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AsiaTravel, alongside Outpost Magazine, Revo, Mountain Hardwear, and ZoomerMedia, is sponsoring a once-in-a lifetime journey, The Kawa Karpo Expedition.  Leaving next week, AsiaTravel expert & good friend, Jeff Fuchs will be leading this expedition.

Fuchs, a longtime resident of Shangrila and Explorer Club member, has a longtime fascination with lost trade routes and sacred Tibetan mountains.  With this journey to Kawa Karpo, Fuchs, alongside Bill Roberts of Zoomermedia, aim to immerse in “a journey along an ancient pilgrimage-trade route, a journey to recapture and peek into an ancient route when mules and men (and mountains) were inseparable. ”

Speaking to Fuchs on the phone earlier today, he is hard at work putting on pre-expedition pounds and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Roberts and videographer Roberto Gibbon Gomez.  At the moment, Fuchs imagines the expedition will take 9-12 days to complete, depending on weather.

Stay tuned right here on the AsiaTravel blog to track the Kawa Karpo Expedition. Fuchs will be sending photos and stories via sat phone while on the trail!

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If Jeff Fuchs’ journey sounds right up your alley, AsiaTravel is offering an expert-led trip with Fuchs exploring The Ancient Tea and Horse Caravan from April 11-20, 2012. Sign up now!

It has been an exciting year for AsiaTravel. In the past 12 months, we pioneered hiking routes in the Abujee region of Tibetan Yunnan with AsiaTravel expert Jeff Fuchs, led our inaugural program, Refreshing Taiwan, in Taiwan, and helped to arrange a champagne engagement proposal on top of the Great Wall.

In our industry, hours are long and cell phones are never off so we can answer any questions our guests might have for us.  As such, the +1,000 emails we received telling me how AsiaTravel helped you experience a ‘real’ China let us know that we are doing our job well–and nothing could make us happier.

This year, AsiaTravel is thrilled to be nominated for Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.  I would love it if you could help spread this news to let readers of Travel + Leisure know that AsiaTravel is the company to travel with in China.  I owe it to my guides and wonderful team to show them that people around the world think that they are doing an exceptional job.

Many of you have asked how you can help.  One way would be to vote for AsiaTravel before March 31, 2012.  To do so, just follow these simple steps:

1. Go to http://tlworldsbest.roiresearch.com/home.aspx?OJZrlUYH=1
2. Select YES or NO; then click ENTER.
3. Fill in the Tell Us About You
4. Select Tour Operators/Safari Outfitters
5. Select AsiaTravel
6. Complete the survey & submit!

 

Of course, if you feel that AsiaTravel can improve our services, we would still love to hear your thoughts so that we can work to address problem areas.  Please send your comments to feedback@wildchina.com.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Mei Zhang

Founder of AsiaTravel

 

Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2012 was hosted at China’s coastal city of Tianjin from 4 -12 February. The final, won by Hong Kong (China) against South Africa was played at the luxury resort Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club. Twelve of the best teams in the world took part, including England, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.

With this year’s Snow Polo World Cup in St Moritz being cancelled due to thin ice on the lake, this World Cup in Tianjin acquires even more importance. And, as the organisers stated: no sport can enjoy comprehensive development without the participation of China.  As we all know, the lack of natural snow in Tianjin is no impediment for the tournament to go ahead, the Chinese will guarantee an abundance of it by making a total of 4,000 cubic metres of snow over the arena, a process that started in late December.

Regular services by bullet train from Beijing South Station take you to Tianjin in under 30 mins, and from there a 25 min taxi drive to the luxurious Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, the largest polo club in China.

The emerging sport of snow polo was first introduced in 1985 at the resort town of St. Moritz, Switzerland, by a handful of men attracted by the passion and excitement of polo and the extremity of the conditions. Since then it has grown from strength to strength into a recognised winter sport enjoyed among the elites worldwide.

Snow polo is very similar to traditional polo: but games are played on a snow-covered arena. The teams are made up of three players and each game consists of four six-minute chukkas (periods). The horses wear special cleated shoes to provide better traction. The ball is larger and lighter than in grass polo, and bright orange, to make it easier to see against the snow.

Polo has always been synonymous with the finer things in life, attracting affluent, sophisticated high-achievers. Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club provides an exquisite location for impeccable wine dinners through its close relationships with world famous winemakers and chateaux: Chateau Latour, Mouton Rothschild and others. The resort boasts indoor and outdoor training facilities for both the young and adults and comes with a dazzling Clubhouse, spa and leisure facilities on par with any top international resort. Staffed by well-known names in the equestrian and polo world, the Club offers a luxurious venue to relax and entertain.

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Is riding a passion? Take a look at the AsiaTravel product Tibetan Camping Retreat

Content + photos by AsiaTravel’s Chelin Miller

Recognized by National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure as the pioneering travel company in China, AsiaTravel has accomplished a lot of “firsts” in our time. From the kora of Meili Snow Mountain in 1999, to launching the Tea and Horse Caravan in 2004, to pioneering ascents in the Abujee region of Tibetan Yunnan, AsiaTravel has always embraced an untamed spirit for adventure and innovation.

Simply put, we believe in commitment to a curious life. With that in mind, this year AsiaTravel is launching a new endeavor right in our backyard. Where the Wild Things Are: A AsiaTravel Series will bring intimate bi-monthly dinners to the Beijing community to feature members of our esteemed expert network. We look forward to offering an unparallelled experience for Beijing residents and visitors alike — an intimate and informative evening spent with renowned entrepreneurs, journalists, photographers and environmentalists.

To kick off this series, Hollywood producer Janet Yang will be speaking on Thursday evening, March 15th at In & Out. Yang has distinguished herself by serving as a bridge between East and West, and the business and creative communities, for decades.

Initially representing Chinese films for North American distribution in the early 80’s, she was then hired by the major Hollywood studios to broker the first sale of American films back to China.  This was followed by her start in production working with Steven Spielberg on the historic production in Shanghai of EMPIRE OF THE SUN. After a stint as a production executive at Universal, Yang joined Oscar winner writer/director Oliver Stone, serving as President of their company, Ixtlan.  There she produced, among many others, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT (Golden Globe Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay and Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Actor), and the THE JOY LUCK CLUB, based on the best-selling novel by Amy Tan.  Most recently, Yang wrapped production in Shanghai on the film, SHANGHAI CALLING.  Her previous productions were a Chinese version of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL for Disney, and the film DARK MATTER with Meryl Streep.

Event Details:

• In & Out Yunnan Restaurant 云南一坐一忘餐厅
• Sanlitun North Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing No. 1 北京朝阳区三里屯北小街1号RMB 250 to be paid at the door
• Dinner is capped at 35 people. RMB 250 at the door

Event Rundown:

• 6:30 p.m. Registration 登记
• 7:00 p.m. Opening remarks & speaker introduction 开场白并向大家介绍我们的特邀嘉宾
• 7:30 p.m. Dinner served 晚餐开始

 

 

Time and again, employees of AsiaTravel are asked by clients, friends and family about their favorite places to travel in China.  This is a really hard question. And while many of us may hum and yaw for a few minutes, Tibet comes up as one of the most amazing places to travel in the world. There is something very special about visiting the birthplace of the Dalai Lama, witnessing monks in worship, soaking in the panoramic views of the Himalayas and having your first sip of yak butter tea…

This summer, AsiaTravel is offering three unique offerings for Tibet travel.

Family Adventures in Tibet: On the Roof of the World is a seven-day trip  geared towards family travel. Depending on the ages of your group, AsiaTravel will customized activities appropriate for the travelers. For  young families, participate in a prayer flag making class and moderate biking surrounding Lhasa, while families with older children can spend a morning volunteering at Jatson Chumig, an NGO geared towards educating Tibetan youth and camping outside on the Tibetan plateau. Smores included!

Tibet’s Mt. Everest: Journey to Base Camp, a a 9 day trip in Tibet, visits Lhasa and Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet and the seat of the Panchen Lama, but the real highlight of this journey is the visit to Mt. Everest base camp. Used by climbers of the northeast ridge of Mt. Everest, the North Base Camp is located in a sheltered spot directly below the massive north face of Mount Everest.  After visiting base camp, descend to the Nepalese border or, for a more rugged experience, traverse onward to Mt. Kailash for a challenging, 3-day pilgrimage trek.

 

Do you have a high school student passionate about China? If so, get in touch to learn more about AsiaTravel’s 2012 Summer Expedition. Departing from San Francisco (June 30-July 21, July 14th-August 4th), students will travel with experienced AsiaTravel tour leader Devin Corrigan to Beijing, Yunnan in Southwest China and have the opportunity to partake in +30 hours of community service.  In Tibet, the group will undertake a trek they may never top: three nights of hiking and camping through the Tibetan countryside to the pass of Jeshul La, stopping to explore villages and a monastery before reaching Yamdrok Lake, which, at 14,500 feet, kisses the sky above with equally blue water. For application information, please get in touch at education@wildchina.com.

 

 

Don’t see a trip that perfectly fits your travel needs? Don’t worry– we have countless ideas to customize the perfect journey for you.

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Before international airfare spike, now is the perfect time to plan your Tibetan summer adventure.  Get in touch with AsiaTravel at info@wildchina.com.

Want to read more about Tibet? Check out AsiaTravel travelers Janet Heininger and Jamie Reuter’s blog on their experiences traveling in Lhasa.

 

Since 2001, AsiaTravel has been the leader in cultural immersion and adventure expeditions for student travel in China.  This year, AsiaTravel is thrilled to be leading a select group of 2012 AsiaTravel Student Expedition Explorers to Beijing, Yunnan and Tibet to experience elements of community service, physical challenge and cultural immersion. 

On the 26 day journey, students will climb the Great Wall at Jinshanling, an off-the-beaten path portion of the wall and then spend the night of a lifetime barbequing and camping out alongside one of the wonders of the world. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of life in a small mountain village as you work with local villagers in the rugged and gorgeous southwest province of Yunnan. Spend three days trekking in Tibet, in areas infrequently visited by international travelers.  Expect to complete 40 hours of community service.

Trip Highlights:

 

• Wander across the behemoth Tian’anmen Square, stroll through the sprawling Forbidden City, and marvel at China’s most stunning – and deservedly iconic – sites

 

• There’s more to China than the famous images we can all conjure. Spend an unforgettable morning at Beijing’s Huiling School for the intellectually disabled, exchanging games, activities, and crafts

 

• In Old Town Lijiang in Yunnan province, weave between atmospheric cobblestone streets, willow-lined waterways and decorative arched bridges as you explore one of China’s most beautiful cities

 

• Roll up your sleeves and get to work helping the proprietor of an eco-lodge in Shangri-la. There’s plenty of landscaping and painting to be done!

 

• Do as the Tibetans do: in the far north of Yunnan, we’ll sample the salty Tibetan tea and cheese, dance with a gleeful Tibetan family, master the basics of the Tibetan language, and receive an introduction to the ancient art of Thangka painting

 

• Bike a kora around Lhasa, stopping by Jatson Chumig School for a day of service and cultural exchange with the school’s orphans

 

• Undertake a trek you may never top: three nights of hiking and camping through the Tibetan countryside to the pass of Jeshul La, stopping to explore villages and a monastery before reaching Yamdrok Lake at 14,500 feet, which kisses the sky above with equally blue water

 

 

With the assistance of local Beijing, Yunnan and Tibet guides, the trip will be led by Devin Corrigan, a AsiaTravel Manager and experienced tour leader. Devin originally hails from the Boston area and has spent nearly three years living in China.  In addition to his projects in the office, he also leads many of our education trips – a continuation of an interest he developed in college while leading fellow students on hiking and camping excursions near Washington, D.C. In his free time, Devin conducts research work for The New Yorker magazine, devours travel writing, hunts for new sections of the Great Wall to hike, and squeezes in as many trips around Asia as he possibly can. Devin graduated with an honors degree in Chinese language and English literature from Georgetown University.

 

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For more questions about the 2012 AsiaTravel Student Expedition and to receive an application, please get in touch at info@wildchina.com. Apply now!

 

Last week, during a talk at the Capital M Literary Festival, Jeff Fuchs said something that got me thinking: “Tibetans own nothing but masses of land, huge herds and a fortune in rocks”. He was showing us some portrait photographs of the Tibetans he met on his journeys while researching and exploring the Tea and Horse Road that connected China with Tibet. Some of them were displaying beautiful collections of jewelry: necklaces, earrings, rings and trinkets made of turquoise, coral and pearls. These materials can’t possible be found naturally in Tibet. That idea resonated in my mind and I remembered reading something along those lines in Chris Buckley’s recently published book “Living Hands – Tibetan Arts and Artisans”.

Chris Buckley explains that Tibetan men and women often have large collections of  jewelry around their necks, treasured for fun, decoration, as a store of wealth or amulets for protection. They can be beads, zi stones, silver ornaments, amber, ivory, gawu (amulet cases) and thogcha (good luck charms). Some of these objects are made in Tibet or Nepal. Others travelled vast distances and are a testament to ancient trading links for which no written records exist. Pearls and coral were traded from the Mediterranean. Cloudy yellow amber came from the Baltic. Ivory arrived from India. Turqoise and agate were brought in from Afghanistan. Glass beads were traded from India, China and from eastern Europe.

The photograph above is courtesy of Chris Buckley. From the top: turquoise, agate, amber, zi beads, bone and a turquoise+silver hair ornament.

If you are interested in reading more about Jeff Fuchs’ Tea Horse Road Journey, and his love and passion for tea and mountains, visit his website. And for information about Jeff Fuchs’ expeditions with AsiaTravel visit here.

For more information about Chris Buckley’s book; or a previous review of the book on our blog.

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Pictures and text from Chelin Miller, AsiaTravel’s expert blogger on the finer things in China.

Last minute bookers of Chinese Treasures, a thirteen day journey throughout China, will save USD 300 if they book before April 2nd!

 

China – where the past, present and future can be experienced all in one. If this is your first and only chance to visit China, then this is the trip. Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai present the classic images of China – imperial palaces stand side by side with skyscrapers. Beautiful Yunnan province in the southwest, known for its ethnic diversity, traditional lifestyles and stunning natural scenery, forms a contrast to the developed parts of China.

 

AsiaTravel Founder Mei Zhang handcrafted this itinerary for her closest friends in 2009. We are now making it available for very small groups of 16 discerning travelers for the first time. Travelers will explore the imperial capitals of Beijing and Xi’an, gaining access to an emperor’s childhood home at the Forbidden City, a largely un-restored section of the Great Wall and the famed Terracotta Warriors Museum. We then go off the beaten path, visiting villages and glaciers in the famed Tibetan area of Shangri-La and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lijiang. Our journey ends in China’s bustling financial center of Shanghai – the “Paris of the East.”

Some of our favorite trip highlights include having dinner with a Tibetan family in Zhongdian (Shangri-La), getting an insider view into the old hutongs of Beijing and an early morning taichi class.

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Interested in learning more about Chinese Treasures? Get in touch at info@wildchina.com and one of our AsiaTravel travel consultants would love to answer any of your questions.

 

 

When I first came across Christoph Baumer’s China’s Holy Mountain – An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism, I was impressed by its first quality presentation, abundance of information and beauty of its images. It is said that one should not judge a book by its cover, or its pictures – for that matter, but this work of art, I could not resist, and upon reading it, I was not disappointed.

Christoph Baumer is an internationally recognised scholar, leading researcher, photographer and explorer of Central Asia, Tibet and China. He has a background in Philosophy, Psychology and History of Art. Baumer has written other works in related areas: history, religion, archaeology and travel: The Church of the East: An Illustrated History of Assyrian Christianity, 2006 and Traces in the Desert: Journeys of Discovery across Central Asia, 2008. Dr Baumer is President of the Society for the Exploration of EurAsia and a member of the Explorer’s Club, New York, the Royal Asiatic Society and the Royal Geographical Society, London. With such an erudite background it is no surprise that China’s Holy Mountain, An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism, bears information of such high quality and is so richly illustrated.

During his travels to one of China’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Mt Wutai (Wutai Shan, Five-Terrace Mountain), Baumer personally visited more than fifty monasteries. In China’s Holy Mountain, Baumer gives a detailed description of the pilgrimage routes to the mountain and its five terraces, as well as an introduction to the history and legends of the monasteries, monks and nuns.

China’s Holy Mountain – An Illustrated Journey into the Heart of Buddhism, is a very well organized book, it is written in an understandable style for those with greater knowledge of Buddhism as well as the uninitiated. An abundance of excellent photographs, taken by the author, maps and other illustrative material, make this book not only a wonderful information resource about the philosophical and religious heritage of China, the history of Buddhism and the major schools of Buddhism in China, but also serves as a wonderful spiritual and visual inspiration.

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Photos and blog by AsiaTravel’s Chelin Miller.

This note was written by Devin Corrigan, a AsiaTravel tour leader & travel consultant who traveled to Mount Haba on an educational trip last fall. Previously, he blogged about the fascinating lore associated with the mountain, the lively and diverse atmosphere he found in Haba village, and a snapshot of the local eats he had while on the trail. To finish this series of posts, he has put together a photo essay that gives a comprehensive look at 4 spectacular days spent on the mountain.

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Interested in learning more about climbing Haba? Get in touch at info@wildchina.com.