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November 2: Xilingol's volcanic wilderness with Wenyue Huang — seven days of aerial photography, stone forests, salt lakes and stars2026-11-02 · Linked trip

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November 2: Xilingol's volcanic wilderness with Wenyue Huang — seven days of aerial photography, stone forests, salt lakes and stars
BEYOND THE FRAME / FIELD JOURNAL 01

China

November 2: Xilingol's volcanic wilderness with Wenyue Huang — seven days of aerial photography, stone forests, salt lakes and stars

A photographic expedition

2026-11-02 — 2026-11-08Date timezone: Beijing · Asia/Shanghai
7 days/ 6 nightsTime to create
Group size to be confirmedGroup size

Go beyond the view.

Explore Xilingol’s volcanic terrain, including Pigeon, Horseshoe and Chelunwula volcanoes. Photograph Bulage rock formations and Baodeer stone forest, with a planned shared herder-yurt stay. Visit Erlian Salt Lake, land art and Dahongshan; lake colour, ice and night-sky conditions vary.

01

Grassland volcanoes

Explore Xilingol’s volcanic terrain, including Pigeon, Horseshoe and Chelunwula volcanoes.

02

Stone landscapes and a herder stay

Photograph Bulage rock formations and Baodeer stone forest, with a planned shared herder-yurt stay.

03

Salt lakes and Dahongshan

Visit Erlian Salt Lake, land art and Dahongshan; lake colour, ice and night-sky conditions vary.

THROUGH THE LENS

The journey in pictures

Leading photographers: ALVIN Huang →

Destination illustrations · select a photo to explore

A different way of seeing.

Portrait of ALVIN Huang

ALVIN Huang

Specializes in documentary, portrait and landscape photography. He has explored dozens of intangible cultural heritage subjects and travelled extensively in western China for photographic projects. Each year he leads private, customized leisure photography and travel portrait trips overseas. An experienced retoucher with comprehensive photographic knowledge and advanced digital post-production skills, he has received dozens of provincial-level or higher awards and international awards. Photography journeys He has led groups to Norway, Iceland, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dongba, Semporna, Israel, Jordan, Iran, Indonesian Papua, Namibia, Manado, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Chinese destinations include Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Guizhou.

A rhythm shaped by light.

Shooting locations, accommodation and transport are subject to confirmation before departure and may change with the weather.

Note: We will flexibly adjust the photography plan to suit actual conditions. Thank you for your understanding!

Itinerary dates and text times without their own zone use: Beijing · Asia/Shanghai。Exact times use your selected timezone; dates alone and descriptions such as “morning” are not converted.

DAY 01Nov 2 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiArrival transfer–Chicheng

Transfer to Chicheng after arrival. Beijing pickup and Zhangjiakou flight references conflict; meeting airport and transfer arrangements are to be confirmed.

Accommodation:Chicheng; accommodation to be confirmed

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 02Nov 3 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiBingshanliang–Milk Lake (Baiyin Chagan Lake)–Shitiao Mountain–Sanggendalai Town

Morning: Bingshanliang (2,211 meters; ancient glacial boulder fields and wind-turbine arrays). Photograph glacial remnants, turbines and expansive wilderness scenes. The summit’s open views suit aerial photography. Afternoon: Milk Lake (Baiyin Chagan Lake), whose milky-white surface comes from minerals. Capture light and shadow on the lake and wilderness. The lake may freeze in November, shifting the focus to frozen-lake landscape textures. Evening: Shitiao Mountain’s giant columnar basalt formations. Photograph stone-pillar silhouettes at golden-hour sunset and use an ultra-wide lens to convey geological grandeur. Drive to Sanggendalai Town for the night.

Accommodation:Sanggendalai; accommodation to be confirmed

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 03Nov 4 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiXilingol Grassland Volcanoes (several differently shaped volcanoes)–Xilinhot

All day: explore the Xilingol grassland volcanic belt, visiting classic dormant volcanoes, flat-topped cones and lava plateaus. Photograph volcanic textures and lava remnants, and capture the array of volcanoes from above for a sense of ‘Mars on Earth.’ Sunset: photograph the volcanic plateau as the setting sun gilds the mountains and stretches light and shadow across lava formations.

Accommodation:Xilinhot; accommodation to be confirmed

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 04Nov 5 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiIn-depth Xilingol Grassland Volcano Photography–Pigeon Volcano–Abag Banner

Morning: Pigeon Volcano, officially part of Xilingol Grassland Volcanoes National Geopark, is the youngest and best-preserved basaltic volcano in the Xilinhot–Abag group and an iconic grassland volcanic landmark. Return to the volcanoes for soft morning sidelight, photographing crater details and basalt lava textures. The instructor guides volcanic landscape composition and aerial camera movements. Afternoon: continue west, stopping to photograph the Gobi grasslands along the way, and arrive in Abag Banner.

Accommodation:Abag Banner; accommodation to be confirmed

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 05Nov 6 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiHorseshoe volcano–Chelunwula–Bulage rocks

Explore Horseshoe volcano, Chelunwula and Bulage rock formations. A shared herder-yurt stay and weather-dependent night photography are planned; route and accommodation conditions are to be confirmed.

Accommodation:Shared herder yurt; accommodation to be confirmed

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 06Nov 7 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiBaodeer Stone Forest–China–Mongolia Border Road–Buddha’s Palm Land Art–Erlian Salt Lake–Erenhot

Morning: Baodeer Stone Forest, a grassland granite landscape of unusual rocks and stone peaks in the Gobi grassland. Use sidelight to capture contrasting textures. Noon: follow the China–Mongolia border road, photographing wide Gobi border landscapes and dramatic road scenes along the way. Afternoon: photograph the palm-like contours of the Buddha’s Palm land artwork from above, then visit Erlian Salt Lake. Capture crystallized salt crusts and saline-earth textures, and the lake’s warm and cool sunset light.

Accommodation:Erenhot

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief
DAY 07Nov 8 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDahongshan–Hohhot departure

Photograph Dahongshan’s gullies and layered terrain, then transfer to Hohhot Airport. Full-day and sunset photography conflicts with the afternoon reference flight; photography and airport timing are to be confirmed.

Accommodation:Departure

Final arrangements follow the operator’s departure brief

Where we stay

Planned overnight arrangements; bookings, room types and unspecified details are to be confirmed. Day 1: Chicheng; accommodation to be confirmed Day 2: Sanggendalai; accommodation to be confirmed Day 3: Xilinhot; accommodation to be confirmed Day 4: Abag Banner; accommodation to be confirmed Day 5: Shared herder yurt; accommodation to be confirmed Day 6: Erenhot Day 7: Departure

Getting there

These are reference services, not mandatory travel arrangements. Schedules, transfers and connections are to be confirmed. [Departing Guangzhou] Outbound: November 2 | Guangzhou–Shijiazhuang | CZ3131 / 11:45 / 14:45 November 2 | Shijiazhuang–Zhangjiakou | 9C7091 / 17:40 / 19:10 Return: November 8 | Hohhot–Guangzhou | CZ3308 / 16:05 / 19:35 [Departing Shenzhen] Outbound: November 2 | Shenzhen–Shijiazhuang | NS3268 / 12:45 / 15:30 November 2 | Shijiazhuang–Zhangjiakou | 9C7091 / 17:40 / 19:10 Return: November 8 | Hohhot–Chongqing | CZ2176 / 16:05 / 18:25 November 8 | Chongqing–Shenzhen | CZ5920 / 22:10 / 00:30+1 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website.

Know what is included.

USD 2,266.47 Original CNY 15,180 · Reference rates 2026-09-18 · Frankfurterperson, from

Platform service fee to be confirmed

Deposit USD 746.53 Original CNY 5,000 · Reference rates 2026-09-18 · Frankfurter / person

Included

Off-road vehicle transport during the itinerary.

Planned hotels and shared herder-yurt accommodation; conditions are to be confirmed.

Photography instruction and services throughout;

Complimentary travel accident insurance specially provided for every participant.

Not included

Round-trip major transportation;

Admission to itinerary attractions;

All meals; the instructor’s meal expenses are shared by participants;

A full-trip single-room supplement applies if no same-sex roommate is available or a private room is requested;

Other additional service fees not listed;

In cases of force majeure such as natural disasters, war or strikes, or special circumstances including airline delays or cancellations and consular visa delays, the organizing team may cancel or alter the itinerary. We may charge the actual expenses of additional expenses, including visa extensions abroad, accommodation, meals, transportation and national airfare adjustments, while doing our best within our capabilities to minimize participants’ losses;

Invoice taxes are additional; details are to be confirmed.

Service fees, supplements, taxes and the final total are subject to written confirmation.

Clarity before departure.

Availability and registration

Register your interest in this trip. Group operation, availability, total payment and booking terms are to be confirmed with the operator.

Cancellation and breach provisions

Participants and the organizing team may give written notice before departure to terminate the trip agreement. If notice is given more than 7 days before departure, calculated as the difference in calendar days between departure and receipt of the termination notice, neither party is liable for breach provided no actual expenses have been incurred, such as flight or high-speed rail tickets booked with both parties' knowledge. For later termination, the party terminating the agreement bears liability for breach. [Liability of the organizing team] If we notify participants within 7 days of departure that the group cannot operate, we will refund all fees and pay compensation. For notice given 7 to 4 days before departure, including day 7, compensation is 10% of the total trip fee; for 3 to 1 days before departure, 15%; and on the departure date, 20%. [Participant liability] Participants cancelling within 7 to 4 days before departure, including day 7, must pay us a business-loss charge under the following schedule: 50% of the total trip fee for cancellation 7 to 4 days before departure; 60% for 3 to 1 days before departure; and 80% on the departure date. If these percentages do not cover our actual losses, the participant must compensate the actual losses, up to the total trip fee.

Trip information

[Registration] Registration for this trip is confirmed upon receipt of the deposit. [Transport] 1. Flight, driving, and boat journey durations are subject to actual travel times on the day. 2. High-speed train schedules above are for reference only. If circumstances require timing changes, the itinerary may be adjusted slightly; the departure notice takes precedence. [Accommodation] The amount is based on 2 people sharing 1 room. We will try to pair solo participants with another participant of the same gender. Participants who do not wish to share, or cannot be matched, must pay the single supplement for a room of their own. [Group meals] We try to choose meals suited to Chinese tastes and ensure that every guest receives an adequate portion. [Photography] 1. Photography activities follow the itinerary. In exceptional circumstances, time spent photographing each location will depend on the actual conditions that day. 2. Please read this itinerary carefully and choose a photography trip suited to your circumstances. If you give up part of the itinerary for personal reasons, including health, or request to forgo accommodation or transport, this is considered voluntary withdrawal. expenses already incurred are non-refundable. You are responsible for your personal safety while not participating in the itinerary. 3. Participants may not leave the group without permission during group photography activities, except during free time. Leaving partway through the trip is considered a breach by the participant. Unused photography activities, meals, accommodation and vehicle services are non-refundable, and the organizing team is not responsible for accidents occurring while the participant is away from the group. 4. If force majeure events such as typhoons or blizzards prevent travel according to the agreed itinerary, additional or reduced expenses following changes will be settled according to the travel agency's actual group operating expenses. [amount adjustments] the organizing team reserves the right to adjust amount if major fluctuations in international fuel markets cause substantial increases in fuel surcharges. If the increase is within what we can absorb, the trip fee will not be adjusted. [Departure notice] 1. The departure notice will be sent no later than 1 day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed earlier, we will notify you as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the departure notice, the departure notice takes precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from organizing or arranging optional activities at additional expenses, guests wishing to join such activities should contact the service provider themselves for information, amount and participation. If language difficulties lead you to ask a guide or tour leader for additional assistance, any paid or unpaid help is provided solely in that person's individual capacity, not on behalf of the organizing team or the local receiving agency. the organizing team has no involvement in the expenses, transaction amount or service standards of free-time activities; guests bear the outcomes themselves. Images above were supplied by the local instructor; they will be removed upon notice of infringement

Shared expenses

Other travel expenses are paid through expenses sharing (meals, attraction tickets, preparation of supplies, etc.). All participating students share the instructor’s expenses throughout. Whether or not a participant personally eats or stays overnight during the itinerary, they must still contribute to the instructor’s meal and accommodation expenses.

Fitness, equipment and conditions

Equipment and fitness requirements will be provided by the operator.

USD 2,266.47 Waitlist · person, from
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