WildChina is proud to be featured in the latest issue of National Geographic Traveler in their “Tours of a Lifetime” article. One of our most interesting journeys, “Old Country Living: Wandering the Rustic Landscapes of Guizhou and Guangxi” was picked for its unique blend of culture, adventure, and off-the-beaten-path travel. From the site:

Cut off from the rest of the country by rugged mountains, the southern provinces of Guangxi and Guizhou are largely unspoiled—tranquil lakes, jagged karst peaks. The region is home to many minority groups, many of whom still wear traditional dress and work at cormorant fishing and papermaking. You’ll stay in a series of rural homes. The Beijing-based operator works with villages to ensure that tourism doesn’t harm the community. One Guizhou village, for instance, closes itself to travelers three months each year to help maintain their traditional routines. Wild China: “Old Country Living: Wandering the Rustic Landscapes of Guangxi and Guizhou, China,”

Thanks National Geographic Traveler! We’re glad to be picked for such a wonderful distinction.

Interested in this trip? Email us at info@wildchina.com.

Teaching English, building roads, and revitalizing schools are not usually the first things that come to mind when most people think of romantic getaways. However, a recent article in TIME talks about couples growing closer through service vacations, or voluntourism.

From the article:

Even though volunteer vacations don’t leave much room for candles and flowers, says Antoniotti, they have been rejuvenating for her relationship. “Not that a typical vacation isn’t fun, but if it’s really easy, you don’t have those experiences that stretch you,” she says. “It’s like in exercise how they say tiny tears in your muscles allow you to get stronger. Little things that take you outside of your comfort zone challenge you as a couple and make you stronger.”

WildChina has always been dedicated to serving the local communities we visit, and we’re constantly on the lookout for new projects. We’ve taken students on service trips in Guizhou, work closely with the WWF in Sichuan, and are developing service trips with Habitat for Humanity. Visit us at wildchina.com and follow us on Twitter to learn more!

Did you know that kung pao chicken originated in Guizhou province, not in Sichuan?

Yes, food is on my mind, as I’ve been eating way too much. And, no, the title of my post isn’t referring to preserving food. It’s about preserving ancient cultural traditions, ones that have been passed down from one generation to the next for years on end.

In Guizhou (southwestern China), I joined a family of four from North Carolina, on a trip entitled “Hidden Tribes of China.” We were led by our highly energetic guide, Xiao, a lifelong Guizhou native whose deep passion for his province was truly infectious. The trip was eye-opening for all of us—a chance to see how China’s ethnic groups have maintained their vibrancy in the midst of the modernization sweeping across the country.

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