13-Nights Wild China Photo Expedition — CALL

Ya’an also known as Yazhou-fu, is a prefecture-level city in western Sichuan, China. It meets the Sichuan Basin that reaches the Yangtze River. Its subtropical climate is susceptible to monsoons, however it remains as the hometown to China’s giant pandas and is the birthplace of Chinese tea culture which dates back to the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago. Travelers can meet the pandas at the Bifeng Gorge Panda Reserve or revisit original ancient architecture that remains standing at Old Town Shangli. Purchase varieties of candy, herbs, and tea and relax in a bamboo recliner by the river while admiring the scenic views in Ya’an.

Xi'an - with five million inhabitants and capital of Shaanxi Province - is one of the more pleasant of Chinese cities, more prosperous than any other city in inland China except Chengdu, with streets full of Japanese cars, stores flooded with temptations, and stylish locals in new discos. It's far richer than the surrounding area, a fact which becomes clear after a bus ride into surrounding plains. The city is also a primer in Chinese history, as between 1000 BC and 1000 AD it served as imperial capital for eleven dynasties. Find a wealth of important sites and relics hereabouts: Neolithic Banpo, the Terracotta Army of the Qin emperor, the Han and Tang imperial tombs, and in the city itself, the Goose Pagodas of the Tang, the Bell and Drum towers and Ming city walls, as well as two museums holding a treasury of relics from the most glamorous parts of Chinese history. The city is very popular with foreign residents, and many come to study, as the colleges are regarded as some of the best places to learn Chinese.

Formerly named Guanxian, this county was named after its irrigation system built in 250 BC continuously providing water for the major city of Chengdu. It is now the base and center for Panda rehabilitation. This 126 acres of natural environment is covered in bamboo forest, has its own panda hospital, medical lab, 30 different panda enclosures, a panda kitchen, and educational center and staff housing.

Jiuzhaigou Valley or "Nine Village Valley" is a beautiful national park home to 9 Tibetan Villages protecting over 220 species of birds and numerous endangered flora and fauna. Located in the Min Shan Mountain range, Jiuzhaigou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site remote from the rest of world until discovered in 1972. Surrounding Jiuzhaigou are magical blue and green lakes, virgin waterfalls, and unique land forms.