Wild China Photo Workshop

Itinerary: Mar 5-17

Both sets of dates are identical in the locations you'll visit.  For this set of dates, you'll start in Chongqing and end in Chengdu.

Day 1: Arrive in Chongqing

Arrive in Chongqing, where our local team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your 5-star accommodations. We’ll begin with an introduction to this dramatic mountain city, with possible visits to iconic local attractions if time permits. In the late afternoon, we’ll be treated to a spectacular Sichuan face-change performance before gathering for a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Golden Pheasants and Langurs

Our first full day begins with an early morning photography session at a mountain bird hide. Target species include Golden Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan, Silver Pheasant, and other colorful forest birds. Widely regarded as one of the most colorful birds in the world, the male Golden Pheasant dazzles with its golden crest, fiery red body, emerald-green mantle, and long patterned tail.

In the afternoon, we may continue shooting at the bird hide or join a guided search for François’ langur. These endangered primates, with jet-black fur and striking white sideburns, inhabit dramatic limestone cliffs and forested valleys. We’ll return to downtown Chongqing for the evening. After dinner, we’ll photograph the renowned skyline of this spectacular mountain city, capturing its illuminated bridges, towering skyscrapers, and dramatic urban landscape.

Day 3: Chongqing Culture and Scenic Transfer

After breakfast, we may have time to visit more of Chongqing’s iconic cultural attractions and experience the atmosphere of this remarkable city. We’ll then continue across Southwest China toward our next bird photography location. After check-in near the bird hide, the evening is free to rest and prepare for the following morning’s session.

Day 4: Tragopans, Pheasants, and Tea Country

We’ll begin with an early morning bird hide session targeting spectacular species such as Temminck’s Tragopan, Silver Pheasant, and other forest birds. Temminck’s Tragopan is often considered one of Asia’s most beautiful pheasants, with males displaying brilliant scarlet plumage covered in white spots and an inflatable blue facial wattle used during courtship displays. Silver Pheasants provide a striking contrast with their elegant silver-white upperparts, glossy black underparts, and dramatic crest.

Afterward, we’ll continue toward the tea country of Sichuan, a region where tea was first cultivated over 2,000 years ago. Along the way, we may stop in Leshan for lunch and an optional boat tour to view the Leshan Giant Buddha if time permits. We’ll arrive near the tea plantations in the evening.

Day 5: Tea Country and Mandarin Ducks

We’ll start with an early morning photography session in the tea plantations, when soft light and mist can create beautiful landscape opportunities for both traditional and aerial photography. The rolling green terraces, traditional countryside scenes, and patterns of tea rows offer a beautiful change of pace from wildlife photography.

After lunch, we’ll continue toward an area for Mandarin Duck photography. The Mandarin Duck is a classic Chinese symbol of love and loyalty, and the male’s ornate plumage—with brilliant orange sails, intricate patterns, and vibrant colors—makes it one of the world’s most beautiful waterfowl. We’ll then continue to our mountain base for the evening.

Day 6: Pheasant Bird Hides

Today is dedicated to bird photography from private hides in the mountains. Our target species include Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, White-eared Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, and other colorful mountain birds. Each species brings something unique: the ornate cape, metallic blue-green body, crimson crest, barred tail, and intricate patterning of Lady Amherst’s Pheasant; the elegant pale plumage and social behavior of White-eared Pheasants; the understated beauty and elusive nature of Koklass Pheasants; and the crimson highlights and alpine adaptations of Blood Pheasants.

These sessions give us our best chance to witness courtship displays, territorial behavior, and dramatic interactions rarely seen by most birders and photographers.

Day 7: Mountain Birds and Scenic Transfer

We’ll return to the bird hide in the morning for another session with rare and colorful pheasants and high-elevation birds. Afterward, we’ll travel through scenic mountain landscapes toward our next base, enjoying sweeping views of the rugged terrain along the way. The evening is set aside for check-in and preparation for the Chinese Monal photography ahead.

Day 8: Chinese Monal and High-Elevation Birds

This morning we’ll focus on photographing the Chinese Monal, Blood Pheasant, Snow Partridge, and other high-elevation species. Perfectly timed for the breeding season, we may see male monals display their dazzling rainbow plumage against dramatic alpine backdrops. After lunch, we’ll continue toward Dujiangyan for opportunities to photograph red pandas before enjoying an evening near one of the region’s scenic bridges and historic neighborhoods.

Day 9: Giant Pandas and Golden Monkeys

We’ll take an early start for a dedicated visit to a renowned panda reserve, where we’ll photograph giant pandas in a beautiful mountain setting. These beloved ambassadors of wildlife conservation are always a favorite, with their expressive faces, playful behavior, and unmistakable charm.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue toward one of the best regions for golden snub-nosed monkeys, preparing for our first encounters with these remarkable primates.

Day 10: Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys

We’ll head out early for a dedicated photography session with golden snub-nosed monkeys. With golden coats, striking blue faces, and expressive family behavior, these primates are among China’s most charismatic wildlife subjects.

After a late lunch, we’ll continue toward a second golden monkey area. This evening, we’ll settle into a traditional-style lodging experience, offering a closer look at village life and local culture.

Day 11: New Golden Monkey Site and Tangjiahe

We’ll begin the morning with another opportunity to photograph golden snub-nosed monkeys at a different location with distinct habitat. These sessions allow us to capture a range of behaviors, portraits, family interactions, and environmental images.

After lunch, we’ll continue to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, one of the region’s most important wildlife reserves. Possible subjects include takin, Chinese goral, Reeves’s muntjac, Tibetan macaque, Asiatic black bear, yellow-throated marten, and other mountain wildlife. The day concludes with check-in at our lodge, where we’ll enjoy a peaceful evening surrounded by nature and the sounds of the reserve.

Day 12: Tangjiahe Nature Reserve and Chengdu

We’ll spend the morning continuing our exploration of Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve before departing for Chengdu. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Chengdu’s historic temples and traditional neighborhoods before gathering for our farewell dinner.

Day 13: Depart Chengdu

After breakfast, we’ll provide airport transfers based on your departure schedule.