Join Ian Plant and Kah-Wai Lin on a mesmerizing 13-day photographic journey through two of China’s most breathtaking regions — the poetic seascapes of Xiapu and the majestic peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain).

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. The interplay of light, mist, and motion across its vast tidal flats transforms daily life into a living masterpiece — a world where art and tradition flow with the sea.

Then travel inland to Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, a legendary range in Anhui Province whose ethereal beauty has inspired countless poets, painters, and philosophers throughout Chinese history. Here, towering granite peaks, ancient wind-sculpted pines, and mystical seas of cloud form scenes that seem lifted from an ink painting. Explore the scenic wonders of Beihai and Xihai Grand Canyon, hike to dramatic viewpoints for sunrise and sunset, and discover the UNESCO World Heritage villages of Xidi and Hongcun, where traditional Anhui architecture and culture have been preserved for centuries.

Each sunrise and sunset reveals the timeless soul of China — ethereal, poetic, and profoundly alive.

Day 1 (November 13): Arrival in Fuzhou

Arrive at Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) and transfer to your hotel in Fuzhou, the gateway to Xiapu.

Day 2-6 (November 14-18): Xiapu – Coastal Mists and the Fishermen of the Sea

Spend the next five days capturing the ethereal beauty of Xiapu, widely regarded as one of the most photogenic coastal regions in Asia. Nestled along the northeastern coast of Fujian Province, Xiapu is home to the largest mudflat landscapes in China – more than 40 square kilometers of shimmering tidal flats stretching across nearly 400 kilometers of coastline.

Xiapu’s history dates back more than a thousand years. During the Song and Ming dynasties, it flourished as an important maritime hub for fishing, sea trade, and salt production. For generations, local coastal communities have lived in rhythm with the tides, cultivating seaweed, oysters, and laver using traditional techniques passed down through the centuries. The intricate networks of bamboo poles, fishing nets, and tidal patterns create ever-changing abstract compositions that transform with every shift of light and water – a paradise for photographers.

We will begin each day before dawn to photograph sunrise over the mudflats, capturing fishermen gliding silently through the mist, women harvesting seaweed, and golden reflections dancing across the tidal textures. Beyond the coast, we will also explore tranquil inland villages, ancient banyan trees, water buffalo grazing in emerald fields, and scenes of rural life that preserve the timeless spirit of old China.

Day 7 (November 19): Fuzhou to Huangshan

Today we travel by high-speed train from Fuzhou to Huangshan. Upon arrival in Tangkou Town, we will ascend the mountain via cable car into the heart of the legendary Yellow Mountains. After settling into our mountain-top hotel, we will head out for our first sunset photography session in Huangshan.

Day 8–10 (November 20–22): Huangshan – The Legendary Yellow Mountain

Our journey continues in Huangshan, one of China’s most iconic and spiritually revered landscapes.

Known as the “Loveliest Mountain of China,” Huangshan has inspired poets, painters, and philosophers for centuries with its dramatic granite peaks, ancient wind-sculpted pine trees, and mystical seas of clouds. Rising to 1,864 meters (6,115 feet) at Lotus Peak, the mountain features diverse ecological zones ranging from lush forests at lower elevations to resilient pines clinging impossibly to sheer cliffs near the summit.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990, Huangshan became a defining symbol of classical Chinese aesthetics and the Shanshui (“mountain-and-water”) painting tradition of the Ming Dynasty, which emphasized harmony between humanity and nature. Its dreamlike landscapes are also believed to have inspired the floating mountains of Pandora in James Cameron’s Avatar.

Over the next three days, we will photograph Huangshan’s most celebrated locations, including the West Sea Grand Canyon, Beihai Scenic Area, and the famous Flying-Over Rock. From sunrise to sunset, expect dramatic scenes of rolling mist, golden light, weathered granite peaks, and ancient pine trees emerging from the clouds in constantly changing conditions.

On the final morning, after our sunrise photography session, we will descend the mountain by cable car and return to the city. You may schedule your departure flight from Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN) after 4:00 PM.