📍 Jinshanling, the Great Wall of China
One of our favorite sections of the Wall is Jinshanling. It offers a quieter, more authentic experience with fewer crowds. This section still has many of its original Ming Dynasty features intact, like watchtowers and defensive walls, and the mountain views are incredible. It’s a great spot for hiking and taking in the history at your own pace.
#thegreatwall #china #beijing #visitbeijing #chinatravel #wildchina #hiking #hebei
Meet our Director of Education, Haena Kim!
Some of you might already know that, alongside our exciting journeys across China, we also organize educational trips. As a China-based company, our mission is to offer more than just sightseeing, we strive to create meaningful experiences that leave a lasting impact. Working with students—the next generation of decision-makers —is something we’re truly passionate about.
For over 20 years, we’ve taken students and educators to more than 100 destinations across Asia. Haena, our Director of Education, is at the heart of our mission. She and our team actively participate in every program we create, ensuring that each experience is meaningful, immersive, and transformative. By working closely with schools and organizations, our academic managers design trips that bring classroom lessons to life, connecting students with real-world experiences in ways that go far beyond textbooks.
#wildchina #asiatravel #visitchina #explorechina #chinatravel #discovrechina #educationtravel #transformativetravel #experientialeducation
🥮 Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! To celebrate this special occasion, we gathered together for a mooncake tasting. Watch the video to see our team’s reactions to the different flavors!
May your Mid-Autumn Festival be filled with joy, family, and plenty of mooncakes.
#midautumnfestival #mooncakes #wildchina #tasteofchina #chinesefestival #chinesetraditions #chinatravel #culturalexperience #chineseculture #fullmoo #中秋节 #travelchina #foodtasting #festiveflavors #chinesefood
Tibetan monastic debates are a powerful blend of philosophy, tradition, and spiritual training. Monks use these lively exchanges to test their understanding of Buddhist teachings, engaging in both intellectual and physical challenges. The strong gestures and loud claps are not just for show—they are methods for sharpening the mind and deepening spiritual understanding. Each clap and gesture serves to challenge and emphasize key points of Buddhist philosophy.
Our Head of LATAM, Andres Vargas, documented the vivid experience of this ancient tradition on his recent trip to Tibet with our travelers.
#wildchina #tibet #lhasa #buddhism #explorechina #chinadiscovery #tradition #chinatravelguide #buddhisttemple
Every twelve years, the Miao people come together for the Guzang Festival—a vibrant celebration that lasts up to 15 days. Deeply rooted in tradition, the name “Guzang” combines “gu” (drum) and “zang” (to bury), emphasizing the festival’s centerpiece: the ceremonial drums.
Preparations start two years in advance, with each festival hosted by a different Miao village. In between these grand celebrations, a smaller, annual “Small Guzang Festival” takes place, lasting four days, featuring different themes each year.
At the heart of the Guzang Festival is the drum ceremony, where large, intricately decorated drums are played to symbolize unity and the collective spirit of the community. This powerful drumming is accompanied by traditional Miao music, singing, and dancing, with participants dressed in their most colorful and elaborate costumes.
The festival is also a time of deep spiritual significance, as rituals and offerings are made to honor ancestors and deities, invoking blessings and good fortune for the years to come. The Guzang Festival is more than just a celebration—it’s a profound expression of cultural identity, reverence, and communal harmony.
Many thanks to our Program Manager, Daizy Dai, for capturing this beautiful video during her trip to Guizhou.
#chinatravelguide #travelphotography #instachina #travelgram #wildchina #asiatravel #virtuosotravel #instatrip #culturetravel #chinaadventures #wanderlust #chinadiscovery #guizhou #festival
We are beyond excited to announce that WildChina has been nominated for a Virtuoso Travel Sustainability Award for our GUDAO project!
GUDAO, meaning ‘ancient trails’ in Chinese, is an initiative aiming to bring new life back to China's historical paths, many of which now lay forgotten. The project is ongoing, but so far has included physically restoring the trails, working with local communities to establish homestays and cultural immersion experiences, and bringing travelers along these routes to see and learn their histories first-hand. We are looking forward to announcing more on this project later this year, and are incredibly humbled by the initial recognition this award represents.
We would also like to extend our congratulations to the other Virtuoso members and partners who have made the finalists list, and are looking forward to hearing more about their individual sustainability initiatives at Virtuoso Travel Week's Under One Sky Event, where we will be sharing more on our GUDAO project as well.
Congratulations to the other finalists: Boutique Travel Advisors, Abercrombie & Kent USA Vietnam, Intrepid Travel, Amanpulo, Big Five Tours & Expeditions, IC Bellagio, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Soneva, Wilderness, NUBA, and Sonia Jones Travel! See you next month!
#virtuosoawards #sustainability #wildchina #explorechina #visitchina #supportlocaleconomies #sustainabletourism #vistuoso
Tai Chi, a cherished practice in Chinese culture, has roots that go back centuries. Originally developed as a martial art, it has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that harmonizes body and mind. Tai Chi involves slow, deliberate movements paired with deep breathing, fostering balance, flexibility, and inner peace. Today, it's common to see people in China practicing Tai Chi in parks, near temples, and on bustling city streets, keeping alive a tradition that enhances well-being and connects them to their cultural heritage.
📸: Master Howard, our expert Tai Chi instructor, brings years of experience and a deep understanding of this ancient practice. Many of our travelers have shared kind words about their Tai Chi experiences with Howard, especially when practiced on the Great Wall of China.
#wildchina #taichi #martialarts #culturalheritage #mindbodybalance #ancienttraditions #healthyliving #greatwall #china #travel #wellness #meditation
Happy Dragon Boat Festival! 🐉🚣♀️
As the rhythmic beat of drums fills the air and dragon boats glide gracefully across the water, we're immersed in traditions that make this festival special. From the adrenaline-pumping dragon boat races to the tantalizing aromas drifting from kitchen windows, each moment brims with anticipation and joy.
Today, amidst laughter and camaraderie, we gather with loved ones to indulge in one of the festival's most cherished delights: zongzi! These delightful parcels, crafted from sticky rice and lovingly wrapped in fragrant bamboo leaves, filled with either sweet or savory ingredients. Boiled for hours, they're tender and full of flavor.
Cooking zongzi for the Dragon Boat Festival is a time-honored ritual in every Chinese household, where generations come together to prepare and savor this beloved delicacy.
📸: This video, captured by our Head of LATAM, Andres Vargas, offers a glimpse into one of the households of Beijing, where Mrs. Wang Jiaxin puts her heart and soul into preparing zongzi for her loved ones.
#dragonboatfestival #china #wildchina #amazingdestination #traveltheworld #asiatravel #visitchina #explorechina #zongzi #chinesecuisine #chineseculture
Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city, is situated at an elevation of 3,840 meters, nestled within a flat terrain surrounded by towering mountains. Traditionally serving as a stopover for those journeying to Everest Base Camp, Shigatse offers a gateway to some of the world's most awe-inspiring landscapes.
Travelers can reach Shigatse via multiple routes, including by road or train from Lhasa, or by air from Chengdu and Xi'an. We often recommend that our travelers to take a flight to or from Shigatse when visiting Tibet. Trust us, the in-flight views (think of the aerial views of the world's highest peaks) won't leave you disappointed.
#chinatravelguide #travelphotography #amazingdestination #traveltheworld #wildchina #asiatravel #virtuosotravel #culturetravel #chinaadventures #chinadiscovery #tibet #buddhism #everest #himalayas
One of the things most of our international travelers are fascinated about is China's street life and the amount of activities people (especially elder Chinese) participate in. Anywhere in China, in any city in the squares and parks, near temples and in front of the shopping malls, one can witness people dancing, practicing tai chi, playing go, and engaging in a myriad of other traditional and modern pastimes. The country's vibrant street life and community never fails to captivate the hearts of our travelers.
Thanks to Andres Vargas, our Head of LATAM Department, for capturing this beautiful moment in Beijing.
#chinatravelguide #travelphotography #amazingdestination #traveltheworld #instachina #travelgram #wildchina #asiatravel #virtuosotravel #instatrip #culturetravel #chinaadventures #wanderlust #chinadiscovery
