top of page
KMC
E X P L O R A T I O N S
The road less travelled is where you find abundant joy.
Anchor 8
INTRODUCTION TO CHINA
From Han to Hui, Mongolian to Tibetan, and Baima to Naxi, China has enough historical and cultural diversity to fill a continent. Traversing east to west, you can see remnants of extinct civilizations and observe the daily life of cultures on the brink of survival. Some of the most complicated, fascinating, and beautiful civilizations have formed within the borders of modern China over the last few millennia, from ancient Tibetan kingdoms, vast Mongolian empires, secluded Naxi hamlets, and distinct Uyghur settlements, to name a few. Even more impressively is China's geographical diversity. With lush tropical, rain forests flanked by the tallest mountains on Earth, to vast barren deserts adjacent to cold tundra climates, China's a untamed and uncharted frontier begs to be explored. That's without to mention China is home to the worlds highest peak, third longest river, second lowest spot, third largest desert, the deepest canyon, the largest plateau, highest natural arch, and so on.
East to West, Search for Shangri-La
C h i n a
e x p l o r a t i o n s
Anchor 1
On the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau lies the land known as Kham Tibet, defined by its natural beauty and hospitable locals. The Kham region is one of the three historical regions of the Tibetan plateau, and is currently situated in Western Sichuan Province, Northern Yunnan Province, and the eastern regions of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Some of the most spectacular natural scenery is found here, including Yading, the last Shangrila, Minya Konka, one of Tibet's most holy mountains, and Gongga Shan, the highest mountain outside the Himalaya and Karakoram Mountain ranges. Kham Tibet is also deeply rooted in traditions and Tibetan culture; monasteries abound and adventures are around every turn. Travelling through Kham is one of the most unforgettable experiences and wild experiences.
KHAM TIBET
Abode of Snows, Culture of Mystery
"Mystical yet authentic, this lands rewards the curious and enchants the wanderer. Khampa are a people so linked with nature, you can't find one without discovering the other."
KEVIN MCFARLAND
Culture of Mystery
Experience the sights, sounds, and smells in the worlds second largest Buddhist institute. Full of mystery and simplicity, this place is unique in its Tibetan identity.
The True Shangrila
Discover the last Shangrila, an untouched wilderness of three holy mountains and pristine lakes deep in the heart of Kham. The views here rival any part of this Earth.
City in the Sky
Resting 4000 meters in elevation, Litang is one of the worlds highest towns. Everything here seems elevated, from the intense devotion to gruesome sky burials.
The Wild West
Finding solitude among yaks and monks. Life in the wild west evokes living in a different world, where vast grasslands aided by gracious monks makes for an unforgettable tale.
Holy Lake
This sacred glacial lake is one of the most beautiful in all of Kham. Striking views of the Chola Mountains can be had, and the shores are decked with giant Mani stones.
Anchor 2
Amdo Tibet, consisting of Northwestern Sichuan, Southern Gansu, and nearly all of Qinghai, is one of the three ancient cultural regions of Tibet. This is the land of nomads, where vast, endless grasslands meet with thousands of yaks and tents. But grasslands are not the only geographical feature here, as some of China's most spectacular scenery is found here as well. The World Heritage sites of Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, and Siguniangshan dazzle every spectator, and the holy mountains of Nyenbo Yurtse and Amnye Machen present some of the best trekking options in all of China. Culturally, the great Labrang Monastery offers a personal view of Tibetan life; completing the kora is a must if in the region.
AMDO TIBET
Land of Nomads, Sanctuary of Mountains
"Oh Aba, with your gilded lakes and soaring peaks, your land leaves a lasting impression. In a county with increasing modernity, the refuge of Amdo linger in thought far longer than those skyscrapers."
KEVIN MCFARLAND
Fairytale Valley
Step into fairytale Jiuzhaigou, where pristine lakes, picturesque waterfalls, and virgin forests makes their home. These remote valleys are possibly the most beautiful in the world.
Snowfall Among Giants
Changping Valley is a wonderland of unspoiled beauty and peace.A place where time freezes, and you are left face to face with some of nature's most unmatched landscapes.
The Yellow Dragon
Ascending the Huanglong Nature Reserve, we are greeted with multi-colored pools, travertine waterfalls, and ancient temples. But what lies at the top, the lair of the Yellow Dragon?
Wilderness of Ice
On the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, this remotest and wildest valley of the Siguniang Sanctuary, gives prominence to the mountains.
Afoot on Amdo
On the edge of the plateau in Gansu lies Labrang, a simple monastic town filled with folks from all walks of life, whether it be monks, tourists, or cowboys.
Anchor 3
The Silk Roads evoke glorious days of past, mirages of exotic locales, and extraordinary tales - a far-cry from the grim reality most of the merchants experienced. These interconnected series of ancient routes are the veins of the world where peoples, faiths, and countries are intricately blended together. Rulers and explorers, from Genghis Khan to Marco Polo, were captivated by these syntheses. The Silk Roads are also the passageway from East to West, and it is here where both sides of the world dramatically clash to form a truly unique landscape where innovations thrived. It is also here where civilizations and religions have formed, setting the blueprint to our ever so complex modern world. The Silk Roads are not just remote corners of the globe, forgotten and unimportant. Rather, the Silk Roads are perhaps the center of our complex globalization. The landscape of our planet would look vastly different if merchants, nomads, nobles, and explorers did not traverse the thousands of miles for hundreds of years. It's perplexing how such an important part of history can be so often overlooked.
THE SILK ROADS
Veins of the World
"Ancient practices, languages, and thought prevails here, yet it doesn't feel at all primitive. Rather, it evokes genuine warmth to its people and the imposing land they call home."
KEVIN MCFARLAND
Veins of the World
Donkey karts and camels replace trains and planes, lamb skewers replace dumplings, and ancient ruins dot the landscape. Here, harsh environments coexist with hospitable people.
Faces of the Desert
Turpan is situated in a blazing environment 500 feet below sea level. The Uyghur people here are a wonderful people that deserve to be treated in an equally wonderful way.
Ancient Oasis
Not many places around the world has ancient sites and structures around every corner, as it seems in Turpan. Read of our visit to their historic sites from the Silk Road.
Time-Tested Bazaars
Kasgar,the Pearl of the Silk Road, still retains its ancient charm, where vendors, marketplaces, and bazaars are bustling and selling everything from hand-made trinkets to intricate knives.
Legend of the Desert
The story of discovery then rediscovery in the far reaches of Xinjiang, where the tallest natural arch in the world lies hidden.
Anchor 4
Every foot we climbed, the temperature dropped and the air thinned, but nothing could stop our breath for what lied before us. Impossible yet spectacular peak after peak appeared then vanished in the mysterious mist, while the paved road weaved and crossed glaciated valleys. The fact that a paved road even exists around these massifs and frightening elevations proves the engineering capabilities of our modern world. But imagine being a merchant hundreds of years ago trying to brave these mountains and cross into China on the ancient Silk Road. Just ask Marco Polo, the Silk Road's most famous explorer who had to traverse this range to enter China for the first time. In the modern world, the Karakoram highway starts in Kashgar and heads south towards the Pamir Mountains, crossing soaring peaks, alpine lakes, glacial rivers, and stone ruins before heading into Pakistan through the highest international border in the world. We took the road to Takxorgan, an ancient outpost and likewise the furthest-west town in China right before the high pass to Pakistan. This proved to be an adventure for the ages.
THE PAMIRS
Perilous Pinnacles, Prized Pearl
"The plain is called Pamir, and you ride across it for twelve days together, finding nothing but but a desert without habitations or any green thing, so
that travelers are obliged to carry with them whatever they have need of."
MARCO POLO
On the Path to Greatness
The Karakoram Highway starts in Kashgar and heads south towards the Pamir Mountains, crossing soaring peaks, alpine lakes, glacial rivers, and stone ruins.
Stone Fortress
The last outpost along the Chinese KKH before heading into Pakistan. Here has long been a settlement along the Silk Road, evidenced by its ancient fortress.
Heart of the Grasslands
Majestic snow-capped peaks extend in all directions and seemingly endless grasslands with nomads tents and sheep number in the hundreds.
Father of Ice Mountains
At nearly 25,000 ft, this is the father of the Pamir Mountains. It is both legendary in its history and majestic in its humble surroundings.
Anchor 5
Flanked by the mighty Tibetan plateau to the West, barren deserts to the North, and dense forests to the South, the Sichuan Basin is a fertile plain full of life and wonder. For centuries people have settled here, leaving traces of civilization in this rich land. Dotted in the countrysides are ancient villages, holy Buddhist and Taoist Temples , and dense bamboo forests, home of China's mascot, the Giant Panda. Chengdu, Sichuan's capital is a modern metropolis, and has the highest density of restaurants of any city in the world. The Sichuanese, known for their laid-back lifestyle, like their food full of flavor and very spicy. The Sichuan Basin has a destination for everyone, whether it be nature, history, shopping, or food.
SICHUAN BASIN
Where Ancient Meets Modern
"There is another world, other than the one we choose to live in."
LI BAI
Pandas and Pagodas
Lush vegetation inhabits every inch, ancient pagodas dot the terrain, and somewhere in the thick forest Giant Pandas make their home
Ancient Mystery
Sanxingdui, the name attributed to one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries, proves that there is much to be learned among the history of this planet
Anchor 6
The Tianshan Mountains, or Mountains of Heaven, span spectacularly across the fertile lands of Central Asia, originating in Eastern Xinjiang and terminating in Uzbekistan. Long standing as a barrier along the Silk Roads, but even longer standing as the home of many peoples and nationalities, the mountains here are nothing short of majestic. In North Xinjiang, the Altai Mountains also come into play in the farthest reaches, bordering Russia, Mongolia, and Kazkahstan. Ancient nomadic cultures have thrived here , even those of the legendary, but wholly existent, eagle hunters. Not only mountains make headways here, as the grasslands thrive here like nowhere else, including some of the world's largest. North Xinjiang, it all its vastness, is a humble example of the simple beauty of mountains and valleys, rock and grass.
NORTH XINJIANG
Heavenly Mountains, Endless Grasslands
Marvel in the West
Expect the Unexpected
The Heavenly Way
Not many places around the world has ancient sites and structures around every corner, as it seems in Turpan. Read of our visit to their historic sites from the Silk Road.
Edge of Kazakhstan
Pearl of the North
The Pass to Hemu
Anchor 7
From rugged mountains to dense jungles, and arid landscapes to fertile rice terraces, Yunnan is a land of diversity. Vietnam and Laos border to the south, Myanmar and Tibet to the west, and Sichuan to the north. Within its provincial borders are 25 different ethnic groups, nearly half of all of China's. Some of the best preserved ancient-towns towns showcase the diversity, such as Lijiang where its native Naxi people are the last remaining to still write in ancient hieroglyphics. Kunming, the province's capital, is renowned for its greenery as trees and flowers line every street. The mighty Yangtze River also traverses its terrain, created some dramatic landscapes such as the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest canyons. Travelling through Yunnan is reminiscent of travelling around the world.
YUNNAN
Kingdom of Mountains and Minorities
Life Along Erhai Lake
Dali is a sanctuary of peace and tranquility, and Erhai Lake is its highlight. The morning sun, impending mountains, and locals at work transforms this lake to an unique experience.
Old Town of the Naxi
Lijiang is one of China's quirkiest old towns, where ancient meets modern around every turn. The architecture and history fascinates, but what its become is truly something else...
Above Thunder
The mighty Tiger Leaping gorge, where the Yangtze River, China's longest, powerfully created one of the deepest canyons in the world, with a depth of 12,400 feet.
Edge of Tibet
In the Northeast corner of Yunnan lies a Tibetan town called Shangrila. Explore the Tibetan treasures here, and traverse the scenic Napa Lake.
Anchor 9
COASTAL REGION
Where Water and Rock Collide
bottom of page