China
12 DAYS CHINAHONG KONG TO GUILIN. OLD CITIES, RICE FIELDS & LANDSCAPESFOR ONLY €109013th - 24th July 2019
"Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but memories."
Set free your creative side with amazing photography, make new friends and discover China!
This workshop tour kicks off in the vibrant city of Hong Kong, the former British colony and current special administrative region of China as we travel to mainland China, Guilin where we explore old cities, villages to picturistic landscapes. Along the way, we trek through one of China's wonders (no, not the Great Wall!), the legendary 800 year old terraced ricefields of Longsheng.
Independent travelling in a small group of up to six participants. A great way to bond with other like-minded travel photographers!
INFORMATION EVENINGFriday 15th February 201919.00 - 2030.
Your first time to Asia? Would like a face to face discussion or have any questions? Great! I'll love to answer them!
You can also join in 'LIVE' through WhatsApp where ever you are!
A 90 minute China info evening will be organised on Friday 15th February 2019. Join the information evening by filling in the contact form below.
Book Photo Tour
Book Hotel & Flights
Get There
Enjoy!
The only photography workshop tour that gives you full control and flexibility by providing the great workshops, and tours which include transport and like-minded photography travel pals. You just book your flights to get there. Then book the hotels of your choice where we will be travelling through, or use my recommendations.
Don't forget, you are also on holidays and may want some time for yourself. Apart from the workshops where we work and travel together, there is sufficient rest & recreation time included for your own thing. Or if you prefer, hang out with me for meals, drinks and company. Whatever you decide, is cool for me! The tour is designed to end and brings you back to Hong Kong, where you can choose to extend your stay or travel further with your new friends and photography skills.
The Hong Kong - Guilin photography workshop tour requires us to wake up rather early (oh god....!). This is when we have the best light and less crowd. However, don't forget that you can always take a siesta during the day!
Needless to say, you'll get better deals for summer the earlier you book your flights and hotels.
Tour Highlights
- 2 workshop leaders speaking the local languages!
- Tasting local culinary delights.
- A glimpse of 2 worlds, Hong Kong and mainland China.
- High speed train journeys included.
- 3 nights hotel (single occupancy) included at Longsheng steps away from an amazing sunrise view!
- Trekking through 800 year old Longsheng Rice Terraces (Dragon's Backbone)
- Amazing karst mountains views.
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 01
13th July. Sat.
Hong Kong
3pm. Welcome to Hong Kong! Meet workshop leaders, fellow travellers and tour briefing. After which we proceed to photograph some of Hong Kong's iconic places.
Optional group dinner.
Included:
Welcome drink, briefing. introduction workshop, city tour.
DAY 02
14th July. Sun.
Hong Kong to Guilin
You can use the early morning to explore the area of Mongkok. Then we zip from Hong Kong to mainland China by high speed bullet train. We'll arrive late afternoon where a little surprise is planned!
A visit of Guilin City is also planned. Optional group dinner.
Workshop, city tour, train to Guilin.
DAY 03
15th July. Mon.
Guilin
Morning visit to an old Chinese river town and photo opportunities at an old restored Chinese dwelling.
In the afternoon, we will be back with ample time to visit other parts of Guilin,
Workshop, local transport.
DAY 04
16th July. Tue.
Guilin to Fenghuang
Departure to Fenghuang (ancient Chinese city - Phoenix city). Once a frontier town, Fènghuáng marked the border between the Han civilisations and the minorities of the southwest mountains.
Arriving early evening, you'll be treated to an illuminated town which can be quite spectacular.
Night photography and optional group dinner.
Workshop, transport.
DAY 05
17th July. Wed.
Fenghuang
We'll take the day to explore this breathtaking riverside town of winding alleys, temples and rickety stilt houses.
Night photography will be a delight! Optional afternoon visit to minority village. Optional group lunch & dinner.
Workshop and city tour.
DAY 06
18th July. Thu.
Fenghuang to Longsheng
Early morning departure to Longsheng rice terrace fields. We arrive late afternoon.
Terraced Fields (Dragon’s backbone) dates back about 700 years ago and were constructed by the Zhuang and Yao people.
Optional group dinner.
Transport and single room at hotel
DAY 07
19th July. Fri.
Longsheng.
We have a sunrise shoot where you’ll have an amazing 180 degrees view of the terrace rice fields. After a hearty breakfast, we head off for a full day trek across the rice fields, passing through villages with great landscape photography opportunities.
Trekking and single room at hotel.
DAY 08
20th July. Sat.
Longsheng.
Early morning sunrise shoot. After breakfast, we start off with a workshop to review your images and techniques.
You have the rest of the day free to explore the on your own or take a break after the previous day's trek. Optional group dinner.
Single room at hotel. workshop
DAY 09
21st July. Sun.
Longsheng to Yangshou.
We leave for Yangshou in the morning, our last destination. Yangshuo is known for its karst peaks, rivers, caves, and temples, as well as its laid back cafes and bars.
Evening visit to Yangshou town. Optional group dinner.
Transport and workshop.
DAY 10
22nd July. Mon.
Yangshou
Its karst landscape, where there are hundreds of limestone hills dotting the countryside is breathtaking. The beautiful scenery here is a common subject of Chinese paintings as well as inspiration for poetry.
Early morning departure for sunrise shoot and draw inspiration from the surroundings the rest of the day till the sunset shoot. In between, we will also be visiting other places of interest. Optional group dinner.
Transport and workshop
DAY 11
23rd July. Tue.
Yangshou.
You have choices today. We start of with a workshop to review your images and techniques. You have the rest of the day free to explore the town or cycle through the country side.
Optional end of tour dinner.
Workshop
DAY 12
24th July. Wed.
Yangshou to Hong Kong.
Late morning departure by high speed train to Hong Kong. On the way, we'll transit through the vibrant city of Guangzhou. We should arrive in Hong Kong late afternoon.
Transport Yangshou. Train to Guangzhou and to Hong Kong.
MORE INFORMATION
Tour participant's profile
- You are a free independent traveller with a lust for adventure and photography. You are capable of making your own accommodation arrangements at each location. Everything else is taken care of. Relax and enjoy yourself.
- Bummer..... You should have some basic knowledge about photography, understand exposure and handling your camera (not on full auto). If you are currently shooting on full auto or would like a refreshal, it is highly recommended that you join the half-day photography crash course.
- Another one....Be willing to get out early at 7am. Photography is more important than sleep! Remember, you have the day to take a siesta and at the end of the tour you can extend your stay and wake up at your leisure.
- Adventurous to take local buses as distances are far and bus travel is the most cost-effective way. Most buses are pretty comfortable with good leg room. Able to ride a bicycle.
- Just reasonably fit as it involves walking and light treks.
- You share my core values of interacting with the local people & culture, sensitive about their way of doing things, believe in social responsibility and supporting the local economy.
- You are easy going, enjoy meeting people and making new friends. We are a small group of up to 8 photographers and I want everyone to have an a wonderful time with me. Be zen about life and accept the unexpected as part and parcel of having memorable moments!
- Like me, you are passionate about travel photography and wish to get amazing photos and not snap shots!
Skills you will take away
- Develop core photography competence.
- Understand landscape, night. people and street photography.
- Work with long exposures and capturing star trails.
- Effective composition tips.
- Shoot great travel photographs.
- Manage challenging light situations and using available light.
- Create panoramic images.
- Other image editing & processing techniques of with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
- People interaction skills in spontaneous situations & street photography.
What is included and excluded from the photography tour.
I believe in transparency and accessibility to the tours. Each of us have personal budgets, different comfort expectations but a common goal of travel photography and great images. Over 12 days, through the workshops and tours, we will explore many photography techniques, improve your photography skills along the way while working together.
Apart from the personal attention you'll be receiving, you will have your own free time. There will be opportunities as well to share costs with fellow photographers to do other activities not included (optional excursions).
The most important components of the tour are already included.
WHAT IS INCLUDED :
- Unless mentioned, all land transport during the period and the workshops are included from Hong Kong to Guilin, all local transports (buses & high speed trains) and back to Hong Kong where the tour ends.
- 3 nights accommodation (single rooms) in Longsheng at a strategic location for great views and sunrise shoots.
- Unique tour with 2 workshop leaders speaking the local languages!
WHAT IS EXCLUDED :
- Airfare or transport to arrive and depart from Hong Kong (where the tour starts and ends.
- Travel insurance.
- Meals, accommodation, entrance fees (will be listed out for you in advance),
- Tips and expenses of a personal nature
- Anything else that is not included will be mentioned in the detailed program.
- Please take a moment to glance through the links below as they provide insights, tips and suggestions to make your travel arrangements hassle free.
* USD rate is an indication and subject to currency fluctuations. Check current exchange rate here.
Do you have any questions or would like more information? Just contact us!
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