Join Adam Gibbs and Kah-Wai Lin on a mesmerizing 13-day photographic journey through three of China’s most breathtaking regions — the poetic seascapes of Xiapu, the sculpted rice terraces of Longji, and the timeless karst landscapes of Guilin.

In Xiapu, experience the rhythm of the tides along Fujian’s ancient coastline, where generations of fishermen have harvested seaweed and shellfish since the Song Dynasty. Travel inland to Longji, whose name means “Dragon’s Backbone,” where centuries of human labor transformed steep mountain slopes into glittering tiers of rice fields — a living monument to harmony between people and nature. Conclude your adventure in Guilin, where the Li River flows serenely among limestone peaks that have inspired poets, painters, and travelers for more than a thousand years.

Each sunrise and sunset reveals China’s landscapes as they have been for centuries — ethereal, poetic, and profoundly alive.

Day 1 (October 10): Arrival

Arrive at Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) and check in at our hotel. In the evening, join us for a welcome dinner, where we’ll meet fellow photographers, discuss the days ahead, and share our excitement for the adventures to come.

Day 2 – 6 (October 11 – 15): Xiapu – Coastal Mists and Fishermen of the Sea

Spend five unforgettable days capturing the ethereal beauty of Xiapu, often hailed as one of the most photogenic coastal regions in Asia. Nestled in the northeast of Fujian Province, this small fishing region along China’s southeastern coastline holds the largest mudflat in the country, spanning over 40 square kilometers with more than 400 kilometers of winding shoreline.

Xiapu’s history stretches back more than a thousand years, flourishing as an important maritime outpost during the Song and Ming dynasties when Fujian’s coastal towns played vital roles in China’s sea trade and salt production. Generations of fishermen have adapted ingeniously to this tidal world, cultivating seaweed, oysters, and laver using methods passed down through centuries. The bamboo poles and nets dotting the mudflats today are living testaments to this enduring heritage — a rare continuity between ancient practice and modern livelihood.

Xiapu is renowned for its traditional sea-farming and fishing culture, where life moves in rhythm with the ocean tides. The ever-changing seascape — sculpted daily by the ebb and flow of water — offers endless photographic inspiration. Here, every tide tells a new story: golden sunrises and fiery sunsets over tidal flats, fishermen gliding through morning mist, and villagers harvesting seaweed and tending nets amid shimmering reflections. Beyond the coast, we’ll explore tranquil inland scenes — ancient banyan trees, farmers guiding water buffalo, and the timeless harmony of rural life that seems untouched by the modern world.

Day 7 (October 16): Wenzhou to Guilin – Journey from Sea to Mountains

After a final sunrise shoot in Xiapu, we travel to Wenzhou for an afternoon flight to Guilin — a land where rivers, peaks, and clouds dance in perfect harmony.

Day 8 – 9 (October 17 – 18): Longji – Rice Terraces at the Edge of Heaven

Depart early to capture the first light of dawn, as an old farmer and his ox cross an ancient stone bridge — a scene of quiet poetry that evokes the timeless bond between people and the land. In the afternoon, we’ll ascend to the Longji Rice Terraces, often called the “Dragon’s Backbone”, where rolling waves of green and gold sculpt the mountain slopes in graceful curves. Built more than 650 years ago during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, these terraces were carved painstakingly by the Zhuang and Yao ethnic minorities, transforming the steep hillsides into a living masterpiece of human ingenuity and harmony with nature. Rising from 300 to over 1,100 meters above sea level, the terraces trace the contours of the mountains like shimmering ribbons, reflecting the resilience and artistry of generations who have cultivated them for centuries. We’ll photograph sunset over the cascading fields, then spend the night in a charming local hotel surrounded by mountain tranquility.

The following day is devoted entirely to the life and landscapes of Longji. Watch as farmers plant and tend their rice fields, their silhouettes mirrored in glistening pools that stretch endlessly across the valley. At sunrise and sunset, shifting light transforms the terraces into a breathtaking mosaic of colors — from the soft blues of dawn to the golden glow of evening — revealing the ever-changing beauty of this timeless agricultural wonder.

Day 10 (October 19): Xianggong Hill – Li River

After photographing sunrise over the rice terraces, we’ll journey to Xianggong Hill, one of the most iconic viewpoints overlooking the Li River near Yangshuo. Rising modestly at about 300 meters, this hill offers a breathtaking panorama where emerald karst peaks emerge like jade sentinels from the morning mist, standing guard over the winding river below. The Li River has long been celebrated as the very embodiment of Chinese landscape painting — its ethereal scenery inspiring poets and artists since the Tang Dynasty over a thousand years ago, and even featured on the 20-yuan banknote.

Geologically, the region’s dramatic karst topography was formed over millions of years as limestone mountains were sculpted by rain and rivers into the fantastical peaks and valleys seen today. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this area became a favorite subject of scholars and artists seeking to capture the harmony between water and mountain — the essence of Chinese landscape aesthetics.

At sunset, as the golden light drifts across the river, fishermen on bamboo rafts glide through the shimmering water, a scene little changed for generations.

Day 11 (October 20): Jinping Mountain

At dawn, capture the enchanting beauty of the Li River, where fishermen cast their nets through veils of morning mist beneath towering limestone peaks.

After breakfast and rest, we travel to Jinping Mountain, one of the quieter yet most scenic highlands along the river valley. From its summit, a serene panorama unfolds — layers of karst mountains, shaped over 200 million years by the slow dissolution of limestone, rise like waves frozen in stone. As the sun sets, soft hues of amber and rose sweep across the peaks and river bends, painting a tranquil end to the day.

Day 12 (October 21): Xianggong Hill – Pastoral Dreams

We rise before dawn once again to photograph sunrise from Xianggong Hill. The hill’s name, “Xianggong,” meaning “Village Official,” is said to derive from a local legend of a scholar who once attained high rank in the imperial court before returning to his homeland to live humbly among the mountains.

After a relaxed morning, we explore the pastoral farmlands that embrace the Li River — a landscape of small villages, bamboo groves, and rice paddies where water buffalo graze and farmers work the fields as their ancestors have for generations. The interplay of light, mist, and daily life offers an endless source of photographic inspiration. As evening falls, we capture the warm glow over peaceful villages and mirror-like ponds.

Day 13 (October 22): Guilin – Farewell Sunrise and Departure

Our final morning begins early with a shoot at the First Bend of the Li River, where the water curves gracefully through mist-laden valleys surrounded by steep karst towers. This spot, often regarded as the river’s most poetic turn, epitomizes the timeless harmony between nature and the human spirit that defines Guilin’s allure. After breakfast, we’ll transfer to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) or downtown Guilin — bringing home not only breathtaking images, but unforgettable memories of China’s most poetic landscapes.