China Photography Workshop Tour

From bustling city streets to majestic mountains, immerse yourself in the beauty of China with exclusive private group photography sessions and hands on photography guidance. Join me for this once-in-a-lifetime exclusive photography trip, where you will discover some of my favourite locations and learn about my photographic and editing processes.

This tour is open to photographers of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced shooters. If you have a sense of adventure and a passion for capturing incredible moments, I’d love to have you on this journey with me.

The trip is limited to just 6 participants, allowing me to work closely with everyone and provide guidance tailored to each individual's experience level.

We will be visiting some magical locations and I will be on hand at every shoot to help you capture the best images possible. This will be a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in the field while experiencing a truly unique and fascinating country.

Dates: November 15th to 26th, 2025 (12 days & 11 nights)

Total Price: $3,770 USD

Book your spot before 7th March to receive a $220 USD discount.

To secure your spot you'll need to pay a $1,735 NZD ($1,000 USD) non-refundable deposit.

The remainder needs to be paid directly to Scott Howes by 15th October, 2025. This can be via regular monthly payments, or in a single lump sum.

Tour itinerary

DAY 1 - SHANGHAI

• Welcome to China! We will meet you at the airport and head to our hotel via private shuttle.
• Sunset photography session at The Bund. 
• Ride the world’s fastest elevator to the top of the Shanghai Tower, the city’s tallest building, for a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower below. Overnight in Shanghai.

DAY 2 - SHANGHAI & ANCIENT TOWN

• Optional sunrise photography session at The Bund. Watch the city come alive as the first light of the day reflects over the Huangpu river and Shanghai’s iconic skyline. 
• Visit Yu garden, a beautiful classical garden hidden among towering buildings, and hear fascinating stories about its former owner and the dragon wall that nearly caused his downfall. 
• Enjoy the relaxing time in Zhujiajiao water town. Walk over the bridges and by the river, and relax in a rowing boat. This lovely town will make you forget that you are next to a big city.

DAY 3 - HUANGSHAN

• After breakfast, take an early fast train to Huangshan.
• Spend the rest of day exploring the picturesque streets of Hongcun and Xidi ancient villages, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
• Photograph the stunning reflections of houses and bridges in the lakes surrounding the villages for truly picturesque shots.

DAY 4 & 5 - YELLOW MOUNTAINS

• After breakfast we head into the Yellow Mountains and spend two days hiking and photographing the spectacular granite peaks, mountain layers, unique twisted pine trees and mystical sea of clouds.
• We are lucky enough to be staying in the mountains in order to have direct access to photograph at sunrise and sunset.
• Visiting in November also gives us a better opportunity for weather conditions, as well as fall foliage.

DAY 6 - XIAPU COUNTRY

• After sunrise in the Yellow Mountains, we descend the mountain and take a fast train to Fuzhou which is a 2.5 hour ride.
• We will be picked up from Fuzhou train station by our private shuttle and head straight to a mudflat for a sunset photography session.

DAY 7 - MUDFLATS, SEAWEED FARMS & PORTRAIT SESSION 

• We will head back to the mudfats to capture the sunrise focusing on the seaweed farms and the hill known as Steamed Bun. 
• After breakfast at the hotel and a short break we visit a nearby village for a private portrait photography session of fishing net fixing.
• In the afternoon we drive to a high vantage point to photograph the circle nets at sunset, capturing the transition from high tide to low tide.

DAY 8 - BUFFALO FARMERS

• In the morning we photograph buffalo farmers under a large banyan tree, capturing the magical moment when sun rays filter through the branches. 
• We will then visit the She Minority village and take numerous indoor portraits with locals in a private She people's museum.
• Our final photography session of the day is back on the water as we capture the floating nets with a fisherman on the boat in a small river.

DAY 9 - YANGSHUO

• We take a morning flight from from Fuzhou to Guilin.
• After being picked up from the airport by our private shuttle we will drive to our hotel in Yangshuo.
• Lightroom and Photoshop editing session.
• In the evening we will capture the breathtaking sunset over the Karst mountains in Yangshuo. 

DAY 10 - CORMORANT FISHERMEN & KAST MOUNTAINS

• We start the morning early around 4am and get driven to a secret spot along the Li river to capture stunning mountain reflections and have a private photography session to photograph a cormorant fisherman at dawn.
• Later, enjoy a walk along the Yulong river, capturing the picturesque countryside scenery and iconic Karst mountains. 
• Take a short break in the hotel.
• In the afternoon, head to a mountaintop to capture the amazing sunset, featuring classic Karst mountain peaks and rivers. This is one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen! 
• Overnight in Yangshuo

DAY 11 - KAST MOUNTAINS, BUFFALO FARMER & ANCIENT TOWN

• We begin the day with a sunrise photography session at Xianggong Hill. Offering us fantastic views combining the Karst mountains and Li river. A short but steep hike to the top offering serious bang for your buck.
• After breakfast we head in to the countryside to for a private photograph session with a local buffalo farmer on an ancient stone bridge in a village, with the Karst mountains in the distance.
• To end the day we visit a local family in Daxu Ancient Town, where we can capture portraits inside a traditional wooden house, as well as explore and photograph the town's old streets and historic architecture.

DAY 12 - DEPARTURE DAY

• Our magical adventure though China comes to an end.
• After breakfast we will head to Guilin airport so you can catch your return flight. Alternatively if you wish you can carry on your China adventure from Guilin.

NB: This itinerary may be subject to change due to unforeseen external factors.

For more information about this tour please visit scott-howes.com/chinagroutrip

• Private and intimate photo shoots at secret locations
• Lightroom and Photoshop editing sessions
• Photography lessons in the field

• Camera lenses - A variety between 16mm-200mm to cover all bases (I will also have some extra Sony gear with me for those of you wanting to try something different) 
• Drone (Not necessary but recommended) 
• Laptop or tablet for editing sessions 
• Tripod 
• Mobile Phone - We will set you up with AliPay and WeChat so you can purchase things (cash is not really a thing in China)
• A good VPN - I can send you my recommendations
• Rain jacket 
• Down jacket 
• Good shoes that are comfortable for longer walks and hiking