The China Travel Podcast is a collection stories and advice from experts around the globe, all tied in to China in one way or another, with the aim of inspiring sustainable travel featuring human stories and cultural exchange. Each episode we’ll be heading to a different destination in China with a special guest – and when we say a destination it can be as big as a province, as small as a village, or, it may not be a physical location at all but a field of study or simply a way of life. The China Travel Podcast is produced by WildChina Travel and hosted by Mei Zhang. ----- About us: WildChina is a sustainable travel company specializing in bespoke off-the-beaten-path journeys which foster cross-cultural human-to-human connections to show travelers our China - the real China. Learn more on our website: wildchina.com ----- About the host: Mei Zhang, founded WildChina in 2000 with the aim of providing a sophisticated, sustainable interpretation of Chinese culture and nature through experiential travel. WildChina has since achieved that goal, being named National Geographic Adventure’s ‘Best Adventure Travel Company on Earth’. Mei’s expertise has also led her to win a number of personal awards and accolades, including Travel and Leisure’s A-List of Top Travel Advisors, Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialist, Wendy Perrin’s #WOW List of Travel Experts, and AFAR’s Travel Vanguard Honoree.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
For our eleventh episode we chat with Michelle Zhang and Pat Tietgen, a couple who first met in Chengdu and now live and work together in California where they run The Society of Heart’s Delight, an organization based out of a stunning historic landmark building in San Jose which facilitates events and discussions for the Bay Area Chinese professionals community.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
For our tenth episode, we head to Chongqing with native Yao Zhao. We talk about Yao’s Sichuan pepper oil company, 50Hertz, his favorite dishes and restaurants in Chongqing, and, of course, local tips on unique points of interest and the best hotels in the area.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
For our ninth episode, we head to Beijing. As the imperial and modern-day capital, Beijing offers an eclectic array of old and new, visible in the lifestyles of its citizens but also in its buildings. Mei chats with Beijing-based architect, Diana Chan Chieng on Beijing’s wide variety of architectural offerings, from the traditional siheyuan homes of the hutongs, to the gilded roofs of the Forbidden City, to the sleek modern curves of the 2008 Olympic center and the 2019 Daxing airport.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
For our eighth episode we collaborated with TONG to discuss China’s countryside and the blooming trend of reverse migration from city to countryside. Across the country disillusioned city-dwellers are seeking solace, relaxation, and adventure in the previously forgotten haven of China’s countryside. Mei Zhang from WildChina speaks with Jenny Zhang and Stefan Harvey from TONG on why this is happening, who it encompasses and implications for the future.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Wednesday Jul 14, 2021
Wednesday Jul 14, 2021
For our seventh episode, we head to Tibet. A region on the western reaches of China, commonly referred to as the last frontier, the roof of the world. Home to the sparkling Potala Palace, the vast expanse of the Tibetan plateau, the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, the North and Eastern faces of Mount Everest, the seat of Tibetan Buddhism. It also happens to be where WildChina’s first sparks of existence came to be, on the autumn slopes of Mount Kailash.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
For our sixth episode, we talk with Jeff Fuchs, a long-time WildChina friend, and a globally-recognized expert on tea. Jeff is also a pioneering explorer being the first Westerner to walk the 6000 some miles of the ancient tea horse road through the Himalayas. Today we’ll be talking with him about tea in China.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
For our fifth episode, we travel to the cosmopolitan metropolis of Shanghai to chat with WildChina guide, and Shanghai native, Florence Ma. From the ballroom dancing aunties of Fuxing park to the hottest Michelin-star restaurant in city, Flo guides us through the many facets of this dazzling city.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Wednesday May 19, 2021
For our fourth episode, we zoom out to look at China as a whole. We address many of the questions we’ve been asked over the years on “How to plan a trip to China" and give information on where to go based on your interests, how to get there, and what to expect. If you have further questions after listening, please reach out to us at info@wildchina.com so we can help you get started planning your China journey.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Wednesday May 05, 2021
Wednesday May 05, 2021
For our third episode, we travel to Shangri-La and the surrounding regions, in Yunnan province. Home to Tibetan culture, lamaseries, national parks, Snub-Nosed Monkeys, and the great Salween, Yangtze, and Mekong rivers.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
For our second episode, we travel to Ningxia province, a lesser-visited region, home to prehistoric petroglyphs, the Tengger desert, the Hui ethnic minority group, and, China’s burgeoning wine industry.
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For a more detailed write-up on this episode, including links to resources mentioned, please visit our website: wildchina.com