In a country as vast as China there exist a vast range of photographic opportunities. However, most visitors stick to the well-visited places, typically bound by pollution and overpopulation. Move to the Western part of China and the story changes. You’ll find yourself surrounded by ancient culture, minorities that still wear their traditional outfit on a daily basis, and landscape that has inspired many visual artists.

On this journey, we’ll follow part of the famous Ancient Tea and Horse road. The Road traces back to the period of the Tang dynasty (618-907) and Tibetan (Tubo) regime. Modernization has made the road more accessible, still keeping the mystery and beauty of the early days, and the ethnic and cultural diversity of the region. There is a local saying, “The languages beyond five square li [2.5 kilometers] are different from each other, and the customs beyond ten square li are different from each other.” There are more than twenty different ethnic groups to be found along the route. Some famous old towns and villages which once were key stations and markets of the Tea and Horse Caravan Road have been listed among the most important international sites for historic preservation. For example, the Lijiang, where the Naxi people form the majority of inhabitants, was been designated as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1997.

During the fall, the landscape turns magical, with snowy peaks and leaf color changing to bright yellow and red. Locals are celebrating before the winter arrives. Many pilgrims come here to worship and circumambulate the mountain with their tents, sheep and horses to ask for blessings from the mountain god. In Serta, we’ll visit the largest Buddhism school and monastery in the world. We will spend time to understand the importance of this school and the ramification it has over the religion worldwide. With tea being so important in the region, we’ll stop in tea houses. The atmosphere will make for memorable images.

Here is a quote from the Tao de Ching (translated by Stephen Mitchell), which give you an idea on how this workshop could enhance your photographic vision:

A good artist lets his intuition
Lead him wherever it wants.
A good scientist has freed himself of concepts
And keeps his mind open to what is.
Thus the Master is available to all people
And doesn't reject anyone.
He is ready to use all situations
And doesn't waste anything.
This is called embodying the light.

Our goals are multiple folds, with the following cropping to the top: We want to make your experience memorable by taking you to a place most Westerners don't know about. We want to share more than just photography so you can discover new ways of thinking and improving your personal photographic vision. We want you to come back and be radiant as we are.

China is changing like the rest of the world, except that changes in China are much more pronounced and quick. Chinese philosophers have been praising this place for centuries and for good reasons. Come and experience it with your own eyes and soul.

See you in October in the Sichuan Province.

Registration:
Double Occupancy: $6,900
Single Supplement: $700

Deposit (non-refundable):
$500 (Double Occupancy)
$700 (Single Occupancy)

Select Deposit

Double Occupancy $500.00 USD Single Occupancy $700.00 USD

Workshop details for Ethnic Minorities and Giant Pandas (China)