THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view
Photograph Laojun Mountain's golden-roofed buildings, winter snow and peaks, with opportunities to look for golden pheasants. Snow, cloud and bird sightings depend on weather and natural conditions.
Laojun Mountain snow and illuminated golden roofs
Photograph Laojun Mountain's golden-roofed buildings, mountain walkways and winter snow. South Heaven Gate offers views of the relationship between buildings and peaks. Lighting, snow and mist depend on access arrangements and weather.
Golden pheasant photography
Golden pheasants, forest spirits unique to China, are widely regarded as the phoenix's inspiration and are nationally protected Class II birds. Their multicolored golden plumage looks magnificent against snow. They gather in Laojun Mountain's winter forests, their feathers glowing vividly at dawn and dusk. A premier subject combining landscape and wildlife, they symbolize good fortune and produce distinctively Chinese images.
Winter icefalls at Hukou Waterfall
Winter Hukou is half ancient cliff encased in ice, half ceaselessly rushing Yellow River. Rainbows hide in spray, revealing the landscape's spirit at a glance.
The journey in pictures
Photographers linked to this route: Weixi Lin →
Itinerary images · Select a photo to enlarge
PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS
A different way of seeing
Weixi Lin
Has led photography trips to Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Russia, Indonesia, Semporna, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Niubei Mountain in western Sichuan, Nyingchi, the Qiantang River, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Wuxi, Yongfu in Fujian, Dongying, Zhongwei, the Yuanyang rice terraces, Xianggong Mountain and Zhangjiajie.
THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light
DAY 01Jan 4 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 1: Meet at Luoyang airport/station–travel to Laojun Mountain
Private pickup at Luoyang airport/station, then travel to Laojun Mountain.
Accommodation:Guesthouse at the foot of the mountain inside Laojun Mountain Scenic Area
DAY 02Jan 5 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 2: Full day on Laojun Mountain
Ascend by cable car in the morning and stay in a summit guesthouse in the Golden Summit core area, beside South Heaven Gate and Ten-Mile Painted Screen. Explore freely all day: leisurely afternoon photography of rime, icicles, and cliffside boardwalks, sunset in the evening, stars at night, and sunrise next morning, without tiring repeated ascents and descents.
Accommodation:Guesthouse on Laojun Mountain
DAY 03Jan 6 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 3: Laojun Mountain–Sanmenxia
Photograph sunrise at Golden Summit, then descend and depart for Sanmenxia after noon. Visit Shanzhou's sunken courtyard houses en route to photograph traditional underground courtyard architecture, intangible folk heritage, and tranquil winter village life. Arrive at Sanmenxia Swan Lake Wetland Park in the afternoon to capture lively whooper swans playing and spreading their wings.
Accommodation:Hotel near Sanmenxia Swan Lake
DAY 04Jan 7 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 4: Sanmenxia–Yuncheng flamingos–Hukou Waterfall
Depart for Hukou Waterfall after noon, photographing winter landforms of the Loess Plateau along the way.
Accommodation:Hotel near Hukou Waterfall
DAY 05Jan 8 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDay 5: Hukou icefalls–Xi'an airport transfer
Photograph Hukou's winter icefalls early in the morning, then travel together to Xi'an for airport/station drop-off at the designated location, successfully concluding the photography trip.
Trip staff
- Photography leader · Weixi Lin
- Up to 10 travelers
- IncludedBefore the course: the logistics team reserves hotels and organizes the itinerary in advance, giving everyone an overview of the photography plan;
View trip staffing details
Photography leader · Weixi Lin Up to 10 travelers Included · Before the course: the logistics team reserves hotels and organizes the itinerary in advance, giving everyone an overview of the photography plan; Included · During the course: on-location guidance from the instructor to help participants achieve their photographs;
Transport
- ExcludedRound-trip transport between your departure city and the destination;
- ExcludedLocal vehicle expenses throughout the trip;
Travel details and reference schedules
The services below are the tour leader's reference travel options. They are neither mandatory for participants nor confirmed group transport arrangements. Participants may choose suitable services that fit the meeting and departure times. [Round trip from Guangzhou] Outbound: January 4: Guangzhou–Luoyang CZ3363/07:15/09:45 Return: January 8: Xi'an–Guangzhou CZ3218/20:00/23:05 [Round trip from Shenzhen] Outbound: January 3: Shenzhen–Luoyang CZ8553/20:55/23:30 (arrive one day early) Return: January 8: Xi'an–Shenzhen CZ8496/20:10/22:55 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website.
Photography
- Laojun Mountain snow and illuminated golden roofs
- Golden pheasant photography
- Winter icefalls at Hukou Waterfall
Photography details
Laojun Mountain snow and illuminated golden roofs Photograph Laojun Mountain's golden-roofed buildings, mountain walkways and winter snow. South Heaven Gate offers views of the relationship between buildings and peaks. Lighting, snow and mist depend on access arrangements and weather. Golden pheasant photography Golden pheasants, forest spirits unique to China, are widely regarded as the phoenix's inspiration and are nationally protected Class II birds. Their multicolored golden plumage looks magnificent against snow. They gather in Laojun Mountain's winter forests, their feathers glowing vividly at dawn and dusk. A premier subject combining landscape and wildlife, they symbolize good fortune and produce distinctively Chinese images. Winter icefalls at Hukou Waterfall Winter Hukou is half ancient cliff encased in ice, half ceaselessly rushing Yellow River. Rainbows hide in spray, revealing the landscape's spirit at a glance. Laojun Mountain snow and illuminated golden roofs Golden pheasant photography Winter icefalls at Hukou Waterfall Included · Photography instruction and services throughout the trip. Included · Before the course: the logistics team reserves hotels and organizes the itinerary in advance, giving everyone an overview of the photography plan; Included · During the course: on-location guidance from the instructor to help participants achieve their photographs; Included · During the course: a series of themed post-processing sessions integrating theory and practice; Included · After the course: participants share and review their photographs, learn from one another and develop work they are happy with.
Accommodation
- 4 nights
- Hotel booking assistance is included; accommodation costs are paid separately.
- Booking assistance includedBefore the course: the logistics team reserves hotels and organizes the itinerary in advance, giving everyone an overview of the photography plan;
Accommodation details
Day 1：Guesthouse at the foot of the mountain inside Laojun Mountain Scenic Area Day 2：Guesthouse on Laojun Mountain Day 3：Hotel near Sanmenxia Swan Lake Day 4：Hotel near Hukou Waterfall Specific hotels and any accommodation arrangements not listed here are pending confirmation with the operator. Day 1 · 2027-01-04 Guesthouse at the foot of the mountain inside Laojun Mountain Scenic Area Day 2 · 2027-01-05 Guesthouse on Laojun Mountain Day 3 · 2027-01-06 Hotel near Sanmenxia Swan Lake Day 4 · 2027-01-07 Hotel near Hukou Waterfall 4 nights Hotel booking assistance is included; accommodation costs are paid separately. Booking assistance included · Before the course: the logistics team reserves hotels and organizes the itinerary in advance, giving everyone an overview of the photography plan; Excluded · Accommodation throughout the trip;
Meals
- ExcludedMeals during the itinerary;
Visa
- To be confirmed by the operator
A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included
Public prices may change. Checkout quotes expire at a stated time; your confirmed order records its price and payment deadlines.
Included
Photography instruction and services throughout the trip.
Before the course: the logistics team reserves hotels and organizes the itinerary in advance, giving everyone an overview of the photography plan;
During the course: on-location guidance from the instructor to help participants achieve their photographs;
During the course: a series of themed post-processing sessions integrating theory and practice;
After the course: participants share and review their photographs, learn from one another and develop work they are happy with.
Not included
Round-trip transport between your departure city and the destination;
Local vehicle expenses throughout the trip;
Accommodation throughout the trip;
Meals during the itinerary;
Insurance for the entire journey;
Admission tickets listed in the itinerary;
Personal expenses;
Attractions or activities added outside the itinerary.
Single-room supplements, additional local expenses and the final total must be confirmed in writing.
BEFORE YOU GO
What to know before you go
Availability and booking
Let us know if you’re interested in this trip. Availability is not updated in real time, so please contact us to check whether the trip is confirmed, how many places are available, and the final total and booking terms.
Trip information
[Transport] 1. Flights arranged by the organizing team use economy-class group tickets. Before tickets are issued, check the airline's rules for changes and refunds. 2. Flight, road and boat journey times may vary with conditions on the day. 3. The airlines and flight times listed are for guidance only. Flight changes may require minor adjustments to the itinerary. Please follow the final trip details sent before departure. [Accommodation] Accommodation is arranged for two people sharing a room. We'll try to match solo travelers with a roommate of the same gender. If you prefer not to share, or no roommate is available, you must pay a single supplement for your own room. [Group meals] We aim to serve meals suited to Chinese tastes. We make sure everyone has enough to eat. [Photography] 1. Photography sessions follow the itinerary, but conditions on the day may affect how long we spend at each location. 2. Read the itinerary carefully and choose a trip that suits your health and circumstances. Skipping part of the itinerary for health or other personal reasons, or choosing not to use the arranged accommodation or transport, counts as voluntary withdrawal from those arrangements. You are responsible for your own safety while not taking part in the itinerary. 3. Stay with the group during photography sessions unless you have permission to leave. This does not apply during free time. The organizing team is not responsible for accidents that occur while you are away from the group. 4. Typhoons, blizzards or other events beyond our control may require changes to the itinerary. [Fuel surcharges] The organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if fluctuations in global oil markets lead to a substantial rise in fuel surcharges. If the team can absorb the increase, the amount payable will remain unchanged. [Before departure] 1. We'll send your final trip details no later than the day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed sooner, we'll let you know as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the final trip details sent before departure, the final trip details take precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from arranging optional paid activities, please contact the provider directly for details, charges and bookings if you wish to take part. If you need language assistance from a guide or tour leader, any help is provided in a personal capacity, whether paid or unpaid. It is not provided on behalf of the organizing team or the local tour operator. The organizing team is not involved in the payments, transactions or service standards for activities during free time. You are responsible for the outcome of those arrangements.
Shared expenses and services
Participants share travel expenses, including meals, accommodation, transport, guides, staged photography and supplies. Everyone must contribute to the instructor's meals and accommodation, even if they skip a meal or overnight stay themselves. The displayed amount covers photography instruction, support and logistics planning for the trip. The shared travel expenses listed above are additional.
Itinerary notes
Photography locations, accommodations and transportation are subject to final confirmation before departure. Weather and local conditions may affect the itinerary.
Itinerary dates use Beijing time (Asia/Shanghai). Flight, transfer and other times follow the time zone stated for each location. Please confirm any time without a stated time zone before departure.