Last week, almost 30 of  VF and The North Face’s business leaders were looking to get together for a strategy session in Beijing. Since WildChina is partnered with The North Face for the WildChina Explorer Grant, they reached out to us for exciting, local dinner ideas in Beijing.

We recommended a hot pot (in addition to Beijing, hot pot is also extremely popular in Guizhou and Inner Mongolia) banquet next to Beijing’s peaceful Houhai Lake–it fit the bill for the perfect gastronomic adventure. Haidilao supplied the cuts, broths, and sauces, and WildChina rented out Nuage for the occasion, adding our own decorations here and there to spice things up. After the meats had been cooked, the noodles added, and the broth drunk, the group retired to a WildChina favorite: The Opposite House. Not such a bad way to end a work day in our book.

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If you have a corporate event you are planning in China, or simply have questions about travel in China in general, send us an email at info@wildchina.com and we will be happy to assist you.

In January, our 2012 WildChina Explorer Grant winner William Bleisch finally had a chance to set out on the first steps of his expedition. Difficulties with permits had delayed his departure and William was extremely excited to hit the trail. Check out the first installment of his adventure journal below!

This last week, with WildChina’s support, we took the first steps to Ailaoshan. We had a team of 8 people: Zhao Tianxiao – an expert on gibbon conservationism from Fauna & Flora International; Yang Xing – a local adventure travel leader from Yuxi; Liu Jian – an enthusiastic executive who is also a dedicated photographer; Li Bo – the Xinping Ailaoshan Nature Reserve Vice-Director; and 3 local forest guards (Chen Zhongping, Zhang Yuande and Li Derong, who is an impressive 59 years old). We hiked across the Ailaoshan Provincial Nature Reserve 50 kilometers (31 miles) from southeast to northwest.

The trip took us four full days, two of which ended with us setting up camp in the dark.  Starting at a forest station above Jingxing Township in Xing Ping County at 1,953 meters (6,405 feet), and ending at the Jinshan Yakou guesthouse on Rt. S307 in Zhenyuan County at 2,409 meters (7,901 feet), each day involved 7 to 8 hours of hiking with full packs, climbing up peaks as high as 2,644 meters (8,672 feet) and down to valleys as low as 2,000 meters (6,560 feet).

Though painful at times, it was well worth it. The trail was everything I had dreamed it would be.  It was just like the Appalachian Trail through the southeast USA, only with bamboo and gibbons!  Spectacular ridge-top views of distant peaks and cloud sea below, dark tunnels through dense jungle, carpets of moss underfoot, forests of giant rhododendron, gentians and fragrant mountain tea flowers, rocky cliffs, and waterfalls.

We found signs of the golden cat, Sambar deer, and large raptors. This time unfortunately, the gibbons’ calls eluded us. Since water was scarce in the dry season, we had to camp low down the valleys, out of hearing range.  But an early morning at any one of a number of listening posts gave visitors a chance to hear known groups calling. Definitely something I’ll try to catch next time!

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If you have any questions about William’s expedition, our WildChina Explorer Grant, or travel in China, send us as email at info@wildchina.com and we will be happy to assist you.

Photos by William Bleisch

Heli. It was no easy task, but after much deliberation our judges chose this applicant and his journey to study the Tianshan Snow Lotus in Xinjiang’s Uighur Autonomous Region. An avid adventurer whose personal journeys have taken him all over western China and Tibet, Heli is currently a graduate student at Beijing’s Forestry University.

In addition to receiving WildChina’s 2013 Explorer Grant, Heli will be outfitted head to toe in gear provided by WildChina Explorer Grant sponsor The North Face. Our judges were particularly intrigued by Heli’s destination–remote, unexplored, and completely off the beaten path–and inspired by his genuine life-long interest in the Snow Lotus. Heli’s journey will not only push the boundaries for exploration, but will bring attention to the crucial issue of environmental protection.

We received some fantastic video submissions this year–our judges were impressed with the creativity and passion for exploration demonstrated and had a hard time reaching consensus. In recognition of this, we also have a runner-up this year, Zhao Jiang Bo who will receive a portion of the grant to support the furtherance of his bird research in Yunnan. We thank all our followers for their enthusiastic participation and hope everyone had as much fun with the contest as we did.

Once again, please join us in congratulating Heli, winner of the 2013 WildChina Explorer Grant.

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If you would like to know more about our contest please click here. If you have other questions about travel in China send us an email at info@wildchina.com and we will be happy to assist you.

WildChina Travel and The North Face® are proud to announce their partnership for the WildChina Explorer Grant!

The WildChina Explorer Grant is an award of up to USD 3,000 given to adventurers seeking to push the boundaries of responsible, off-the-beaten-path travel in China. This year, the grant’s third year, The North Face® has generously signed on as the apparel sponsor for the lucky grant recipient. Winners of the 2013 WildChina Explorer Grant will be outfitted head-to-toe in The North Face® gear, tailored to the winner’s individual trip needs and climate.

With both firms committed to exploration and transformational experiences, WildChina Founder Zhang Mei says, “The North Face coming on board brings the WildChina Explorer Grant to a whole new level. We are honored to partner with them and cannot wait to announce the news to the applicants in this years pool .”  Jacob Uhland, General Manager of Asia Pacific at The North Face® says, “The North Face is interested in supporting the WildChina Explorer Grant because we heard about the inspirational people associated with WildChina, like Jeff Fuchs [2011 WildChina Explorer Grant winner] and Zhang Mei. We have built relations with both of these people and we feel they embody the spirit of exploration which is at the heart of The North Face brand and the purpose behind most of what we do and support.  We have tremendous respect for the efforts of WildChina and their efforts to raise awareness of the outdoors through their Explorer Grant.”

For those of you holding your breaths for the Explorer Panel‘s 2013 decision, we’ll be announcing the winner of this year’s WildChina Explorer Grant on January 21st!  To see the English-language submission videos on Youtube click here. To see the Chinese videos on Youku click here. If you have a favorite, show your support on our Facebook, Twitter, Weibo, Youku and Youtube accounts!

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To learn more about our WildChina Explorer Grant click here. If you have other questions about travel in China send us an email at info@wildchina.com and we will be happy to assist you.

Photos by 2012 WildChina Explorer Grant winner Shanghua Zhang and The North Face

Below is a blog written by WildChina Explorer Grant Applicant E. Briel about her idea for exploring China. If you think her idea is cool show your support on our Pinterest, Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

I moved to China this year to explore art and to find people who make The Scholars’ Four Treasures (paper, ink, brushes, and ink stones) These artisans’ skills are not being continued by the younger generation. They’re in danger of extinction. I‘ve been recording the stories of the people who make them, and what they’re made from.

(Song Dynasty paintbrushes in Sichuan)

Next summer I hope to explore northern China and document how people make the Four Treasures, for a book and videos. How will I get there? Good question!Exploration is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

(Yellow weasel whose tail is used for paintbrushes)

Because there’s a lot of pollution in China, I’m really excited to mix art with science in a travel experiment: working with engineers to design an electric bike that will push the limits of solar-powered travel.

(An artist paints at the Thangka Academy in Shangri-la)

This will be a Pedelec-type hybrid electric bike with either a continuous solar self-charging battery trailer, or several solar charged batteries] Travel lets you get close to wildlife And meet some interesting people like artists who make their own brushes and paints from ancient recipes. I hope that by sharing their work, they – and we - can keep these arts alive for future generations in China.

(E. Briel sun burnt at Napahai lake in Shangri-la, Yunnan)

The journey will begin on an electric bike in Beijing, and end on a train in far west China. I’ll skirt the deserts of Inner Mongolia, descend through Tibetan areas of Gansu and Qinghai provinces, and talk to papermakers in Xinjiang.

See you on the road!

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To find out more about our WildChina Explorer Grant check out the contest’s official page on our website.

Photos by E. Briel

Below is a blog written by WildChina Explorer Grant Applicants Andrew and Jon about their idea for exploring China. If you think their idea is cool show your support on our Pinterest, Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Where to begin … after five years in college and countless nights in the library I’m ready to hit the road with my best friend Jon.  This isn’t just some road trip to Kansas City.  This is an once-in-a-lifetime motorcycle adventure around China. To pinpoint what inspired this crazy idea is hard to say, it is more or less a culmination of conversations around campfires, posts on Facebook, and childhood bedtime stories of yesteryear’s explorers.  But now that this dream has transformed into an incipient reality we must explain what our goal is and also illustrate why it is important.

This trip is more than just about having a good time and motorcycles, however I would be a liar to say that these aren’t important incentives; this trip is about creating your own journey and taking the road less traveled.  It is about curiosity and self-discovery, it is about uncovering the vast amount of traditions, people, and landscapes that are alive within the country that we don’t get to see in the front pages of the news.

Inspired by my childhood-favorite explorer Sven Hedin, our expedition will follow many of his 19th and 20th century travels throughout Central and Western China. Through comparing and contrasting the China he witnessed with the China of present-day, we hope to illustrate a rich and vibrant story by documenting the people we meet, the food we eat, and the landscapes we ride across.

If you’re itching to explore with us check out our facebook, weibo (A_Ride_Across_China), and youtube pages, all your support (likes, comments, or whatever you fancy) will help us get one step closer to getting on those bikes and living the dream of completing A Ride Across China.

Thanks Andrew and Jon

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To find out more about our WildChina Explorer Grant check out the contest’s official page on our website.

Photos by Andrew and Jon

Below is a blog written by WildChina Explorer Grant Applicant Sara Naumann about her idea for exploring China. If you think her idea is cool show your support on our Pinterest, Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Following Stein to Hotan

My proposal for the 2013 WildChina Explorer Grant takes me on the road to Hotan, and the ancient stupa of Rawak, the location of one of Sir Aurel Stein’s first excavations in Western China in the early twentieth century. I am fascinated by Stein’s explorations – it was he and his team who “discovered” the Mogao Caves near Dunhuang, and were the first to take ancient documents from their centuries-old hiding place in the Library Cave there.

After visiting Dunhuang last spring, I found myself wanting to see the other sites Stein visited and excavated. I am a travel writer so I am interested in the way ancient destinations are preserved and visited today. While still not on the main tourist path in China, Dunhuang sees many visitors from both China and abroad. I am interested to see if other places Stein explored could have an equal draw now or in the future.

There are questions about the past I’d like to answer such as what drew Stein to Hotan in the first place as well as exploring more about Hotan’s ancient past compares to its present. Are there visible vestiges of Hotan’s ancient past that can be seen today? Where does Hotan fit in on a trip to China, to the Silk Road?
Please take a moment to view, like and comment on my video. Read more about my travels in China here or follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

谢谢！Thank you!

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To find out more about our WildChina Explorer Grant check out the contest’s official page on our website.

Photos by Sara Naumann

The WildChina 2013 Explorer Grant is an open contest with a prize of up to $3000 for an adventure in China. Send us a personally-designed proposal pushing the boundaries of exploration in China. Check out the complete rules here on our web page.

WildChina will be accepting applications until November 16th, but the sooner you apply the better:

“WildChina has always been committed to supporting expeditions that our travelers are excited about. In light of this, the amount of support that each applicant’s video receives on our blog, our Facebook page, and our Twitter, Weibo, Pinterest, Youku, and Youtube accounts will be taken into consideration”

The earlier we get your application, the more time your idea will have to gain support on social media. If you are looking for inspiration, check out our past winners on Pinterest.

Safe travels, and good luck!

The thrill of adventure provides the opportunity for growth no matter what age we are. For adults, this is the reason WildChina offers our WildChina Explorer Grant. For student groups though, for safety’s sake, the activity has to be a little more structured. WildChina’s recent trip to the Xilamuren grasslands with a Beijing international school was a perfect example of student adventure. Far out in the countryside the 14 year old students participated in a “Hardship Hike” designed by WildChina to expand their boundaries and give them a heightened sense of accomplishment.

The Hardship Hike was a 3 mile (5 kilometer) race of 10 groups of 10-12 students which began at a dirt road that dead ended in the grasslands, and finished in the middle of the plains where the groups would set up camp that night. Unlike a simple race though, in order to cross the circuitous route the teams would have to use a map and would be required to complete a selection of hardships. These hardships included, but were not limited to, the students all being tied to each other with string, one of the students being blind folded, a series of riddles that had to be answered to finish the race, and finally the transport of their own tents to the campsite across the course.

Although there was some muted grumbling at the beginning of the course, the mood at the end could not have been more different. Elated with their sense of achievement for having finished the course, each of the students was visibly beaming or uproariously laughing with their friends. They had defeated the challenge, they had pushed their own borders, and in the process they had learned a little more about themselves.

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If you have any questions about our student programs send us an email at info@wildchina.com and we will be happy to assist you.

This fall, our second 2012 WildChina Explorer Grant winners William Bleish and Yan lu will begin their expedition to the Aiolishan range in Yunnan. In January, William visited the region and put together a field report for the China Exploration and Research Society titled The Gibbons Still Sing Here: Return to Ailao Mountain after 25 years. In the paper William discussed the threats to animals in the region as well as providing an excerpt from a morning of gibbon monitoring:

In his report, William noted that gibbon’s are at particular risk from deforestation, forest fires, and climate change. For seven generations, families in Xin Chang village in the Ailaoshan Nature Reserve have helped themselves to wood for fuel to heat their homes and cook their meals. Asking them to change patterns of living that they have followed for over a century has been difficult. In addition to this local need for lumber, forest fires have become an increasing concern as the region experiences its fourth year of devastating spring drought. William explains this dry spell may be linked to the larger issue of global warming. As the earth’s temperature has increased, the areas where gibbons can comfortably survive have shrunk considerably.

Despite the looming threats, William was able to catch an ear full from the gibbons on his recent visit in the Ailaoshan Nature Reserve:

“We joined a team from the Xinping nature reserve on their morning gibbon monitoring.  Up at 5:30, we had a quick breakfast in their newly built quarters, part of an exhibition center soon to be opened.  We set off in the dark, stumbling over roots and slipping on the dry leaves as we headed up the mountain to the ridge crest.  As we reached the listening post, the sun was just peaking over the next ridge to the east.  About a half hour later, at 7:50, we heard a thin high wail from the valley below. Dipping in pitch and ending on a minor note, a male gibbon was beginning his morning song.  After a minute, he repeated his song almost exactly, but this time, two more voices joined in after his prelude.  These were the female members of his group.  Their songs were more rapid, rising in a crescendo of bubbling ecstasy and then descending as if exhausted.  When they had finished, the male added a few notes of coda and the duet song was complete.  At 8:03, we heard a second group singing in the west, this one with only a single female voice, but otherwise a similar song.  The monitors told us they sometimes see these nearer groups in traveling in the forest, swinging hand over hand from their long arms and gracefully catapulting themselves from tree to tree.  We set off in search, but the dry leaves and treacherous trails must have made us too noisy for the wary gibbons. The gibbons and their forest can recover from past destruction, but only if we have the will and vigilance to protect them. In another 25 years, I dream that future visitors will find a healthy forest full of the songs of gibbons.”

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WildChina is now accepting applications for our 2013 WildChina Explorer Grant.  If you would like to know more, please click here.

Photos by WildChina and Flora and Fauna