
Tips for services of local guides and drivers
Porterage at the airport and at the hotels (in and out)
Visa fee for China
Voluntary carbon emission compensation for Gold Standard Project: USD 1.50/per person per day
Voluntary contribution to plastic reduction: USD 4/per person (A Trails reusable trek bottle will remain as memory of this action)
Last chance to sign up for this
departure will be March 26!
BOOK NOW
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