Our courtyard home in the unspoiled town of Xizhou is an unparalleled base from which to explore the ecological, ethnic, and ancestral resources of Yunnan that most tourists never have the time or opportunity to discover. In addition to enjoying the idyllic calm of village life, guests have the chance to delve much deeper in to the rich traditions of the region. We make this possible through our Immersion itineraries, which are extended trips with set schedules that center around particular aspects of the culture. The Centre is a place where partnership with the local peoples, a deep sense of their history, and expertise in their indigenous artisanship all come together. The results are genuinely meaningful interactions that become singular life experiences for our guests.
Culturally based programs are about deep learning and active engagement. Guests explore subjects and ideas from new vantage points, and this exploration is enhanced by the communal environment of the Centre and the larger village of Xizhou. The duration of programs is such that guests can settle into a rhythm of village living, develop relationships both with fellow travelers and local peoples, and genuinely grow from deep experiences.
The Linden Centre opens its doors in the summer to families who are interested in learning more about the cultural roots of China. These programs enable guests to experience life in a rural Chinese village while participating in scheduled classes in subjects such as calligraphy, cooking, weaving and tie-dyeing, wood carving, martial arts, farming, fishing and language learning.
The week-long sojourns in the summer, which are consistent with the Lindens' mission to promote intercultural exchanges, are led by both Western and local Chinese mentors. Each day, guests will have a chance to participate in a different activity, as well as learn, or practice, basic Chinese Click on the attachment for dates and more details.
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Acclaimed photographer Alison Wright, represented by National Geographic and Corbis, leads our guests on an adventure to discover the perfect moments that can be captured by the eye and film. Not only does this program venture further north into Lijiang and Shangri-La, but features Alison's invaluable one-on-one instruction for leisure photographers and amateurs alike. A portion of the program fee will be donated to the Faces of Hope Fund, for relief of the disaster in Haiti. Click here for more on the donation.
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Head Chef Janice Thomas of the Savory Spoon Cooking School rejoins us for another adventure into the tastes and diversity of Chinese cuisine at the Centre. Our first program with Janice in 2009 proved to be a great success, and this tour will build upon that into an even more memorable immersion.
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The Linden Centre is proud to host a photography program for the avid photographer of landscapes, architecture, people and cultural events. Led by an acclaimed photographer Douglas Beasley, this program will take photography principles, skills and creativity to a new level in the picturesque regions of Dali, the karst peaks of Yangshuo, and the canola fields of Luoping.
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This workshop will flex your writing muscles and creative spirit. Led by author Don George and San Francisco's liveliest Bookstore, Book Passage, this trip will provide daily opportunities to write about the places we explore, people you meet and things we experience. Don is the Global Travel Editor for Lonely Planet Publications and is the author of "Tales from Nowhere" and the "Lonely Planet Guide to Travel Writing." Don has visited more than 60 countries and is a pre-eminent travel writer who will give you inspiring and practical advice on how to turn your travels into saleable tales and a trip of a lifetime.
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Scott Tallman Powers returns to the Centre after leading the first ever tour to the Linden Centre in March 2008. Scott is a highly accredited artist, with experience instructing amateurs and professionals alike in the U.S. and abroad. Representing people's stories and entities on canvas as honest and sensitively as possible has translated into many awards and exhibitions around the world. Scott will be your instructor during this two week artisan adventure. Painters and Non-painters are also welcome with an optional post-tour extension.
To view students' previous works on this program, click here.
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