China's Unknown Landscapes
The Dongchuan Red Land & "Hallelujah Mountains"
The photos quickly "went viral" on the Internet: images of a spectacular agricultural landscape that many believed could not possibly be real. But they are (click HERE to see them). Immediately the mandate poured into our office from numerous Photo Safaris clients to "find this location and produce a trip!" And we did!
The Dongchuan Red Land is an extensive agricultural area southwest of Kunming in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan. It is a land of undulating terraced hillsides reminiscent of Tuscany or Washington State's Palouse region—but where those iconic landscapes smolder with pattern and color, the Red Land blazes. Here, where a motif of fiery red plowed earth is juxtaposed against colorfully-patterned crops of blooming white and yellow rapeseed, green barley and golden buckwheat, the Red Land offers photography opportunities rarely encountered by international travelers.
During the mid-1990s, the first Chinese photographers discovered the Red Land's stunning graphic scenery. Early arrivals produced many award-winning photos, but kept this location a closely guarded secret. Slowly the details leaked out and now, after Internet photos were published, more and more Chinese photographers travel there each year.
Charming rural villages are nestled amidst this vibrant kaleidoscope of explosive color. Morning begins with wisps of ground fog drifting in the lowlands. Smoke rises from farmhouse chimneys, roosters crow, and dogs bark. Workers head to the fields with their horses. By afternoon, blue skies and dramatic billowing clouds crown these quilted tablelands. Virtually in the clouds, numerous hilltop lookouts provide commanding views of miles of beautifully-cultivated landscape. From these vantage points, photographers create images similar to those that can be taken from an aircraft—with the advantage of two feet on the ground, stable tripods, long lenses and the ability to capture the landscape at its best, in the long low light of sunrise and sunset.
The entire panorama is composed of lands still cultivated by hand and horse and ox-drawn plow. Some field workers attired in traditional dress still carry handmade farm implements and baskets typical of regional character. Their presence adds significant artistic elements to the imagery!
A visit to the Dongchuan Red Land would be a compelling photo opportunity by itself! But this trip also offers a protracted visit to the spectacular Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area in northwest Hunan Province. Little known to Westerners (and most Chinese prior to the late 1980s) Wulingyuan was recently nicknamed the "Hallelujah Mountains" by the government's tourist bureau. Wulingyuan's spectacular karst formation of 3,100 quartzite sandstone pillars—some as tall as 2,600 feet—are credited among the inspirations for the floating Hallelujah Mountains of Pandora in James Cameron's epic science fiction movie, Avatar. The stunningly beautiful formation is part of the Wuling Mountain Range.
This photogenic region covers almost 150 square miles and its topography creates its own mountaintop weather. These erratic weather conditions produce the sharp features of the eroding sandstone pillars, as well as the supple clouds and mist that swirl among them. As in Avatar, pillars of all heights and shapes are entwined with subtropical rain forest foliage climbing from the valley floor. Within deep ravines and gorges, numerous pools, waterfalls and caves shelter many endangered species of flora and fauna. Wulingyuan is home to Asia's largest cave chamber and some of world's highest natural bridges.
Together with the natural scenic beauty of the park, the life and customs of several Chinese minority groups—Tujia, Miao and Bai—are also of interest for photographers. Their traditional houses, farms, dress and folklore undoubtedly add a photogenic element of color and beauty to Wulingyuan.
This dedicated photography trip is the first of its kind to this region. Tourist facilities are slowly being developed here. Accommodations for this trip are a combination of Chinese-standard 5-star hotels and rustic guest houses. Hot water and western-style plumbing may not be available in all rural locations. Meals range from simple Chinese country cooking to multi-course banquets. To fully enjoy the trip you should be able to carry out occasional short hikes of a mile or more at your own pace.
From the mist-shrouded otherworldly pillars of the "Hallelujah Mountains" in Wulingyuan to the extraordinarily photogenic terraced hillsides of the Red Land, journey with us and discover the phenomenal unknown landscapes of China.
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from home.
Day 2 (Sep 11)
Arrive at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai and transfer to our central downtown hotel. Meet in the hotel lobby at 6 PM for dinner in a nearly restaurant. (D)
Day 3
Following breakfast and check-out, we visit some of the highlights of Shanghai. Along the tree-lined streets of the city's charming French Concession, the wealthy resided prior to WWII and many of the buildings remain intact today. Yuyuan Garden, located in the heart of the city, is Shanghai's most-celebrated classical Chinese garden. Here, we explore the essence of southern Chinese landscape design from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including pavilions, rockeries, bridges spanning ponds and groves of bamboo. Bustling Cheng Huang Miao Bazaar is just steps from the garden. Following lunch, we visit the Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1882 and famous for the Sakymuni jade Buddha brought to Shanghai from Myanmar.
This afternoon, we fly from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie City in northwestern Hunan Province, drive to the Wulingyuan area, and check into our hotel. (BLD)
Days 4–6
The Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and with good reason! Begin with a fantastically-eroded karst topography where sandstone pillars and peaks rise high above ravines and gorges riddled with streams, waterfalls and pools. Add a layer of lush and diverse foliage that blankets the valleys and finds a foothold where, over time, weathering has created ledges and crannies in the pillars. Then wait for the morning light to catch the ethereal swirls of mist that can make these pillars appear as if they are hanging only on air.
In Zhangiajie National Forest Park we take a cable car to Yellow Stone Village—situated on massive blocks of sandstone 3,500 feet above the valley below—where the vistas unfold as the legendary early morning mists drift below us and make the contorted trees clinging to rock and fissure appear ghostly. We walk along photogenic Golden Whip Stream nestled in a ravine among steep cliffs and lush green flora. A glass elevator takes us over 1,000 feet high up to Yuanjiajie—and the site said to be the inspiration for the spectacular mountain landscapes in Avatar. In Tianzi Mountain Reserve the essential features of this fanciful landscape—lofty pillars of craggy sandstone riddled with eroded vertical surfaces where shrubs and trees cling amidst swirling clouds and create fanciful ever-changing images—are photographed from a myriad of viewing platforms.
During these three full days we have time to concentrate on the photogenic elements that make up this landscape of rock, branch, mist and light. Staying at a rustic mountain guest house gives us good access to the remarkable locations of the area.
(BLD)
Day 7
We have another day to explore and photograph the landscapes of the area before taking a cable car down from Tianzi Mountain and returning to the town of Wulingyuan for an overnight. (BLD)
Day 8
We take one final opportunity to ride the cable car up to Yellow Stone Village for morning photography before driving to Changsha Airport for our flight to Kunming in Yunnan Province. A city with a long, rich and diverse history, Kunming is cradled in the Himalayan foothills and is known for its mild climate. Our hotel is centrally-located near scenic Green Lake Park. (BLD)
Day 9
This morning we drive northward, climbing to the Dongchuan Red Land located at elevations between 6,000 and 8,500 feet. Iron oxide-rich soils of reddish hue dominate the upland plateau where, as flat land is scarce, fields are terraced to follow the steep contours of the hills—a perfect combination for creating stunning images of this phenomenal crazy-quilt explosion of color and pattern. Add an assortment of crops—in September, the vivid greens and golds of wheat and barley, and the vibrant yellow of canola flowers, plus the unusual white canola blooms—planted among recently plowed red earth fields of various shapes and sizes to suit the topography. Stand atop a high ridge where a territorial view spreads to distant hills, and where a small village finds a photogenic footing among the multi-colored contoured and patchworked terrain. (BLD)
Days 10–12
During these three full days we concentrate on capturing this enigmatic Red Land during the sweet morning and evening light. Shooting from a number of easily-accessed view spots among the hills, we create images of the multicolored mosaic of intricately-delineated contours and fields. From sunrise to sunset the light changes color and texture on the fields. Rain showers only intensify the earthen reds, morning fog adds drama to the hills, and winds scuttle white clouds across high-altitude blue skies. Our lodging is in a local guest house—allowing us optimum time for photography. (BLD)
Day 13
We have one final morning for photography of the Red Land before we drive back to Kunming for an overnight at our hotel on Green Lake. (BLD)
Day 14
Following breakfast and check-out, we drive to the Stone Forest, a karst formation of photogenic limestone covering well over 100 square miles. Here, gray rock pillars and towers rising around 150 feet in height have been eroded into thousands of shapes that contrast with bright green vines and shrubs. This afternoon we fly to Shanghai, check into our airport hotel and enjoy a final dinner. (BLD)
Day 15 (Sep 24)
Depart for the airport for flights home. (B)
Trip Highlights
- A unique trip dedicated to spectacular landscape photography—including some of the most colorful agricultural land in the world
- Experience the Wuling Mountain Range—inspiration for James Cameron's Avatar Hallelujah Mountains, the floating world of Pandora
- Be among the first Western photographers to shoot these two virtually "unknown" landscape locations
- Trip includes shoot at graphic Yunnan Stone Forest
Tour Details
Dates
September 10–24, 2012
Fee
$6,995 from Shanghai, China
Deposit
$400
Limit
14
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