Asking for feedback on RFF photo tour of China

[MP Guy]

For the longest time I have been wanting to go to China in the sping or summer. I want to visit the really historical areas and small villages where some good subjects can be found. I am not really interested in the big cities. Well, the wife says she wont go. So I had an idea. Maybe we can have an RFF Photo tour. I will look into the cost and see what some tarvel agents have to say. Having mumbled all this, Would you be interested in partcipating?

 

[RML]

If I have the money and if I have the time and if the wife let's me go then I'd go for sure! 🙂

 

[Tin]

Same answer as RML above.

But seriously, I think you need to determine wnether it would be an "independent", Lonely Planet style travelling, or as a custom designed package tour. Although either way, detailed research and planning are necessary, execution will be very different. But in order to gage interest, you need to define the photographic subject matters in better detail--- landscape, architecture/history/culture, street photography? Then the question of geographic area is important in planning such a tour. Form my limited knowledge of some photographic tours taken by some overseas Chinese photographers, I understands that these normally focus on a specific geographic area. In the recent years, some popular spots include the western part of Szechuan Province where the travelling conditions are very primitive, and various parts of Yunnan Province in the southwest. Western Szechuan would be great for landscape photography, whereas Yunnan Province, being home to over 30 ethnic minorities in China (out of a total of about 55), would be great for people and cultural photography, plus great landscape photography also.

And then there is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in eastern China is great for landscape photography, with its famous clouds, fog and mist. Down from the mountain, you can also tour by many villages.

None of these trips would take you to big cities, other than enroute and as entry/departure points.

So Jorge, what are your preferences?

Tin

 

[BJ Bignell]

I'm definitely interested in going to China, but being interested and being available are two different things. If you only ask people about their interest, you'll just get a lot of "Yes, but..." and "Maybe, but..." answers.

I think that what would work best is to talk to a travel agent/tour agent and determine how many people it would take (alternately, how many people would be too much), and what it would cost, for whatever date you choose.

Then, simply offer it to the members. People sign up and pay their deposits, and when you reach the magic number, off you go!

 

[Tin]

I'm definitely interested in going to China, but being interested and being available are two different things. If you only ask people about their interest, you'll just get a lot of "Yes, but..." and "Maybe, but..." answers.

I think that what would work best is to talk to a travel agent/tour agent and determine how many people it would take (alternately, how many people would be too much), and what it would cost, for whatever date you choose.




Then, simply offer it to the members. People sign up and pay their deposits, and when you reach the magic number, off you go!

Unless one is dealing with a travel agent tha specializes in photography (which will probably mean "expensive") I wouldn't trust a general travel agent to design a photography tour in China. Therefore it is very important to do your homework first. A few years ago, I twice went with a group of Chinese in Canada to China. It wasn't a photgraphy tour, but the group wanted to go to the less travelled places. We planned the entire trip ourselves, and the travel agent was only used to make the travel arrangements and provide us with the cost estimates, etc.

 

[mjflory]

It's a wonderful idea, Jorge, and while I'm not optimistic that I could afford it (time or money) I'll be watching to see what develops (in all senses). I was in northern Vietnam last summer, in fact not too far from China, and I'm still scanning in the negs. But I'd very strongly suggest keeping the weather in mind when picking a time. We were in Vietnam at the end of June and the weather was in the low 40's centigrade -- that's the 100's Fahrenheit! Air conditioning, of course, is just a dream in rural areas. We had sunny days in Vietnam, but the rainy season was on the way soon after. In northern China the dust can be severe, so I suspect the spring might be better for that region as well. But the reward could be the trip of a lifetime.

-- Michael

 

[harmsr]

I also have always wanted to go, but was unwilling to do it except in a group. My other concern has always been travelling safely in China and being able to select a tour or travel plan that would be enjoyable.

If this was planned in detail with good arrangements for guide, transportation, and lodging in China, I would be VERY interested.

Best,

Ray

 

[dingadingdang]

I'm currently living in Shanghai (british expat), don't discount the cities, there are some great photo opportunities in the older areas.
One thing I'd recommend if you're not using a travel agency is try to have a chinese speaker with you or get someone to write down where you're going in chinese before you set off, it's difficult to get around if you don't speak chinese, I'm still having problems after 18 months getting the tones exactly correct when I'm telling the taxi driver where to go and hotels can have completely different names in chinese.
Michael I might be wrong but I think the yellow dust problem in north china is worst in the spring!
If you make it to shanghai give me a shout!

 

[Tin]

Timing is certainly an important consideration. In general, late spring or mid-fall should be the best times to visit China. But you should avoid the week beginning May 1 (Labor Day) and October 1 (National Day), and around Chinese New Year, unless of course you want to take people pictures on the street---lots and lots of people. That is the times when lots of Chinese are travelling and visiting families. summer is not the best time to travel China, nor to many other places in the world---there are tourists everywhere.

 

[GeoffL0505]

Jorge:If you are serious abut a tour to China then you will want look at Yau-Sun Tong web site. Obviously from China he has conducted many tours to that country. He takes small groups, all photographers, to the more rural parts timing the tours for various ceremonies in various regions. I know he has a tour next May to Western China and Tibet. He used to work for Leica sales and photographer and being an accomplished photographer, with presentations from coast to coast, is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what he does. He has, the equivalent to the national debt in Leica equipment both M and R.
This tour in May is completely arranged as a land package or all inclusive he has been out there several times and all is arranged down to the amount of traveling done each day taking into account the altitude.

Here's a link to his website, hopefully

http://photoart.chebucto.org

 

[mjflory]

Michael I might be wrong but I think the yellow dust problem in north china is worst in the spring!

Oops! Well, you can tell that's one area of Asia I've never visited...

If you make it to shanghai give me a shout!

I hope I'll get the chance! This summer was my first trip to Asia since I lived there 35 years ago, and it's reminded me how much more there is to see.

-- Michael

 

[dazedgonebye]

I'd kill for a trip like that.
Now if I can only find out who to kill!

No time or resources for something so glorious I'm afraid.

 

[MP Guy]

Geoff,

Thanks for the link.

 

[Sailor Ted]

Wow Jorge,
I’m planning to ride trains across China and into Mongolia to shoot old villages and a vanishing way of life however the trip I have in mind is a solo adventure. I'll forward you any information I uncover as I have clients in Mainland China that can help with Visa info as well as information on government permission (this I’m sure will be the key in a communist country).

Also check out this guys work: http://avotius.deviantart.com/store/

He's done what we want to do and we should all be such good photographers : )

 

[peter_n]

Normally I would be really interested in something like this but I am committed to visiting Fiji and Ireland in 2007. 🙁

 

[Avotius]

I live in china, chongqing and the surrounding areas are really nice, feel free to drop me a line for any information you need