Yellow Mountains Winter Workshop | Max 3 Participants
21-28 Mar 2026 | GBP £3000/5 nights in the mountains | £3150/6 nights in the mountains
Huangshan, also known as the Yellow Mountains.
On a clear day, at first and last light, the intricacy of the granite stone shining golden and pines rising among the famous jagged peaks, is a sight you will revel in and it will take your breath away. In fog or misty conditions that same powerful stone and those precarious and poetic trees will reveal a unique scene to you as quickly as it disappears. On other days, due to a temperature inversion, you may be surprised to find a sea of cloud swirling below the peaks and around the trees and receding far across the range. Whatever you encounter, all such views have been depicted in classic Chinese paintings over many centuries and continuing to this day, and inspiring many photographers, perhaps most famously Michael Kenna. And you will be glad you are there to capture it.
I no longer run classic China photography trips to both Xiapu and Guilin, and Wulingyuan National Park, because the former have become more and more like a Hollywood movie set which degrades the whole experience of being there, while the latter has closed all the mountain lodges since 2018, which means more hours will be spent on getting to the mountain top and less time for photography every day. Apart from the Yellow Mountain’s natural beauty, the main reason I’m drawn back is its potential for a wide variety of images in different weather conditions. Moreover, with limited hotels available, which are relatively expensive, there are less tourists in mountain viewpoints during the key early and late hours. This area is so vast that we will find many moments of awe and astonishment throughout the day.
You will be travelling with someone well experienced in Yellow Mountains, who knows the best locations for photography in changeable weather conditions, and has detailed cultural and practical and linguistic skills for this region, making your journey a safe and enriching experience.
Trip Detail:
Meeting Point: Huangshan Town
Workshop starts at dinner time on the first day and ends after breakfast on the last day. We will be spending 5 days/nights on top of the mountains.
Workshop begins at dinner time at our pre-booked hotel in Huangshan Tangkou Town on day 1, taking the cable car up to the mountains next morning, we will be spending 5 Days/nights in 2 different areas, and return to Tankou town for the last night again, and workshop ends after breakfast on the last day.
You can book afternoon train (after 3pm) to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, I normally take the flight out of Pudong airport around 2am the next morning. There is a good airport hotel in Pudong airport between Terminal 2 and Terminal 1 which I use sometimes.
Workshop Price: GBP £3000 per Person / 5 nights in the mountains / If weather looks good on our last day, we can extend one more night in the mountains, you will pay for the last night’s hotel cost about £150 directly by using your own credit card.
Included: Vehicle Transportation / Photography Location Entry Tickets | Accommodation – Single Occupancy in 4 Star Hotel – Shared Occupancy is £700 less of a two-person total.
Excluded: Chinese Visa Application | Domestic Flight/Train Ticket to Yellow Mountains – Please consult with us before making your flight arrangements | Travel/Personal/Equipment/Medical Insurance (required) | Alcoholic beverages
Photography Skill Level: Intermediate and above. Beginners and non-photographers welcome, however, as with the more experienced, I will not be able to provide photography instruction, because I will be fully busy with aspects of the journey. Regardless of your level, please come with good knowledge of and capability with your equipment. I am more than happy to share my own approach at each significant stop, and discuss techniques/concepts via the camera screen at the end of the day as we gathering for a drink/meal.
Fitness Level: You need to be able to walk over 20,000 steps on paved stone per day. Additionally, using the slip-on crampons for icy conditions requires more effort in walking.
Porters: Porters cost between $50-100 dollars per day, for which you are responsible. I usually suggest to take one way with porter if the photography location we choose for sunrise is strenuous, and make your way slowly back by yourself as most likely we will be stopping often along that way. Some photography locations are less than 30 mins walk that you can easily manage yourself. Please discuss details with me if you require this service.
Booking Process
Complete Booking Form | Deposit GBP £700 or USD $900 to reserve your place after receive Invoice | Visa Application allowed from 90 days before the trip | The balance is due no later than 90 days prior to the Workshop | Packing list | Arrive Huang Shan (Yellow Mountain town) on time
Packing for the mountain top
On top of the mountain, it is mostly either up or down, porters available at extra cost. The method we use is to store our suitcases in our ground hotel which we will come back for, and pack essentials for the mountain top.
Free porterage of 30L bag – The free porterage for each participant is a 30L bag of clothing and personal items, which I will coordinate with our mountain top hotel after we reach the exit point of the cable car. I will also cover for them to be transferred when we switch hotels, and back to the cable car entry point when we leaving the mountain top. You will need to carry it between our ground hotel to the entry/exit point of the cable car, no more than 10 minutes walking total per trip.
Camera bag and tripod – You are responsible for carrying your own camera bag and tripod at all times on this trip. On some occasions, it’s possible to hire porters to carry them for you, usually $30 dollar for a 30 mins journey.
It’s possible to encounter very cold weather and icy conditions, please be prepared with extra layers of clothes, especially a pair of good gloves and shoes/socks, and have easy slip-on crampons; please make sure it fits your shoes really well.
Booking Form
