I’m super excited for my return trip to China in 2028. For this photo tour I have put together a mostly wildlife tour with Giant Pandas, Red Pandas, Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys as our main attraction. We should see lots of other species including tufted deer, golden pheasants. In addition, numerous mammals and birds will be seen throughout the park regions that we visit. On our last three days will also visit some of the most incredible mountains including the famous Avatar Mountains. We will do some sightseeing as well. There is a 5 day add-on to this tour (I highly recommend this add-on) which explores the famous and widely photographed area of Guilin. March 20-25th. All inclusive with transportation to Guilin from Zhangjiajie. See details below.
ITINERARY:
Day 1 — Arrival in Chengdu | Group Assembly & Preparation
Participants arrive independently in Chengdu and meet as a group. The day is used to check and prepare photography equipment and organize outdoor gear. Necessary supplies such as traction cleats, spare batteries, and trail food can be purchased.
Reservations for reserve admission, hotels, and guides will be reconfirmed. In the evening, a pre-trip briefing will cover reserve regulations, wildlife photography techniques, and the primary photographic objectives for each day.
Accommodation: Boutique hotel in Chengdu
Day 2 — Chengdu → Tangjiahe Nature Reserve
Entering the Wilderness | Orientation & Wildlife Photography
Overview: Travel to Tangjiahe and spend the afternoon exploring the reserve, becoming familiar with photography locations, forest conditions, lighting, terrain, and signs of wildlife activity. The late afternoon will focus on mammals in the valley.
Detailed schedule: Depart Chengdu by private vehicle at approximately 07:30 and drive about 4.5 hours to Tangjiahe in Qingchuan. Stop for lunch in QingxiAncient Town. At approximately 14:00, enter the reserve and check in.
Take a gentle afternoon walk along the Xiangfei Trail to become familiar with the forest environment, boardwalks, lighting, and wildlife areas.
From approximately 16:30–18:00, photograph wildlife in the valley, with possible subjects including takin, Chinese goral, and golden pheasant. Look for signs of red pandas. Wild giant pandas will be treated as an opportunistic encounter rather than a dedicated search target.
Accommodation: Qingchuan Research & Exchange Center, Caijiaba core photography area
Day 3 — Tangjiahe Nature Reserve: Motianling
Primary Golden Monkey Photography Day
Overview: One of the most important wildlife photography days of the trip. An officially certified ecological guide accompanies the group while photographers concentrate on the core habitat of wild Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys during the morning and evening activity periods.
Detailed schedule: At approximately 06:30, take the reserve's early internal shuttle toward the lower Motianling area.
From 07:00–11:00, walk established trails with the guide while listening and searching for monkey troops. Photography will focus on feeding, jumping between trees, family interactions, and other natural behavior in the fir forest. Red panda activity around suitable trees will also be monitored. Return for lunch and rest during the quieter midday period.
From approximately 15:00–18:00, return to productive locations to photograph golden monkeys in softer evening light. There may also be opportunities to photograph takin descending toward water sources.
An optional, regulation-compliant thermal-imaging night observation may be arranged for nocturnal mammals such as masked palm civets and leopard cats.
Accommodation: Qingchuan Research & Exchange Center, Caijiaba core photography area
Day 4 — Tangjiahe Nature Reserve
Valley Wildlife Photography | Additional Species & Second Chances
Overview: Explore important valley and water-source habitats while continuing to strengthen the golden monkey portfolio and searching for other mammals and birds.
Detailed schedule: From approximately 06:40–09:30, search the Caijiaba and Shuichiping valley areas for golden monkey troops while also watching for red pandas, takin, and tufted deer.
From 10:00–12:00, walk the Baixiongguan circuit to photograph golden pheasants and the primeval forest environment.
The afternoon remains flexible. If additional golden monkey photographs are needed, return to the Motianling area. From approximately 16:30–18:00, visit the Changchunba wildlife observation area for evening mammal photography.
Accommodation: Qingchuan Research & Exchange Center, Caijiaba core photography area
Day 5 — Tangjiahe Contingency Morning → Labahe
Final Photography Opportunities & Transfer
Overview: A flexible morning provides another opportunity to photograph any priority species that were missed or inadequately photographed. The group then transfers to Labahe and prepares for the red panda portion of the trip.
Detailed schedule: The morning remains flexible. If golden monkey or other priority photographs are still needed, undertake another early search. If the primary objectives have already been achieved, use the morning for rest and packing.
After lunch, drive approximately six hours toward Labahe in Ya'an. Enter the scenic area and check into Luming Hotel. Arrange early internal transportation for the following two days.
At approximately 19:30, there may be an opportunity to photograph wild sambar deer visiting salt-lick areas near the hotel.
Accommodation: Luming Hotel, Labahe Scenic Area
Day 6 — Labahe Nature Reserve: Western Route
Primary Wild Red Panda Photography Day
Overview: The day's principal target is the wild red panda. Morning and evening activity windows will be used to search productive high-elevation forest locations, with golden monkeys as a secondary opportunistic subject.
Detailed schedule: At approximately 07:00, take an early internal shuttle to the lower cable-car station/30°N Square.
From approximately 07:20–08:40, search mature fir forest for red pandas feeding, resting, or climbing.
From approximately 08:40–11:00, walk the Rhododendron Boardwalk while continuing to search for red pandas. Scan western ridges and listen for golden monkey troops.
Return to the hotel for lunch and rest.
At approximately 15:30, return to the mountain. From 17:00–18:20, concentrate on red pandas during the evening activity period.
At dusk, there may be opportunities to photograph sambar deer against the forest landscape.
Accommodation: Luming Hotel, Labahe Scenic Area
Day 7 — Labahe Nature Reserve
Full-Day Wildlife Photography | Completing the Portfolio
Overview: A full day dedicated entirely to photography without long-distance travel. The itinerary covers both the high-elevation western red panda habitat and the eastern valley ecosystem.
Detailed schedule: Take the early shuttle uphill for a second morning of red panda photography and recheck potential golden monkey locations.
Continue along the Rhododendron Boardwalk. Depending on access and conditions, visit Yindonghai and other quieter areas for pheasants, red pandas, and additional forest wildlife. Visit the deer areas for environmental photographs of sambar.
In the afternoon, explore the eastern valley for Tibetan macaques, streams, and forest landscapes.
Return uphill by approximately 16:00 for another evening red panda session. Continue with evening observations of sambar deer if conditions allow.
Accommodation: Luming Hotel, Labahe Scenic Area
Day 8 — Labahe Morning Photography → Bifengxia Giant Panda Base → Chengdu
Completing the Wildlife Portfolio
Overview: A final short morning session at Labahe is followed by a visit to Bifengxia Giant Panda Base, providing reliable giant panda photography before returning to Chengdu.
Detailed schedule: Photograph at Labahe from approximately 07:00–08:30, then return to the hotel, pack, and check out.
Depart at approximately 09:00 and drive around 2.5 hours to Bifengxia. Have lunch near the reserve.
From approximately 13:30–15:00, photograph giant pandas, prioritizing areas such as the panda kindergarten and other major panda enclosures. Focus on feeding, climbing, playing, portraits, and environmental compositions.
Finish photographing at approximately 15:30 and drive back to Chengdu.
Accommodation: Boutique hotel in Chengdu
Day 9 — Chengdu → Zhangjiajie
Take the approximately four-hour high-speed train from Chengdu to Zhangjiajie.
After arrival and lunch, visit Tianmen Mountain for landscape photography and sightseeing. In the afternoon/evening, transfer to the Wulingyuan area and check into the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Wulingyuan
Days 10–11 — Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan Scenic Area
Spend two full days photographing and exploring the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, including Tianzi Mountain, Helong Park, the Sky Garden (KongzhongTianyuan), the landscape associated with Avatar, Bailong Elevator, and other major viewpoints.
Morning and late-afternoon sessions can be prioritized for atmospheric mountain photography, depending on weather and visibility.
Accommodation: Hotel in Wulingyuan
Day 12 — Zhangjiajie | Final Morning Photography & Departure
Return to Tianzi Mountain in the morning for a final photography session.
After lunch, transfer to the airport. Participants should book departing flights at 16:00 or later.
ABOUT SOME OF THE NATIONAL PARKS WE WILL VISIT:
1. Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve
Core Area of the Giant Panda National Park
Tangjiahe is located in Qingchuan County, Guangyuan, Sichuan. With forest coverage reaching approximately 96.15%, the reserve supports more than 3,800 species of plants and animals. It is regarded as one of China's outstanding wildlife areas, particularly for its population of wild Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys and its relatively high frequency of mammal encounters.
Approximately 700 wild Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys inhabit the area. During winter and spring, monkey troops often descend into lower-elevation forests and valleys at approximately 1,900–2,500 meters. The Motianling and Yinping Ancient Trail areas are important observation zones.
Compared with more managed wildlife-viewing locations, Tangjiahe offers opportunities to photograph genuinely wild golden monkeys displaying natural behavior, including group feeding, movement through the forest, and family interactions. The reserve is also home to takin, tufted deer, golden pheasants, and many other species.
The wild Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey is the principal photographic target of this portion of the trip. Wild giant pandas will be regarded as an opportunistic bonus rather than a primary target, allowing photography time to remain focused on the golden monkeys. Visitor numbers are controlled, helping preserve the area's relatively undisturbed natural environment and making Tangjiahe an excellent destination for photographing wild golden snub-nosed monkeys.
2. Erlangshan Labahe National Nature Reserve
Labahe lies in the Erlangshan region of Tianquan County, Ya'an. It is regarded as one of China's particularly promising locations for encountering wild red pandas and is also important habitat for giant pandas and Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys.
Wild red pandas occur at relatively high densities in suitable habitat. During winter and spring, they can be found in mixed fir forests at approximately 2,600 meters. Dawn and dusk offer particularly good opportunities to observe animals moving and feeding in the forest canopy.
The reserve consists of a higher-elevation western route, which includes important red panda habitat, and a lower-elevation eastern valley. Areas around the lower cable-car station and Rhododendron Boardwalk provide opportunities to search for red pandas from established trails without the need to venture into undeveloped wilderness.
There may also be opportunities to observe golden monkeys on distant ridges, while the lower valleys support sambar deer, Tibetan macaques, and other mammals. Misty forests and winter snow provide excellent settings for environmental wildlife photography.
3. Ya'an Bifengxia Giant Panda Base
Bifengxia is one of China's major giant panda breeding and research centers. The facility includes several specialized panda areas, including the panda kindergarten, returning-overseas-panda area, and other enclosures.
The pandas are generally active and exhibit a range of behaviors, providing reliable opportunities to photograph feeding, climbing, playing, and resting. This stop compensates for the very low probability of encountering giant pandas in the wild and ensures that participants return with a strong collection of giant panda images, including close portraits, action photographs, and environmental images.
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS:
400–600 mm telephoto lens plus 1.4× teleconverter as your longest lens; 24–70 mm lens for environmental images; monopod (strongly recommended) or tripod. I will be bringing my 200-600mm lens or my new 100-400mm lens with teleconverter, along with my 24-105mm lens.
Dates: March 9-20th, 2028
Cost: $9999.00
Single supplement $800.00
Included:
All ground transportation
High speed train tickets
All meals
Hotel accommodations (4 star or local best)
Entrance fees
Not included:
Tips for drivers and guides, approximately $250.00 per participant.
Roundtrip airfare- arrival flights need to be made into Chengdu, departure flights need to be made from Zhangjiajie.
Deposit Information:
A non-refundable deposit of $2,000 due at sign up. Final payments are due July 30, 2027. Full payments are always welcomed.
Please be sure to check your calendar carefully and to check out my Workshop Policy Page.
Note: Purchasing travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Limited to 10 participants. Please note that 5 spots are already sold.
TO SIGN UP FOR ONE OR BOTH CLICK HERE.
ADD-ON BELOW:
GUILIN ADD-ON-MARCH 20-25TH
ITINERARY
March 20: After lunch, travel by vehicle from the Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang Ancient Town. Photograph the night scenery. Overnight at Fenghuang Hotel.
March 21: After breakfast, travel by vehicle to Huaihua High-Speed Railway Station. Take the high-speed train to Guiyang, then transfer to another high-speed train to Guilin. Overnight in Guilin.
March 22: In the morning, photograph the old farmer with his water buffalo crossing the bridge. In the afternoon, photograph fishing fires on the Li River and the elderly fisherman. Overnight at Xianggong Mountain.
March 23: In the morning, photograph sunrise at Damian Mountain. In the afternoon, photograph the “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” landscape at sunset. Overnight at Xianggong Mountain.
March 24: In the morning, photograph sunrise at Xianggong Mountain. In the afternoon, photograph sunset at Jinping Mountain. Overnight at Xianggong Mountain.
March 25: Photograph the elderly fisherman on the Li River, cormorant fishing, and sunrise. After breakfast, depart for the airport, where the tour concludes. Please book a flight departing after 2:00 PM.
Dates: March 20-25th, 2028
Cost: $3800 per person
Single supplement $400.00
Included:
Transportation from Zhangjiajia to Guilin
High speed train tickets
All meals
Hotel accomodations
Entrance fees
Model fees where applicable
Not included:
Tips for drivers and guides, approximately $100.00 per participant.
Airfare from Zhangjiajie to home.
*If you are signing up for both, you do not need to put second deposit for the extension. You just need to let me know if you are doing the extension or not AND if you require a single supplement. Thank you.
**All photos have been supplied to me by my guide.