Earlier today, The New York Times featured WildChina in “Tour on Asia’s Wild Side.” Journalist Michelle Higgins set out to highlight new off-the-beaten-path destinations and explains “Now adventurous travelers are turning to the region’s wild frontiers for stunning natural landscapes and wildlife diversity.” Higgins featured one of WildChina’s travel journeys: Hiking Yosemite’s Sister Parks.
The Yosemite Conservancy and WildChina have organized a trip that visits Huangshan and Jiuzhaigou, Yosemite’s sister national parks in China. Sharing many of the same spectacular natural features as Yosemite, the parks also share the global challenge of accommodating thousands of visitors while maintaining a high standard for conservation. This journey begins on the beautiful banks of Hangzhou’s West Lake, a lovely man-made lake and garden that once served as an imperial retreat for the emperor. Our visit to West Lake will be an interesting contrast to the more natural settings of Huangshan, Jiuzhaigou, and Huanglong National Park where we’ll head to next.
One of the trip highlights–a luxury overnight camping experience within the Jiuzhaigou National Park–stems from WildChina’s relationship with the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). In 2007, WildChina advised the WWF in developing an eco-tourism strategy in Jiuzhaigou, including training for park rangers and consulting on building a high-end eco lodge within the park. Luckily for us, what goes around, comes around and WildChina now has top-notch exclusive access to the park, making this journey even more appealing to all hikers and conservationists out there. WildChina guests were the first international travelers ever to stay overnight in the park.
WildChina’s Head of Marketing, Nellie Connolly points out that “After an inaugural trip to China’s larger cities and classic sites,” like Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, returning visitors want to go to “China’s less explored regions to see cultural and ecological diversity.” This trip is definitely off the beaten path and shows a side of China that is rarely seen.
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For more information about WildChina, to learn about our destinations, or to receive a free 2012 catalog, call email info@wildchina.com or visit wildchinajourneys.com. The New York Times’ article is currently featured online and on newsstands now.
