Shangri-La and Yunnan Provence, SW China
with Douglas Beasley
February 19 – March 3, 2014
This is an amazing journey to a beautiful, ethnically diverse corner of China that still has very few Western tourists. We stay at the stunning Linden Center, which has won numerous awards for both service and level of accommodation, as one of China’s best boutique hotels. Then we move on to Shangri-La in Tibet, where we stay at another spectacular hotel next to the second largest Tibetan monastery outside of Lhasa. The setting is spectacular and the experience is once-in-a-lifetime rich.
South of the Clouds has always been known as Yunnan- a fabled land of breath-taking scenery, saffron-clad Buddhist monks, exotic ethnic cultures, and year-round Spring-like weather. This region has been the cultural battleground between many of Asia’s leading traditions- Hindu beliefs from the west and the Khmer south, Confucian conventions from the northeast, Tibetan, Thai and Burmese Buddhist teachings from the north and southwest. All of these cultures have left a lasting impression on the local people and their unique iconography. Yunnan is a photographer’s paradise just waiting for you to arrive. We will photograph Taoist Temples, temples with Gods unique to each village, the gracefully decaying buildings, unique homes and elderly residents, the exquisite landscape, the village marketplaces and many other amazing places.
We will also head North driving through the majestic Leaping Tiger Gorge, to visit the magical Tibetan town of Shangri-la, surrounded by snow-capped mountains on the Tibetian Plateau. Our home there will be the luxurious Songtsam Retreat. We will visit the historic and dramatic Songzanlin Si Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery outside of Lhasa, which dates back to the 1679 and has been lovingly restored. But this is not just a historical site- it is a working monastery teaming with life, filled with monks and rituals in progress.
The Linden Centre offers the intrepid traveler a true immersion into authentic China. Guests reside in the very private expansive and luxurious courtyard home in Xizhou, within a pristine village in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. The facility is a nationally protected heritage site that has been restored to its former dynastic elegance but now includes a rooftop patio, a bar in the center of the compound and wireless internet throughout. Set in the foothills of the Himalayas, guests enjoy a year-round spring climate and direct access to rich, undisturbed cultures in a true melting pot of the region. We will touch the ‘old’ China that is elusive to most visitors, and leave with enriching experiences that last a lifetime.
You can expect much fun, light-heartedness and serendipity while learning from Doug how to better respond photographically to the world around you and make more personal travel images with feeling, meaning and depth.
The all inclusive price is an extremely high value.
For a downloadable detailed itinerary please visit The Linden Center on the web.
Student testimonials about this workshop:
“This workshop is a tremendous value. The Linden Centre is impeccable and the workshop was life changing, even for a beginner like me. I would suggest you go now before the rest of the world discovers Yunnan Province and the price goes up!”
– Gary Bieniek, Saint Paul, MN
“Thank you for the wonderful trip to China! All aspects of the trip exceeded our expectations! Your pre-planning and on-the-ground leadership was outstanding. Doug¹s photography guidance was meaningful and spiritually significant. The Linden Centre and the other hotels are beautiful and comfortable. The Linden Centre staff is great, an important element of the trip. The food was great. We enjoyed our personal contacts with Chinese people throughout our trip. They are much more outgoing than I expected.”
– Al and Cynthia Johnson, Baileys Harbor, WI
“I can hardly believe that it’s only 14 days today since I said cheerio to you and ‘the gang’ in Shangri-la! I would like to thank you so very much for leading and being such a warm and generous guiding presence on our photo-journey. It was a pleasure to be on the receiving end of your thoughts, advice and suggestions, always offered in a calm soothing voice, so melodic and expressive, with a gentle cadence that made listening a pleasure!
Thank you also for welcoming our contributions and for creating an atmosphere that encouraged the sharing of thoughts, ideas and experiences that we could all learn from. I certainly feel as though I came away with more of a sense of trusting my instinct and of living in the moment. I still need to feel my way in terms of photographing people. If only everyone was as keen to have their photo taken as the children at the kindergarten!
The photo-journey was for me what I hope is the beginning of a voyage of self-discovery, or maybe just a welcome change from too much routine!
I felt that sense of community at the Linden Centre so strongly. What a wonderful place Jeanee and Brian have created and what insight, energy and commitment to believe it was possible. I also love the way they invite and work with other people and help them with their projects, businesses, studies and dreams, like the Tea & Horse caravan trail and the students from Shanghai International School. I had a strong sense that everyone who was there was meant to be there and that’s another reason why it is such a special place.
The whole Shangri-la hotel complex was just sublime, from the ginger tea welcome to the tapestry wall hangings in the restaurant and that wonderful feeling of entering a warm cozy room with a log fire and the hotel staff all dressed in their lovely long coats. Definitely somewhere to return to and soon I hope.
Thanks once again Doug for making our journey such a wonderful one. It was very special for me, so I am deeply grateful to you for following your heart and for encouraging me to follow my own.”
– Juliette Wiles, London, England
“The trip was absolutely incredible, far surpassing any expectations one could have. Doug is a great teacher and leader as always and the Lindens provided unlimited knowledge, passion, and access to a side of China rarely seen – its heart – through direct contact with families and communities living the old ways. For the cultural and photographic opportunity of a lifetime, race to nail your place in the next workshop!”
– Judy Nayer, New York, NY
The Linden Centre Accolades:
“China Hotel of the Year 2011” Tripadvisor.com
“Traveler’s Choice Award 2012 and 2013” Tripadvisor.com
“Top Heritage Hotel in China 2011″ CNNGo
“Global Vision Award 2010” Travel and Leisure
“Sustainable Tourism Award 2010-2011” Voyager Magazine
“One of Top Three Places to Stay in China” Frommers
Who Should Attend:
This is open to all levels but students should have a good working knowledge of their camera and want to take their image making to a more meaningful and personal level. Both digital and film, in all formats, are welcome. This is a perfect workshop to bring non-photographer partners or spouses. There will be plenty for them to enjoy and they can accompany us on all field trips as they choose.
See some student photography from this and other Vision Quest workshops.
See some of Doug’s photos from this workshop in China
Dates: February 19 – March 3, 2014
Tuesday February 18: Travel to Los Angeles, for flight from LAX
Wednesday February 19, 1:00 am Flight to Beijing from LAX
Monday March 3: Return flight to LAX from Bejing
Cost: $4950.00
All inclusive. Cost also luxury accommodations, all meals in China and round-trip airfare from Los Angeles.
Deposit: $500
Class limit: 15
This one fills fast so best to sign up early before there is a waiting list.
Registration: Contact The Linden Center or download registration form on their web site.
