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Incredible Views: Yuanyang Rice Terraces & Zhangjiajie
$5850.00 / $2,000.00 deposit
05th - 16th Mar, 2022
Join internationally-renowned photographer, Thierry Bornier, and embark on a journey of discovery through the beautiful, magical Southwest of China. Explore with him the world-famous Hani rice terraces of Yunnan Province and the magnificent landscapes of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province.
This workshop will also offer great opportunities for drone photography.
- Yuanyang Rice Terraces
The Yuanyang Rice Terraces in Yunnan Province are so magnificent and photogenic that they’ve kept Thierry living in Yunnan for the past ten years. He has been up and down the terraces countless times, such that his camera likely has a bit of the land’s dirt in its seams, and he knows the weather patterns and all the best angles by heart.
Through his expert eyes, Thierry can show you the terraces’ silvery bands of water turning into a collage of colors and reflections in the early sunrise, the mists shrouding the hills and sparkling pools of reflected light in beautiful mystery, and the rural lives of the local Hani and Yi people, who built up these terraces in a feat of technological ingenuity beginning hundreds of generations ago.
The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are in the southern mountains of Yunnan province, about 100 kilometers from the Vietnam border. The Terraces are divided into three separate scenic areas, which you will visit: Duoyishu, Bada, and Laohuzui.
- The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The striking landscape you will encounter here has become famous in recent years as the inspiration for the floating ‘hallelujah’ mountains in the blockbuster movie, Avatar. In fact, one of the park’s quartz-sandstone pillars, the 1,080-metre ‘Southern Sky Column’, has been officially renamed ‘Avatar Hallelujah Mountain’ after the film. The magnificent scenery of the park is certainly reminiscent of a celestial, magical world.
The pillar-like rock formations are the most notable geographic feature of the park. They are the result of many years of erosion, caused by expanding ice in winter and the plentiful foliage, due to the permanent moist weather.
These formations are a distinct hallmark of Chinese landscapes and can be found in many ancient Chinese paintings. Officially recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Zhangjiajie was also listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2004. During this workshop, we will have unrivalled opportunities to capture these fascinating formations.
Day 1 - Shanghai-Kunming
This morning, we will fly from Shanghai to Kunming. Upon arrival, you will be transferred from Kunming Changshui International Airport directly to our hotel, where you will have the opportunity to explore the city’s famous Green Lake with its thousands of seagulls.
Day 2 - Kunming-Yuanyang
After breakfast, we will drive to Yuanyang (6 hrs). Upon arrival, in the afternoon, we will have our first shoot in Yuanyang.
After hotel check-in and dinner, we will discuss the plan for shooting the rice terraces over the next few days.
Day 3-6 - Yuanyang
The general schedule for the four full days of shooting at the Yuanyang Rice Terraces begins with an early start to catch the moments when sunrise lights up the terrace waters and the morning mists glow as they drift over the rolling hills.
Afterwards, we will visit a local market or another cultural attraction to experience the Hani and Yi ethnic minority cultures. We will go back to the hotel to have lunch and have a rest before heading out again for the late-afternoon photoshoot.
In the evening, there will be dinner and group discussions to exchange ideas, tips, suggestions, and review the day’s pictures.
Day 7 - Yuanyang-Kunming
After the final morning shoot in Yuanyang, we will drive back to Kunming.
After checking into our hotel, we will have dinner.
Day 8 - Kunming-Zhangjiajie
This morning, we will have a rest and take some time to explore and take some shots of the seagulls around the Green Lake park.
After Lunch we will take a flight to Zhangjiajie, then drive (1.5 hrs) to our final destination for the next four days.
Day 9-11 - Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Each day we will start with a morning photography session to capture Zhangjiajie’s magnificent landscape.
We will then return to the hotel for some rest. Later in the day, we will travel to a second location for more shooting.
Every evening, we will gather for dinner and group discussion.
Day 12 - Zhangjiajie-Shanghai
After our last morning shooting and lunch in Zhangjiajie, we will fly to Shanghai Pudong International Airport to catch your international flight in the evening or the next day.
We strongly recommend you take out a Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance policy after booking your trip. If you cancel and your place on the workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid, minus a $300 service charge. If you cancel and your place on the workshop is not then filled, you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the workshop:
More than 90 days before the start date of the workshop: full refund minus $300 service fee.
75 days or more: 75% refund.
60 days or more: 50% refund.
Less than 60 days: no refund.
Refunds will be paid by the same method the original payment was made.