China Photo Workshop
February 15th - 26th 2027
Journey through Yunnan’s water-filled rice terraces, historic towns and Tibetan highlands, before finishing in the striking old-meets-new cityscape of Chongqing.
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This workshop combines some of China’s most varied photography opportunities, from the rice terraces, old towns and Tibetan landscapes of Yunnan to the dense streets, layered architecture and night scenes of Chongqing. Along the way, we’ll photograph monasteries, mountain landscapes and everyday life, while working on composition, storytelling and editing throughout the trip.
The Itinerary
Day 1: Kunming
Arrive in Kunming, where we’ll meet at the hotel and settle in.
In the afternoon, we’ll head to Kunming Old Street for our first photography session, exploring the historic lanes, local shops, food stalls, and street life.
We’ll finish with a welcome dinner to discuss the plans of the trip.
Day 2: Journey to Yuanyang
After breakfast, we leave Kunming and drive south towards the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, winding our way into the mountains of southern Yunnan.
Upon arrival and check-in, we head out to Bada Viewpoint, photographing sunset across the vast flooded rice terraces as they reflect the changing light.
Day 3: Yuanyang Rice Terraces
We start before sunrise at Duoyishu Viewpoint, photographing the flooded terraces as the first light reaches the mountains.
After breakfast, we’ll spend time exploring a traditional Hani village, photographing its distinctive mushroom-shaped houses, narrow pathways, water wheels, and rural life.
In the afternoon, we head back into the terraces to explore different viewpoints until sunset.
Day 4: Yuanyang to Jianshui
We begin with another sunrise session at Duoyishu, giving us a second opportunity to photograph the terraces in different light and weather conditions.
After breakfast, we leave Yuanyang and drive to Jianshui Ancient Town.
In the late afternoon, we’ll photograph the historic Double Dragon Bridge before heading into Jianshui’s old streets for an evening of street photography.
Day 5: Journey to Lijiang
We spend the morning exploring Zhu’s Family Garden, photographing its traditional Chinese architecture, intricate woodwork, courtyards, and details.
Afterwards, we drive back towards Kunming before taking the high-speed train north to Lijiang.
We arrive in Lijiang in the evening and check into our hotel.
Day 6: Lijiang
We start early to photograph sunrise over the snow-covered peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
We then travel higher into the mountains, exploring the Yunshanping or Maoniuping area for landscape photography among the peaks and forests.
In the afternoon, we return to Lijiang and spend time photographing the streets and traditional architecture of Shuhe Ancient Town.
Day 7: Journey to Shangri-La
We begin at Black Dragon Pool, photographing the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at sunrise and its reflection across the lake.
From Lijiang, we travel north towards Shangri-La, stopping along the way at viewpoints overlooking the First Bend of the Jinsha River. Formerly known as Zhongdian, Shangri-La was renamed after the mythical Himalayan paradise from Lost Horizon, inspired by the region’s remote mountain landscapes.
In the afternoon, we visit Feilaisi Monastery, before arriving at our hotel for the night overlooking the Meili Snow Mountains.
Day 8: Shangri-La
We start early with another opportunity to photograph the mountain landscape in the soft morning light.
Around midday, we continue to Shangri-La, where we’ll photograph Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan.
Later, we explore Dukezong Ancient Town, photographing its traditional Tibetan architecture, winding streets, and evening atmosphere.
We spend our final night in Yunnan in Shangri-La.
Day 9: Yunnan to Chongqing
We have one final early start, heading to a viewpoint overlooking Songzanlin Monastery as the first light reaches the monastery and surrounding mountains.
Afterwards, we make our way to Lijiang Airport for our flight to Chongqing.
On arrival, we transfer to our hotel and bring the Yunnan portion of the journey to an end, ready to explore one of China’s most fascinating cities.
Day 10: Chongqing
We spend the morning exploring Chongqing’s old streets, photographing local life, steep stairways, and the city’s dense architecture.
At Chaodonglu Street, we’ll look for compressed compositions of warehouse workers framed against the surrounding buildings and elevated roads.
Later, we visit Hong’en Pavilion before heading to Hongyadong as the lights come on along the river.
We finish the day with Chongqing hot pot.
Day 11: Chongqing
We start early at one of the Yangtze River Cableway viewpoints, photographing the cable cars moving between the high-rises.
We continue through older neighbourhoods before stopping at Jiaotong Tea House for candid photography and portraits.
In the late afternoon, we head to the Nanping viewpoint for sunset, blue hour, and the illuminated Chongqing skyline.
We finish the workshop with a farewell dinner together.
Pricing
Total price: $5,500 $5,000 USD
Payable today: $1,000 deposit to secure your spot
Remainder payable: 5 x monthly installments
Total number of participants: 10
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12 nights of accommodation in carefully selected 4* & 5* hotels where available, twin sharing, with single occupancy available on request.
All on-ground transportation (private bus with driver, airport pick-up, flight Lijiang to Chongqing, train Kunming to Lijiang).
All meals, non-alcoholic drinks with meals, and bottled water throughout the trip.
Snacks for the road to keep you fueled during long shooting days.
All entrance fees and gratuities for locals when photographing them.
Dedicated local guides and fixer for the entire journey.
Editing workshops with Jord, covering beginner to advanced post-processing techniques.
Photography lessons in the field, focused on storytelling, composition, and technique.
Photo review sessions to refine your work and elevate your creative vision.
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Your flights to and from China
Chinese visa
Travel insurance
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses
Who is this workshop for?
This photography trip is limited to just 10 participants, allowing me to give each of you my full attention and help you get the most out of the experience. The small group size means I can work closely with everyone - whether you’re just starting out, looking to refine your craft, or already shooting professionally. It’s a chance to learn, create, and grow in a supportive environment while photographing one of the most extraordinary countries on earth.
Photographers love Jord's workshops: see for yourself…
What gear should you bring?
Camera
Drone
A couple of lenses to cover bases between 16-200mm
Laptop for editing sessions
FAQs
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The workshop starts in Kunming and finishes in Chongqing.
Kunming airport: KMG
Chongqing airport: CKGBoth cities are well connected by domestic and international flights, and by China’s high-speed rail network.
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Late February is a great time to visit Yunnan, with generally dry conditions, clear skies and a huge variety of climates as we travel through the province. Expect mild days around 15-22°C in Kunming and Yuanyang, becoming much colder as we climb towards Lijiang and Shangri-La, where mornings can fall below freezing and snow is possible. Chongqing is usually milder at around 8-15°C, though it can feel cool and damp. Layers and a warm jacket will be essential, particularly for our sunrise shoots in the mountains.
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Yes - comprehensive travel insurance is required for all participants. It should include medical coverage and trip cancellation, just in case of unexpected events.
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Visa requirements depend on your nationality, and many passport holders can currently enter China visa-free for short stays.
If your country isn’t eligible, you’ll need to arrange a tourist visa before travelling. I recommend checking the latest requirements before booking flights.
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Absolutely. Many guests join solo. You’ll share a twin room with another participant unless you’d prefer a single room (available for an additional supplement).
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This trip is limited to 10 participants, keeping the group small and personal so everyone gets plenty of shooting time and guidance.
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A $1,000 deposit secures your spot and is non-refundable. The remaining balance can be paid in instalments.
For more info, take a look at the full refund policy here →
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Once your deposit is paid, you’ll receive a welcome email with all the details you need, including packing lists, gear suggestions, and arrival information.
A WhatsApp group will also be created about a month before the trip so everyone can connect, ask questions, and get updates before we set off.
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Yes. China is generally very drone-friendly, and there will be plenty of opportunities to fly throughout the workshop where conditions and local restrictions allow.
If you’re new to drone photography, I can help you with everything from basic flying and camera settings to composition and getting the most out of your photos.
Hey, I’m Jord
I’m a full-time travel and landscape photographer from the UK, and I’ve been leading photography workshops around the world for several years.
China is actually where my love for photography first began. I lived in Chongqing for a year in 2015/2016, and the first camera I ever bought was simply to document that year abroad for friends and family back home. I ended up travelling extensively around the country, and somewhere along the way, photography became much more than a way of keeping memories.
This workshop brings together some of the places I’m most excited to photograph — from the flooded rice terraces of Yuanyang and the mountain landscapes of Yunnan to Songzanlin Monastery and, finally, Chongqing, the city where it all started for me.
I’m really looking forward to returning and sharing some of my favourite parts of China with you.
