Miao Minority
In the southern province of Guizhou, the Miao ethnic minority are well known for their colorful traditions and impressive handicrafts, including embroidery and jewelry casting. Compared with big city life, home stay in the Miao autonomous area is a drastic change. Home stay offers our participants a much closer look into the Miao people’s traditional way of life, and gives participants a chance to build lasting relationships with the locals.
Sichuan Province
After the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, the spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism has grown considerably, evidenced by the impressive number of volunteers participating in the rescue and relief efforts in the region. Continuing in that spirit, VariArts connects concerned travelers with volunteer opportunities throughout China.
Xi’an, Shaanxi Province
Xi’an, located in central Shaanxi province, contains one of the most important World Heritage Sites in all of China: The Terracotta Army. Dating back to 210 B.C., the Terracotta Army was commissioned by Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, and consists of over 8,000 soldiers and hundreds of horses and chariots. VariArts commissions local archeologists to guide you through this incredible work in progress.
Shangri-La, Yunnan province
One of the best ways to learn about Tibetan culture is to stay in a monastery in Zhongdian County (Shangri-La), located in the northern part of Yunnan province. Zhongdian is a celestial place up in the mountains, surrounded by simple farming communities. During your time there, you’ll rub elbows with the resident monks, participate in daily meditations, and experience the fascinating Tibetan lifestyle first hand.
Sanya, Hainan Province
Sanya, Hainan island’s southernmost city, contains the country’s most beautiful beaches. A popular destination for mainland Chinese, Sanya has an impressive network of first class resorts that cater to those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life. On Sanya’s white sand beaches, VariArts brings together travelers and some of the world’s most renowned mediation experts, for small group training sessions unlike those offered anywhere in the country.
The Yellow Mountains, Anhui Province
The Yellow Mountains, with their jagged granite peaks and picturesque views of the underlying clouds, have been a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature. Accordingly, their magnificence has also earned them the distinction of World Heritage Site. The Yellow Mountains serve as an impressive backdrop for the VariArts Taichi seminars, conducted by distinguished masters of the discipline.
Shaoxing, Zhejiang province
VariArts conducts guest lecture seminars throughout various Chinese destinations, depending on the subject of the lecture. Shaoxing, a northeastern city in Zhejiang province, is an ideal destination for literature seminars, considering the long list of Chinese celebrities, politicians, and intellectuals to emerge from the region. In particular, Lu Xun, a critical voice of the social problems in China, and one of the most influential authors in modern Chinese literature, was born in Shaoxing and often used it as the setting of his stories.
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province
Jingdezhen, situated in Jiangxi Province, and has been coined the “Porcelain Capital,” due to its extensive history producing high quality pottery. As rumor has it, the reason why “China” became synonymous with “porcelain” was due to the fact that Jingdezhen used to be named Changnan, and when pronounced by locals, English speakers thought Changnan sounded like “China.” When shopping for quality porcelain pieces, it’s important to remember that Chinese porcelain can be divided into two major groups: Chinese market porcelain and Chinese export porcelain. VariArts connects travelers with the people who know the difference.
Chengdu, Sichuan province
People have inhabited Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, for over 4,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. A combination of Chengdu’s extensive history and majestic natural surroundings has greatly influenced local culture. The most obvious reflection of Chengdu s distinct way of life is felt when tasting Chengdu’s local cuisine. A regional sub-style of Sichuan food, Chengdu’s cuisine is famed for its bold flavors, as well as the use of copious amounts of Huajiao, the addictive Sichuan peppercorn that leaves the mouth feeling intoxicatingly numb.
Shanghai
Shanghai is an urban planner’s dream. Influenced by a combination of Shanghai’s history as a center of commerce between the east and west, and its current status as one of Asia’s fastest growing metropolitan areas, Shanghai has a rich collection of buildings and structures of various architectural styles. Shanghai’s urban landscape is continuously being tore down, and built up in a never ending attempt to satisfy the demand for more housing, shopping centers, and office space.
Panjiayuan antique market, Beijing
At the Panjiayuan antique market in Beijing, vendors sell all sorts of antiques and relics that date back to China’s earliest prehistoric cultures. China offers collectors a world of opportunity to find that elusive “pièce de résistance.” However, navigating through the sea of supposed authenticity indicators, such as distinctive marks, seals, government certificates, and guarantees, is enough to make your head spin. Join VariArts, and some of Beijing’s brightest antique hunters, as we set course to discover the hidden treasures that lay in one of Beijing’s most engaging markets.
Tongren, Qinghai province
Tongren is located in southeastern Qinghai province, and is considered the birthplace of Regong art, an important art school of Tibetan Buddhism. In particular, the Tangka paintings, magnificent in their craftsmanship and brilliant colors, are renowned the world over. VariArts commissions local artists to educate you in the history and technique behind this age old art form, as well as to assist you in creating your very own Tangka style paintings.
The Giant Panda
The Giant Panda (Ursidae Ailuropoda melanoleuca) spends its life roaming the mountain ranges of central China, primarily in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Since the Giant Panda is completely reliant on bamboo for its diet, it must feed on 20-40 lbs a day in order to get all its nutrients. Unfortunately, the bamboo forests that the Giant Pandas rely so heavily upon are being drastically encroached upon. It has taken the creation of Panda reserves, such as Foping’s Reserve in Shanxi province, to preserve the sufficient levels of habitat needed for Panda’s to live and reproduce. VariArts has developed relationships with local zoologists, in order to offer travelers fascinating Panda tracking opportunities.
Silk Road
Along the ancient Silk Road, near the city of Kucha in Xinjiang province, hundreds of Buddhist rock-cut cave complexes are scattered about in what’s known as the Tarim Basin of the Taklamakan Desert. As the popularity of Buddhism spread through China, with it came the Indian custom of excavating caves to serve as Buddhist sanctuaries. Until the advent of Islam, these religious caves proliferated throughout the region. Numerous scholars suggest that the Buddhist rock-cut caves represent one of the greatest achievements of Central Asian art during this period.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall, one of China’s most iconic destinations, stretches over approximately 6,400 km and took hundreds of years to build. Designed to prevent invasions, it actually ended up costing China more innocent lives than any war in China’s history. It’s estimated that over the course of its creation two to three million wall workers died erecting the massive structure. A VariArts seminar tour puts travelers on the Great Wall with local historians, in order to provide one of a kind learning experiences.
