THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view
Explore snow peaks, glaciers, forests, grasslands, canyons and wetlands around Xiate in the Tianshan Mountains with Owen Ou. Photograph the layers between these environments; the route and access depend on arrangements confirmed for your departure.
About the route
Xiate Glacier landscape photography Snow peaks | Glaciers | Wetlands | Forests | Grasslands | Canyons Explore the Xiate area with Owen Ou in June 2027. Work with layers of mountains, forest and grassland at different elevations, alongside glaciers and wetlands in the Tianshan Mountains.
Itinerary
June 02–June 08, 2027 (7 days, 6 nights) Day 1 · Meet in Yining June 2: Meet in Yining Accommodation: Four-star hotel in Yining Day 2 · Yining to Xiata Township, Zhaosu June 3: Yining–Xiata Township, Zhaosu. Depending on the weather, photograph Zhaosu's rapeseed flowers or sunset at the mountaintop pasture! Accommodation: Guesthouse in the 75th Regiment settlement Day 3 · Helicopter to Xiata Glacier camp June 4: After breakfast, take a helicopter from Xiata Township to the Xiata Glacier camp for photography Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp Day 4 · Muzart Glacier June 5: Muzart Glacier Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp Day 5 · Muzart Glacier June 6: Muzart Glacier Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp Day 6 · Glacier sunrise and return to Yining June 7: After sunrise photography, take a helicopter back to Xiata Township, then drive back to Yining Accommodation: Four-star hotel in Yining Day 7 · Departure and airport transfer June 8: Tour ends; airport transfers
The journey in pictures
Photographers linked to this route: Owen Ou →
Itinerary images · Select a photo to enlarge
PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS
A different way of seeing

Owen Ou
Graduated from the Photography Department of South China Normal University in 2009. Specializes in landscapes, property environments and commercial portraiture. He has worked with the Shenzhen procuratorate, land bureau, Shenzhen Library, cultural centers, China Merchants Bank, Standard Chartered, Agricultural Bank of China, China Telecom, China Mobile, Guosen Securities, Topway Video, and BMW and Porsche owners' clubs. Photography journeys He regularly leads organizations and photography schools on trips to the Balkans, Iceland, Germany, Greenland, Cuba, South Korea, Canada, Kenya, Laos, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Morocco, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Japan, Chiang Mai, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, Semporna and New Zealand. Chinese destinations include Anhui, Beijing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia, Shanghai, Sichuan, Suzhou, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Yunnan and Zhejiang. Selected awards Outstanding Work award at the 2009 Pingyao International Photography Festival; silver in the art category of the 2014 Guangdong provincial exhibition; gold in the monochrome category of the 2014 Al-Thani International Photography Competition; Zeyida Photography Club's 2022 Outstanding Instructor award and a 2023 instructor appointment issued in 2022; Fujifilm's 2022–23 Club Gardener Award, received in 2023.
THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light
DAY 01Jun 2 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiMeet in Yining
June 2: Meet in Yining Accommodation: Four-star hotel in Yining
DAY 02Jun 3 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiYining to Xiata Township, Zhaosu
June 3: Yining–Xiata Township, Zhaosu. Depending on the weather, photograph Zhaosu's rapeseed flowers or sunset at the mountaintop pasture! Accommodation: Guesthouse in the 75th Regiment settlement
DAY 03Jun 4 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiHelicopter to Xiata Glacier camp
June 4: After breakfast, take a helicopter from Xiata Township to the Xiata Glacier camp for photography Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp
DAY 04Jun 5 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiMuzart Glacier
June 5: Muzart Glacier Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp
DAY 05Jun 6 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiMuzart Glacier
June 6: Muzart Glacier Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp
DAY 06Jun 7 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiGlacier sunrise and return to Yining
June 7: After sunrise photography, take a helicopter back to Xiata Township, then drive back to Yining Accommodation: Four-star hotel in Yining
DAY 07Jun 8 · Beijing · Asia/ShanghaiDeparture and airport transfer
June 8: Tour ends; airport transfers
Trip staff
- Photography leader · Owen Ou
- Up to 10 travelers
- IncludedTour leader and mountain cook services;
Transport
- IncludedHelicopter charter costs;
- IncludedTransportation throughout;
- ExcludedMajor transportation to and from Yining from participants' departure points;
Travel details and reference schedules
Reference flights for the instructor: [Round trip from Shenzhen] Outbound: June 2, 2027: Shenzhen–Ürümqi T3 CZ5795/09:10/14:30 June 2, 2027: Ürümqi T3–Yining CZ6854/18:55/20:25 Return: June 8, 2027: Yining–Ürümqi T3 CZ6853/11:10/12:25 June 8, 2027: Ürümqi T3–Shenzhen CZ5796/15:40/21:00 [Round trip from Guangzhou] Outbound: June 2, 2027: Guangzhou–Ürümqi T3 CZ6882/10:15/15:30 June 2, 2027: Ürümqi T3–Yining CZ6854/18:55/20:25 Return: June 8, 2027: Yining–Ürümqi T3 CZ6853/11:10/12:25 June 8, 2027: Ürümqi T3–Guangzhou CZ6885/14:45/20:15 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website.
Photography
- Itinerary
Photography details
About the route Xiate Glacier landscape photography Snow peaks | Glaciers | Wetlands | Forests | Grasslands | Canyons Explore the Xiate area with Owen Ou in June 2027. Work with layers of mountains, forest and grassland at different elevations, alongside glaciers and wetlands in the Tianshan Mountains. Itinerary June 02–June 08, 2027 (7 days, 6 nights) Day 1 · Meet in Yining June 2: Meet in Yining Accommodation: Four-star hotel in Yining Day 2 · Yining to Xiata Township, Zhaosu June 3: Yining–Xiata Township, Zhaosu. Depending on the weather, photograph Zhaosu's rapeseed flowers or sunset at the mountaintop pasture! Accommodation: Guesthouse in the 75th Regiment settlement Day 3 · Helicopter to Xiata Glacier camp June 4: After breakfast, take a helicopter from Xiata Township to the Xiata Glacier camp for photography Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp Day 4 · Muzart Glacier June 5: Muzart Glacier Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp Day 5 · Muzart Glacier June 6: Muzart Glacier Accommodation: Muzart Glacier camp Day 6 · Glacier sunrise and return to Yining June 7: After sunrise photography, take a helicopter back to Xiata Township, then drive back to Yining Accommodation: Four-star hotel in Yining Day 7 · Departure and airport transfer June 8: Tour ends; airport transfers
Accommodation
- 6 nights
- IncludedAccommodation throughout the trip;
- IncludedAll food and service costs during the camping portion;
Accommodation details
6 nights Included · Accommodation throughout the trip; Included · All food and service costs during the camping portion; Excluded · Personal single-room supplements;
Meals
- IncludedAll meals throughout;
- IncludedAll food and service costs during the camping portion;
Visa
- To be confirmed by the operator
A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included
Deposit in the operator’s published information
per personThis amount reflects the payment terms in the operator’s published information. When booking through this platform, follow the payment schedule shown at checkout.
Public prices may change. Checkout quotes expire at a stated time; your confirmed order records its price and payment deadlines.
Included
1. Helicopter charter costs;
2. Transportation throughout;
3. Accommodation throughout the trip;
4. All meals throughout;
5. All food and service costs during the camping portion;
6. Tour leader and mountain cook services;
7. Shared equipment costs;
8. Insurance (outdoor adventure accident coverage of 800,000).
Not included
1. Major transportation to and from Yining from participants' departure points;
2. Personal expenses during the itinerary;
3. All costs arising from withdrawing or descending early for personal reasons;
4. Personal single-room supplements;
5. In exceptional circumstances involving force majeure, such as natural disasters, war, strikes, airline delays or cancellations, or consular visa delays, the organizing team reserves the right to cancel or alter the itinerary. Additional costs, including visa extensions abroad, accommodation, meals, transportation, or adjustments to national airfares, may be charged at cost. We will nevertheless do everything within our ability to minimize participants' losses;
6. Any other additional expenses not expressly listed under inclusions;
7. Prices above exclude tax. An additional invoice-related tax charge applies if an invoice is required.
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] The total is based on 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. The images above were supplied by the local instructor. They will be removed if they infringe copyright.
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.
