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.
Click on the icons beneath each program for itineraries and signup forms.
In conjunction with the University of Chicago Graham School’s Asian Classics program, this tour will feature lectures and discussions on the most important of the Chinese classics. We will learn how they were used in the first millennium before the common era, and then how they are understood today and the role that debates about them have played in the making of modern China. This tour will begin in Shanghai and continue to The Linden Centre. For more info, please click here.
Together with the Barnsite Gallery, we will explore and paint the most scenic and picturesque regions of Yunnan with famed watercolor artist Ratindra Das. Main program offered from March 30 to April 9, with an extension to the world heritage site of Lijiang and the Tibetan regions of Shangri-La that goes until April 14.
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Go Beyond the Clouds: Practice and implement harmonizing techniques for body, mind and soul. Travel with the Linden Centre and Dr. Yinong Chong and Mr. Shawn Cartwright, founders of the Traditional Chinese Culture Institute International, as we explore and learn of authentic Chinese internal arts, including Tai Chi and Qigong.
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Delve into the traditional aspects of Buddhism, Taoism and the local Benzhu beliefs in the Dali basin. Explore the crossroads of many of Asia's largest religions, journey to two of Asia's most sacred Taoist and Buddhist mountains, and learn to practice meditation and Tai Chi from monks and elders. Join us in an inspiring spiritual discovery.
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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.
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.
The workshop will be mentored by Don George and Book Passages. Don is the Global Travel Editor for Lonely Planet Publications. His new book, Travel Writing, will be published this month. In 25 years of wandering, Don has visited more than 60 countries and has published more than 600 articles in newspapers and magazines around the globe. The program will also include some guest lectures by Chinese writers and details on publishing opportunities in China's increasingly lucrative writing profession.
