WildChina is excited to announce the product launch of Cityscapes & Countrysides: An Intimate Look at China and Vietnam.

Northern Vietnam

This pioneering cross-border journey will transport guests through two ancient capitals and into contact with rural ethnic minorities. The trip begins in Beijing where you will be part of modern China at its best, as business executives brush shoulders with pedi-cab drivers against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers and family-owned hutongs.  In contrast, China’s southern province of Guizhou, invites travelers to step back in time to a world of rice paddies and karst hills, inhabited by water buffalo and the Miao ethnic minorities.

On the Vietnam side of the border, Hanoi and the Vietnamese countryside represent two vastly different corners of the country, both in landscape and in culture. In Hanoi you will glimpse the history and culture behind this 1000-year-old Vietnamese capital, while the villages of Sapa, Seo Trung Ho, and Ban Ho expose the traveler to the bucolic, traditional side of life, providing interesting comparisons with China’s Guizhou to the north.

Among the rice paddies in Guizhou, China

WildChina is collaborating with Journey Within, a South East Asia based travel company and a member of the Condé Nast Destination Expert Alliance. Over the years, Journey Within CEO Andrea Ross and WildChina Founder Zhang Mei have forged a strong relationship while attending annual Condé Nast Top Travel Specialist conferences, an gathering of the crème de la crème of the travel industry (picked by the one and only Wendy Perrin, Condé Nast’s famed travel guru).  Several years ago, Andrea and Mei began speaking about how they should create an cross border adventure journey so their clients could learn about Vietnam and China’s complex shared history, ethnic minorities and gorgeous handicrafts.

Zip through Hanoi, Vietnam with Journeys Within

With WildChina and Journey Within’s access to local families in these remote villages, there’s no better way to Experience China–and now Vietnam–Differently. To take a look at more trip details, click here on Cityscapes & Countrysides: An Intimate Look at China and Vietnam.

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Ready for cross-border travel? Get in touch at info@wildchina.com and a WildChina travel consultant would love to answer any questions you might have regarding this journey.

Photos by WildChina + Journeys Within

Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2012 was hosted at China’s coastal city of Tianjin from 4 -12 February. The final, won by Hong Kong (China) against South Africa was played at the luxury resort Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club. Twelve of the best teams in the world took part, including England, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.

With this year’s Snow Polo World Cup in St Moritz being cancelled due to thin ice on the lake, this World Cup in Tianjin acquires even more importance. And, as the organisers stated: no sport can enjoy comprehensive development without the participation of China.  As we all know, the lack of natural snow in Tianjin is no impediment for the tournament to go ahead, the Chinese will guarantee an abundance of it by making a total of 4,000 cubic metres of snow over the arena, a process that started in late December.

Regular services by bullet train from Beijing South Station take you to Tianjin in under 30 mins, and from there a 25 min taxi drive to the luxurious Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, the largest polo club in China.

The emerging sport of snow polo was first introduced in 1985 at the resort town of St. Moritz, Switzerland, by a handful of men attracted by the passion and excitement of polo and the extremity of the conditions. Since then it has grown from strength to strength into a recognised winter sport enjoyed among the elites worldwide.

Snow polo is very similar to traditional polo: but games are played on a snow-covered arena. The teams are made up of three players and each game consists of four six-minute chukkas (periods). The horses wear special cleated shoes to provide better traction. The ball is larger and lighter than in grass polo, and bright orange, to make it easier to see against the snow.

Polo has always been synonymous with the finer things in life, attracting affluent, sophisticated high-achievers. Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club provides an exquisite location for impeccable wine dinners through its close relationships with world famous winemakers and chateaux: Chateau Latour, Mouton Rothschild and others. The resort boasts indoor and outdoor training facilities for both the young and adults and comes with a dazzling Clubhouse, spa and leisure facilities on par with any top international resort. Staffed by well-known names in the equestrian and polo world, the Club offers a luxurious venue to relax and entertain.

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Is riding a passion? Take a look at the WildChina product Tibetan Yushu Horse Festival in Qinghai province.

Content + photos by WildChina’s Chelin Miller

Wow! Last night we sat down to eat at Heping Yiyuan, a favorite spot of WildChina’s guests for an elegant tea ceremony or lunch. Typically the eggplant that we make at home or get out at a Chinese restaurant– while deliciously flavoured–is a tad on the mushy side.

This eggplant was entirely different.

Slightly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, it had the perfect amount of salt and sweet. I only wish that the picture could convey how lovely this dish was! For those you based in China or have traveled to China, you already know that the oft forgotten eggplant in North America is magically transformed in China into a delicious dish– even our pickiest clients– the seven year old boy who professed only to like rice in China quickly devoured this dish.

During your visit– or if you are a Beijing local– take a stroll through Ritan Park and pop in for a meal. WildChina is also offering a culinary tour throughout China, where you will be able to learn more about Chinese cuisine.

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Hungry? Take a look at China for Foodies for an unbeatable culinary experience!

Question?

WildChina just received news that Travel+Leisure has nominated WildChina in the World’s Best category  for “Tour Operators & Safari Outfitters.”

To complete the 2-minute voting process, please complete the online survey for a chance to win some fantastic prizes, including the grand prize of a $10,000 trip to a destination of your choice.  Sounds like a pretty sweet deal for two minutes of your time.

If you win the 10,000 prize, you might want to visit this courtyard restaurant in Beijing

Voting ends 3/31/12.

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For official Travel +Leisure Award rules, more here.

Last sunny Saturday, I got a call from my friend in Leishan who told me there would be a Miao New Year festival in the Leigong mountains, which includes rural Miao villages in Leishan and Taijiang. The official Miao New Year Celebration had already passed for 20 days, but the party was still going on in the villages.

Leishan Region

Yes, my guess was very right, this experience was absolutely a highlight. In the late afternoon, we arrived at a township via Leishan called Fangxiang, a very authentic Miao village built right on a steep mountain. I was received with open arms by the locals, and of course, they offered lots and of rice wine.

A group was dancing with a bronze drum, and there were huge Lusheng pipes. We were only outsiders at the villages, and people there dragged us to go dance with them and tried to teach us the steps.

We started to hike around 9am and OMG, today’s hiking is FANTASTIC, plus a beautiful sunny day. We hiked through fields, pine forests, villages, and a crystal stream where we had a kebab picnic, which was tons of fun. We hiked for almost an entire day and by the time we got to the next village, it was almost dark.

We had reached Baibang Short Skirt Miao village, where we were dragged by the locals for another evening of celebrations and a bit more rice wine. No matter whether they know you or not, they cherish every single guest. For dinner, we were invited over to the villager head’s house for dinner and had delicious fresh pork.  The dinner we had with the locals was over 15 people, including the villager leaders and their wives. While we ate, we were treated as VIP guests. After dinner, they sang to us and more and more neighbors kept coming to offer us, because they heard party leader’s home had guests.

After several hours eating, we went to see their dancing. The costume of the Baibang is very distinctive from other shortskirt Miao. The locals had been farming for a entire year, so it’s such a great time to rest and have some good food. I wished badly that you everyone at WildChina could be here witnessing. Such a great great great time. In Guizhou, they have a warm heart, heavy heritage, beautiful costumes and wonderful smiling…

Now, it’s back to Guiyang where my lovely daughter awaits… But I found my mind is not back yet, all the images in my brains are villagers, laughter, rice wine and singing,…

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An account from a recent trip in Guizhou from WildChina expert guide, Xiao. To learn more about Xiao and see a quick clip from Guizhou, please see here. 

If you are interested to see Guizhou’s festivals for yourself,  we would strongly suggest looking at Sisters’ Meals Festival which takes this year from April 5-7, 2012.  More questions? Please contact info@wildchina.com.

Whether your goals for the Year of the Dragon are to eat your way through China through China for Foodies or to take the most memorable family vacation yet, WildChina can help plan your journey. Highlights for the new year include new small group programs that feature intimate groups of just 16 travelers, with a dedicated WildChina Tour Director throughout the journey.

Experience Taiwan's Eastern Coast, a short trip away from bustling Taipei

WildChina will shortly be launching some exciting cross-border trips. Stay tuned for a trip that travels from Guizhou in southern China into lush northern Vietnam as well as a trip that travels overland from Mongolia’s grasslands into China’s capital city.

Everyone at WildChina is anticipating that Yunnan will be one of our most sought after travel destinations.  What we like about Yunnan is that there a bit of something for everyone. You are an avid hiker looking for a change of pace and a challenge? Take a look at Tibetan style trekking in Abujee. Looking to travel on an ancient trade route to deepen your knowledge of tea? You will definitely drool over Tea & Horse Caravan. And our friends over at Travel + Leisure agree that Xishuangbanna is definitely one of the Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012.

Mongolian Grasslands

Hiking in Southwest Yunnan in the Abujee region

We look forward to sharing another exciting year with you.  From everyone at WildChina, hope 2012 is off to a great start!

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Photo credit (for 2nd photo): iLearn Culture

Featured in the January 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure as one of the “Hottest Travel Destinations for 2012“, WildChina’s journey in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan made the cut!

Xishuangbanna (pronounced she-shwang-ban-na), in the southern part of China’s Yunnan Province, is in many ways overlooked by the Western tourist, cowed by the gems of Lijiang and Shangri-la to the north. In fact, Xishuangbanna is one of the province’s hidden gems.

Nestled between Laos and Myanmar in Yunnan’s south, Xishuangbanna seems a world away from the popular tourist destinations in the north. Home to a wide variety of tea plantations, and boasting the oldest tea tree in the world, Xishuangbanna was once the beginning of the ancient Tea and Horse caravan road, which brought tea from southern Yunnan up to Tibet. Tea production and cultivation has been part of Xishuangbanna’s history for hundreds of years, which can be seen throughout the minority villages that dot the countryside.

When traveling to Xishuangbanna and planning your trip, there are a few important highlights to keep in mind. First and foremost, it is important to get a sense of the minority culture in the region through visiting minority villages and interacting with the people. The largest ethnic minority in the area are the Dai people, and there are many easily accessible villages around the capital of the region, Jinghong. The region offers miles of excellent hiking through tea plantations between villages, and homestays can be arranged in various villages, for a more authentic experience. Another of Xishuangbanna’s highlights are the markets that dot the villages and towns. These range from animal markets, fruit and vegetable markets, and areas to buy goods. Just meandering through the aisles of these markets is an eye opening experience, as is purchasing some of the fares and sampling the local cuisine (anything from dried chilies to local pastries, to various cooked meats). WildChina is thrilled

with the opening of the Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa and cannot wait to send guest there!

Trips can be arranged in Xishuangbanna any time of year, with spring, winter, and autumn being the best times to visit – just email info@wildchina.com for more information!

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Interested in traveling to Xishuangbanna? Take a look at Pushing China’s Southern Boundary: Trekking in Xishuangbanna, a six day trips that starts and ends in Jinghong or Ancient Tea and Horse Road, an expert led trip by Jeff Fuchs. If you book Ancient Tea and Horse Road before December 30th, 2011 (11:59 PM EST) you will receive a fantastic promotion!

This past Saturday, I had my first Christmas dinner of the year at the Oxford and Cambridge Society’s Christmas Charity Ball. Around 240 alumni – influential people from business, government and academia – turned out in their finest satin gowns and dinner jackets to eat, dance and make merry, but more importantly, to dig deep into their pockets and give back to society.

WildChina Head of UK Market Samantha Woods with President of Oxbridge Society

For the second year running, WildChina supported this event by donating one of our signature journeys as top prize for the live auction. This year, we were thrilled to offer an unforgettable 6-day journey for two along enchanting Silk Road. A chance to walk in the footsteps of famous Italian explorer Marco Polo, this trip takes travellers to explore the bustling bazaars, breathtaking desert landscapes, and vibrant Uighur culture that lies at the heart of Xinjiang province.

The journey, worth 23,000 RMB, was finally awarded to Mr. Charles Du Cane, whose bid will go directly to the Chi Heng Foundation, the OCCB’s chosen charity for 2011.

The winner!

The Chi Heng Foundation (CHF) is a Hong Kong based charity established in 1998 that helps children across China affected by AIDS. CHF will channel all the proceeds from the ball, a whopping 180,000 RMB, into funding for scholarships, therapy and medication for these children in need, some of whom have already lost their parents to the virus. Since  2007, WildChina has actively supported the Chi Heng Foundation with donations and a series of employee volunteer days, so the ball was a great opportunity for WildChina to renew support of this worthy cause.

Last year, WildChina’s Songtsam Circuit: Secrets of Shangri-La journey helped to raise 19,000 RMB for the Beijing Charities Association to provide essential supplies, furniture (desks, chairs) and sports and IT equipment for a primary school for underprivileged children just 3hrs drive of Beijing.

Watch this space for an update on WildChina’s sustainable initiatives!

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This note was written by Samantha Woods, a WildChina travel consultant who attend the Oxbridge and Cambridge Christmas Charity Ball last weekend.

Here is a recent blog from Chelin Miller, WildChina’s own yummy mummy blogger.  Here she talks about a fantastic new book on Tibetan Arts and Artisans.  Makes everyone at WildChina want to add a Tibetan rug to their Christmas wish list!

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Living Hands: Tibetan Arts and Artisans, a book by Chris Buckley is an inspiring book. It gives an insightful description of the various aspects of Tibetan Arts and Crafts, about which there is so little written.

From weavers, dyers, metalworkers and thangka painters to mask makers, sculptors and carpenters. We can appreciate Chris Buckley’s passion for Tibet not only in the beautiful images (both by the author and by Mimi Kuo), but also in the knowledgeable description of each craft. But Living Hands is much more than a book about crafts. Because by portraying the artisans’ personal stories and anecdotes, their art comes to life; we feel closer to understanding their history, traditions and emotions. What drives them to create such beautiful objects: necessity, divine inspiration? Where do they source their materials? How did their techniques evolve through time and changing circumstances? What were these objects used for? How are modernity and globalisation affecting their traditional way of life?

I’ve had the privilege of meeting Chris Buckley personally and attending some of his talks about Chinese antiques in Beijing. He is one of the friendliest people I have ever come across, who will open up his home and share his collections, expertise and love for art and tradition. He is also an excellent photographer, designer and researcher, with a humanitarian drive to promote the preservation of Tibetan artisan products. To this end, in 2005 he established the Tanva Weaving workshop in Lhasa, helping to enhance the quality and value of rugs produced and sold by Tibetan weavers.

In September 2011 his gallery in Beijing, Torana, received a design award from Elle Decoration magazine for their colorshade rug range.  Living Hands: Tibetan Arts and Artisans is currently available direct from Torana Gallery in Europlaza, Beijing. The book will soon be available through Amazon.

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For additional questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch at info@wildchina.com.

WildChina is thrilled to announce our partnership with Chelin Miller. Chelin is a fantastic photographer and writer, and we can’t wait to feature exciting pieces on our blog about China travel and lux-living.  Stay tuned to watch this yummy mummy take over the blogging world with her local insights and fun side trips.
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I was born and grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I lived until my Prince Charming asked me to join him travelling all over the world – That was 18 years ago, and I haven’t looked back.

With a background in English-Spanish translation, three daughters, a passion for good food and an MSc in International Relations, I arrived in Beijing two years ago. I’ve been exploring and discovering this wonderful land and its culture, and every single day I find amazing people and traditions. I am a passionate photographer, a traveller, an explorer. I am a mother, a wife, a globetrotter.

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To learn more about Chelin Miller, stay tuned here for upcoming blogs or see Chelin in China.