January 2010

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Mei Zhang to speak at New York Times Travel Show, February 28, 2010

January 29, 2010 in In the News, WildChina Experts by Alex G | No comments

(Source: www.travelmuse.com)

WildChina is pleased to announce that founder Mei Zhang will speak at the New York Times Travel Show, which takes place from February 26-28, 2010 in New York City.

Her seminar, entitled “Discover China,” will discuss experiential, off-the-beaten-path travel in China for which WildChina is known.

The New York Times says of her seminar,

Join entrepreneur Mei Zhang        —founder of luxury tour operator WildChina and a Travel + Leisure “A-List Travel Agent”—for a look at the new face of China travel. Zhang takes you beyond the Great Wall to the lesser known, yet equally stunning parts of China for truly experiential travel, highlighted by meaningful, personal interactions. Get tips on where to go and how to experience China differently, from ethnic minority village homestays to luxury hiking and camping in pristine natural landscapes.

Mei will present her seminar on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 11:30 am (Seminar Room 2 of the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City). More information on Mei’s and other sessions can be found online: NYT Travel Show Travel Seminars.

If you are interested in booking Mei for a speaking engagement, please contact Alex Grieves at alex.grieves@wildchina.com.

WildChina in Orville Schell’s Conde Nast Traveler article ‘China’s Magic Melting Mountain’ (February 2010)

January 27, 2010 in In the News by Alex G | No comments

 

Conde Nast Traveler's February 2010 issue, featuring Orville Schell's article 'China's Magic Melting Mountain'

China scholar Orville Schell recently published a piece in the February 2010 issue of Conde Nast Traveler entitled ‘China’s Magic Melting Mountain,’ in which he discusses China’s lesser-known Tibetan Plateau, the region’s Buddhist culture, and the physical and cultural effects of global warming on the area’s glacial mountain peaks. 

WildChina is proud to be mentioned in the article as Orville Schell’s sole operator for the journey. Orville says of WildChina and traveling through the region:

You’re best off booking your trip through a tour operator who can help you navigate the often-tricky logistics in this remote area. The author booked his trip through WildChina—the founder of which, Mei Zhang    , is a Yunnan native and Harvard MBA (888-902-8808; wildchina.com).

Why did Orville Schell decide to travel with WildChina? Find out here. 

The February 2010 issue of Conde Nast Traveler is on newsstands now, and you can find the full version of ‘China’s Magic Melting Mountain’ online here.

For more information about travel to the Tibetan Plateau, please contact Barbara Henderson at barbara.henderson@wildchina.com.

Spending some time with a Giant Panda in the wild!

January 27, 2010 in Uncategorized, WildChina Experts by Heather.Graham | No comments


Bamboo newly broken by a Giant Panda, Changqing Reserve

Bamboo newly broken by a Giant Panda, Changqing Reserve

It’s happened!! After months of learning about Giant Pandas, seeing videos about them, writing blogs about them, and constructing an Action Plan to minimise the impact of tourism to them – I have seen a Giant Panda in the wild!!!  Even now, nine days after this experience, I am still smiling when I think about it. Being winter and therefore having an increased opportunity to see them, my former manager, Mr Shi Jian, organised a car for me to spend a few days with one of our best trackers, Zhang Yongwen, in Changqing Reserve.

It is estimated that Changqing National Nature Reserve has approximately 100 pandas within our reserve boundaries. During June to September each year, the majority of these live in the high mountains, descending to the valleys for the colder months. According to Zhang Yongwen, due to their need to conserve energy, Pandas in Changqing often meander around existing tracks such as former logging roads, and Takin tracks. This means, that when tracking pandas in Changqing you walk along these valley tracks, and alongside rivers in search of signs that pandas have been nearby recently. Signs include freshly broken bamboo, a trail of fresh scats and if you’re really lucky the sound of bamboo breaking in the distance. However, as pandas meander off the tracks to find nice places to sit, chew bamboo and sleep – once you think you’re close to one, you often find yourself scrambling hand and foot up steep bamboo covered hills. Some may not like this side of tracking, but not me, I love it! It makes me feel alive, every scratch and bruise making me more determined, heart pumping loudly (‘will I see a panda this time’), it makes me feel like David Attenborough or a BBC cameraman!

Fresh Panda scat, Changqing Reserve

Fresh Panda scat, Changqing Reserve

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Xi’an: Shaanxi’s Global Leadership in Solar Research & Development

January 26, 2010 in Uncategorized by Alex G | 1 comment

This post is the third in a series by guest blogger Abby Poats. Abby Poats is a Research Associate based in Beijing with the Washington DC-based American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) US-China Program (USCP). She also teaches English at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing through the Princeton in Asia (PiA) fellowship program. Her blog entries contain her personal reflections and do not reflect the views of ACORE USCP.

 

 

Source: www.shanghaifocus.com

 

One of China’s staple travel destinations, Xi’an—the present-day capital of Shaanxi Province and one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China—is world-renowned for its 8,000-strong subterranean army of Terracotta Warriors. Each year, tens of millions of Chinese and foreign tourists make their pilgrimage to Xi’an to behold these imposing forces commissioned in 210 BCE by Qin Shi Huang, the fierce first emperor of China, to be entombed with him to help him maintain his imperial dominance in the afterlife.

Glossing over 3,100 years of rich, tumultuous history brings us to the present day, as Xi’an adds to its subterranean Terracotta forces a new set of warriors taking on the paramount task of driving innovation up and cost down in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.

In order for this development to even be possible, however, the regional economic development strategies of the 1990s first had to catalyze capital investment in poorer regions that had not benefitted as much as cities in the east during the 1970s and 1980s. Xi’an, like several other western cities, soon became home to strategic industrial development zones, which today host research, engineering and manufacturing facilities for the software, telecommunications, and aerospace industries. Today, Xi’an’s 40 universities and over 10,000 annual graduates provide Xi’an’s industrial zones with world-class research capacity.

Hosted by the Xi’an High-tech Industries Development Zone, U.S.-based Applied Materials, the world’s leading provider of solar PV equipment, opened the Applied Materials’ Solar Technology Center in October 2009. As the largest non-government solar energy research center in the world, the facility, according to Applied Materials CEO Mike Splinter, “represents a critical breakthrough for the photovoltaic industry and China” and the “industrialization of the global solar industry.”

 

 

Source: www.appliedmaterials.com

 

The facility will focus on research, development and demonstration as well as testing and training for both crystalline silicon and thin film module manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the center will allow local technology suppliers to work with Applied Materials engineers on testing and enhancing the efficiency of their current materials and systems.  

Former capital of thirteen ancient dynasties, Xi’an is working today to distinguish itself as China’s capital of solar research and development. While the city marked the terminus of the Silk Road in the distant past, Xi’an seems poised to become a key origin of solar innovation in the near future.

 by Abby Poats

Introducing… The WildChina Collection ReviewBlog

January 26, 2010 in WildChina Collection, WildChina Experts by Alex G | No comments

The Year of the Tiger is rapidly approaching (it begins on February 14). In the Chinese zodiac, the tiger has always been a marker of great change, development, and improvement. Taking this to heart, WildChina has made big goals for the new year, which include initiatives that will enable us to better connect bolster and increase our community service, environmental protection and sustainable development partnerships.

In addition, WildChina strives to facilitate the development of China’s experiential travel sector by launching the WildChina Collection Network. We have worked with many outstanding lodge and hotel owners of establishments such as the Linden Centre, and we also see many other niche operators offering experiential travel around China. However, there is neither a community of sharing and exchange, nor joint marketing efforts to raise the awareness of experiential travel in China. The WildChina Collection Network aims to bring accommodations and operators together to share knowledge and create a home for small businesses committed to high-quality experiential travel.

As part of our WildChina Collection initiative, we’ve created a new series on our blog, the WildChina Collection ReviewBlog, which features our reviews of sites, hotels, and restaurants on our blog to keep readers informed of up-to-date information and trends in niche and boutique travel options. 

Our inaugural ReviewBlog post takes us to Shanghai:

WildChina Operations team members Nellie and Rebecca recently visited Shanghai to review client accommodations. Here is their take on two upscale Shanghai hotels, The Peninsula Shanghai and JIA Shanghai.

The Peninsula Shanghai

Location: Located on the main Bund strip. Although there is currently a lot of road work in the area for the World Expo, it will be completed by the end of Chinese New Year.

Service: Excellent; most staff speaks reasonably good English.

Aesthetic: Lobby decor is classic and elegant, and is a throwback to 1920s-era Shanghai.

Accommodations: Offers a wide range of rooms, from Superior Rooms and Deluxe Garden Rooms to a host of luxury suites. Rooms host a bevy of services and amenities, including plush furnishings and beds, electronics, and internet.

Dining: The Peninsula provides a variety of options for guests. Breakfast is a la carte and is served until 11:00am. Restaurants include Yi Long Court (Cantonese with private dining rooms) and Sir Elly’s (Western with private rooms). Room service is also available.

Recreation: The Peninsula boasts a spa, fitness center, indoor swimming pool and outdoor sun terrace.

WildChina says: “Great location with fantastic service and spectacular views. Attention to detail is absolutely impeccable. Easily the best 5-star hotel in Shanghai.” –Nellie

Make reservations here.

JIA Shanghai

Location: Located by the West Nanjing Road subway, JIA Shanghai is surrounded by hip shops and restaurants.

Service: Staff members were friendly and their English was better than average.

Aesthetic: Romantically dark. Walkways leading to elevators and rooms are dimly lit, with the light green wood doors being the only highlight in the walkways to elevators and rooms.

Accommodations: Studios and suites are available, and are beautifully designed in an eclectic modern style. Rooms are outfitted with designer modern furniture, and high-tech amenities.

Dining: Continental Breakfast is served. Issimo Restaurant offers Italian cuisine, while Issimo Bar serves classic cocktails, wine and champagne.

Recreation: JIA houses a small but well-appointed gym on the 2th floor, which  treadmills, bicycles, and weight equipment.

WildChina says: “The ‘it’ choice for boutique accommodation in Shanghai – high-end urban cool provides intimacy for design-oriented travelers. ISSIMO is equal parts hip and delicious, providing tasty fare in a trendy atmosphere.” –Nellie

Make reservations here.

Curious about accommodations, sites, restaurants, or other venues in China? Tweet at us (@WildChina) or send an email to Alex Grieves at alex.grieves@wildchina.com. We’ll try to include your inquiry in our next post.

Infrared Cameras in Changqing Reserve

January 20, 2010 in Uncategorized, WildChina Experts by Heather.Graham | No comments

Photo of Giant Panda taken in Changqing Reserve by one of the infrared cameras

Photo of Giant Panda taken in Changqing Reserve by one of the infrared cameras

Over the Christmas and New Years period I was blessed to have two of my good friends from back home come to China to visit me, and also see what it was about this country that had me raving. Not surprisingly, as part of the visit, they both wanted to see where I had been living and working for the previous 10 months. I was also keen to share with them a glimpse of rural China, and a chance for them to see the nature reserve. So two days of animal tracking in Changqing National Nature Reserve was included in the itinerary!

We had a fabulous time following one of our most experienced guides here Mr Xiang, a known panda expert – who has eyes like a hawk. As mentioned in one of my previous blogs, while very cold, winter here is also a great time to visit our reserve due to an increased chance to see some animals who have come further down the mountain for the cold weather. Mr Xiang picked up the slightest movements from hundreds of meters away, and through following animal scats, footprints in the snow, sound and movements we ended up seeing numerous animals, including two Internationally Endangered animals: the Golden Takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) and Golden Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingenis) and one Internationally Critically Endangered bird, the Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon).

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Helping Haiti via social media

January 19, 2010 in In the News by Alex G | No comments

Social media has never been as important as it is now for Haiti relief efforts. (Photo courtesy of a1.twimg.com)

As social media continues to evolve, its uses and application to daily life increase exponentially. In WildChina’s corner of the internet, we are continually intrigued by the news we read and the people we engage with, and opportunities we discover in regards to sustainable travel, ecotourism, travel trends in China, non-profit initiatives, and more.

In light of the tragic events that have recently transpired in Haiti, social media’s relevance to offline life has never been more evident. Cries for aid in numerous tweets have alerted “twitizens” of the issues at hand – and these cries have been heard.

According to USA Today, approximately 3% of recent blog posts (which include tweets, as they are considered micro-blogs) were written on Haiti. Thanks to publicity through social media outlets, the Red Cross had already raised $8 million as of Friday, January 15, 2010 through people texting HAITI to 90999 (each text raised $10 for the cause).

WildChina has put together a brief list of ways that you can help contribute to the cause, which we have encountered recently in the realm of social media:

  1. Text ‘HAITI’ to 90999 to make a $10 donation (Red Cross)
  2. Text ‘UNICEF’ to 20222 to make a $10 donation (UNICEF)
  3. Text ‘Yele’ to 501501 to make a $5 donation (Wyclef Jean/Yéle Haiti Foundation)
  4. Make an online contribution to Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti (HAS Haiti)
  5. Go to CNN’s Larry King/Impact Your World site for an extensive list on organizations involved in providing aid to Haiti (CNN/Non-profits)

Want to add to this list? Please email Alex Grieves at alex.grieves@wildchina.com or send us a tweet @WildChina.

Mei Zhang speaks at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business on January 19th and 20th, 2010

January 19, 2010 in In the News, WildChina Experts by Alex G | No comments

Photo courtesy of Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

WildChina founder Mei Zhang will speak at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business on Tuesday, January 19th and Wednesday, January 20th, 2010.

Her talks, regarding doing business in China, will focus on China’s changing start-up environment and the challenges of entrepreneurship in China – both specifically and relative to the United States. Mei will offer insights on her personal experiences in the Chinese market as well.

Mei is pleased to share her expertise with Georgetown’s business school students about such a creative, competitive and exciting market.

The exact schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, January 19th, 11:50 – 12:05 pm, for full-time students
Wednesday, January 20th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, for evening students

For more information on booking Mei Zhang for a speaking engagement, please contact Yu Zhang at yu.zhang@wildchina.com.

US Office Closure for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 15, 2010 in Holidays and Festivals, In the News by Alex G | No comments

Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo courtesy of cfce.org)

WildChina’s Bethesda, MD office will be closed on Monday, January 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day national holiday. Regular business office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 19.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@wildchina.com.

Travel Alert: China advises less travel ahead of Spring Festival amid flu fear

January 14, 2010 in Travel Tips by Alex G | No comments

Xinhua news agency has reported that, in light of the upcoming Chinese New Year on February 14th, that those in China reduce travel to avoid the spread of H1N1 flu.

Read the full article on the health advisory here.

Want more information on H1N1 and health in China? Contact WildChina at info@wildchina.com.

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