Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day in Tengchong

After arrivals in Tengchong, we will have our first group activity of the main tour with a 6:30pm dinner on this night at our local hotel. There is no group birding on this day as part of the tour, although if anyone arrives early and would like to do some birding, Tropical Birding can arrange this. A single night will be spent in Tengchong.

Day 2: Tengchong to Hornbill Valley

Our first full day of the main tour will take us from the city of Tengchong to the beautiful scenery of Hornbill Valley, close to the border with Myanmar. The beautiful mountains and valleys of Southern China act as a haven for countless species, with over 380 birds and 30 mammals recorded in the valley. After completing our 4-hour drive from Tengchong, we will have lunch and begin our birding after that. We will spend the afternoon either birding along roads or utilizing one of the local blinds. Two nights will be spent in Hornbill Valley.

Days 3-4: Hornbill Valley

The next two days are dedicated to Hornbill Valley, which has become one of several “birder epicenters” in China in recent years. The locals have embraced an economy structured around birding and bird photography and have created an epic series of bird blinds. Our time over the next few days will be a combination of field and blind birding, so clients can expect a relaxed yet productive birding pace with many excellent photo opportunities. Some of the key targets we hope to see and photograph during this time include the enigmatic Gray Peacock-Pheasant and White-cheeked Partridge. There are several blinds in the area, with each of them producing their own cast of incredible birds. Some of the other highlights may include species like White-hooded Babbler, Brown-crowned Scimitar-Babbler, Common Green-Magpie, Verditer Flycatcher, Lesser Yellownape, Kalij Pheasant, Gray Treepie, Gray-bellied Tesia, Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Rufous-backed Sibia, White-crested Laughingthrush, and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. Aside from the incredibly accommodating birds that visit the feeders, there are some epic targets along the roads and trails that we will focus on finding too, like Collared Falconet, Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, and Streaked Spiderhunter. Mammal enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that range restricted species, like Anderson’s Squirrel and Pharye’s Squirrels both visit the feeders as well.  Of course no trip to Hornbill Valley is complete without hornbills, so we will keep a careful eye for species like Great and Wreathed Hornbills as we bird in the field.

Day 5: Hornbill Valley to Baihualing

The morning will allow us to focus on any last targets we have not seen yet in the Hornbill Valley, either by roadside birding or visiting one of the blinds. After that, we will begin the journey to Baihualing. The drive is long, at around 6-7 hours, but we will make some stops to stretch our legs and view any birds we come across along the way. After a day of travel we arrive at the “Birdwatcher’s Paradise”, Baihualing, where we will settle into our accommodation for a three-night stay.

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Days 6-7: Baihualing

The lush and vibrant forests of the surrounding area will be an incredible change of pace after a long travel day. Baihualing has earned the title of “Birdwatcher’s Paradise”, a well-earned accolade. In recent years the area has developed an incredible economy focused around bird photography and the tourism it brings. The result is over 35 of the world’s best bird photography hides, which showcase some of the region's most elusive and stunning birds. The next two full days will be a combination of walking trails, roads and visiting different blinds.

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These blinds have redefined what is possible at them, and we will have chances to see species like Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liochila, Scaly Laughingthrush,  Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Rufous-throated Partridge, Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Moustached Laughingthrush, and Scarlet Finch.  Birders that are less interested in photography will be more than entertained with nearly constant bird activity and incredible diversity at each location. Mammal enthusiasts will be happy to know that the blinds can also be productive for animals like Asian Red-cheeked, Giant Black and Pallas’s Squirrels and Northern Treeshrew. The trails may reveal species like Red-headed Trogon, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Great Barbet, Rusty-fronted Barwing, and Blue-throated Barbet. Another major target we will be focusing on during our stay here will be the stunning Lady Amherst’s Pheasant.  There is a nearby hide that is regularly visited by this highly sought after endemic.

Day 8: Baihualing to Li Jiang

After two memorable days in Bauhualing, we will have one last morning to enjoy the area. This morning may be spent on trails or in a blind, it will depend on what targets we haven’t seen yet. Afterwards we will undertake a 6-7-hour drive to Li Jiang, where we will spend one night before our next departure.

Day 9: Li Jiang to Li Ju

We will start the morning in Li Jiang and explore some of the surrounding areas for several species like the endemic Yunnan Nuthatch. Aside from this terrific endemic we will be targeting other range restricted birds like Brown-winged Parrotbill, Spectacled Fulvetta, and Rufous-tailed Babbler. After lunch, we will begin our 2-hour drive to Li Ju where we spend the next day birding.

Day 10: Li Ju to Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park

Today we will be utilizing some local blinds to see one of the most stunningly patterned birds in the region, Biet’s Laughingthrush. This gorgeous bird is one of China’s most endangered endemic birds, making this target a possible highlight of the entire trip. Once considered so elusive it was feared to be extinct, these days it is reliably seen and photographable at the local blinds!

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Other birds we may find this morning include species like Necklaced Woodpecker, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, Yellow-browed Tit, Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher, and Gray-headed Bullfinch. After a morning of blind birding and photography we will pack up and drive 3 hours to Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park for a one-night stay.

Day 11: Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park to Lijiang

The high-altitude coniferous forests of Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park are home to one of the region's most endangered primates. Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey is one of China’s most imperiled primates, with less than 2,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Luckily, park employees keep an eye on the local groups, so finding them is almost guaranteed. While we are at the park, we will also do some field birding and try to see species like Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Chinese Babax, Blue-winged Minla, and Long-tailed Minivet. After an epic day of exploring this national park, we will drive 2 hours back to Li Jang where we will overnight and board a plane the next day.

Day 12: Lijiang to Nonggong

Today will be focused on traveling from the city of Lijiang to Nonggong. The journey from Lijiang to Nonggong will likely take most of the day, starting with a morning flight to Nanjing. From Nanjing we will drive three hours to Nonggong. Luckily, our arrival at Nonggong will be a return to a more relaxed pace for the tour since we will be staying here for the next three nights. If there is enough time once we arrive in Nonggong, we will do some field birding.

Days 13-14: Nonggong

The landscape of Nonggong is one of the most impressive and unique in the world. The open and flat landscape is met with an impressive juxtaposition, large limestone formations spike out of this unassuming land. The larger mountains are stunning, but some have eroded to the point that they appear like stone obelisks, adding to the mystique of the region. Much like Hornbill Valley and Baihualing, the local communities of Nonggong have developed blinds for some truly epic birds. The top target of our time here will be the endemic Nonggong Babbler, a species only discovered in 2006. There are many blinds in the area, and each can produce their own cast of notable bird species. Other highlights could include White-winged Magpie, Bar-backed Partridge, Indochinese Magpie, Blue-rumped Pitta, Spot-necked Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Large Scimitar-Babbler and Chestnut-capped Babbler. Aside from the incredible array of bird diversity visiting the blinds, we will also need some time for field birding for other species like White-eared Night Heron and Limestone Leaf Warbler. The White-eared Night Heron is the world’s rarest night heron, but luckily, we have three nights to try and see this bird as it leaves at dusk.

Day 15: Nonggong to Nanning

Our last morning in Nonggong will be spent focusing on any species we still haven’t found. Afterwards we depart and begin our journey to Nanning. On our way to Nanning we will make one last epic pit stop. We will be visiting a local park to see the White-headed Langur! These critically endangered monkeys are endemic to the karst formations of Guangxi, China. Currently there are less than 1,500 individuals left in the wild! Just like the Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, park employees keep a close eye on the monkey's whereabouts. This makes a visit to the park an almost guaranteed monkey encounter! We will continue to Nanning where post-tour attendees will continue on to Hainan. A night will be spent in Nanning.

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Day 16: Departures from Nanning

If you aree not joining the extension, there is no birding planned on this day and you are free to leave whenever you wish to.

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Poyang Lake & Wuyuan Pre-Tour Extension

Day 1: Arrival Day in Nanchang

After arrival in Nanchang, the pre-tour extension opens with a 6:30pm dinner at our local hotel on this night.

Day 2: Nanchang to Poyang Lake Nature Reserve

We will begin our birding by visiting a small lake near the city of Jiujiang. Here we will search the lake’s surface and shorelines for several targets, including Baer’s Pochard, Brown Crake, and the handsome White-browed Laughingthrush. After this, we will continue towards our next locality, Poyang Lake. In the afternoon, we will arrive at Poyang Lake Nature Reserve and settle into our accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 3: Poyang Lake Nature Reserve

As the largest freshwater lake in China, Poyang Lake is truly a natural wonder. It sits in Eastern China where it is the delta for the Xiu He and Gan Jiang Rivers. The lake and the area surrounding it acts as an important wintering ground for many bird species. Most notably, four species of crane are possible to find here, Siberian, White-naped, Hooded Crane and Common Cranes all occur. The critically endangered Siberian Crane is vanishing fast so it will be an epic and joyful find to see these stunning birds. The wader, shorebird and duck diversity can also present many interesting species too, such as Oriental Stork, Black Stork, and Swan Goose.

Day 4: Poyang Lake to Wuyuan

Today we will spend the morning visiting new sites around Poyang Lake. We will be prioritizing any targets we missed from the previous day and continue enjoying some of the endangered waders that we won't encounter again on this tour. After birding the eastern areas of the lake we will begin the 3-hour drive to Wuyuan, where we will spend the next two nights.

Day 5: Wuyuan

After arriving in Wuyuan the previous day, we will spend the whole day birding the area to find dozens of epic targets. Situated in the northeastern part of Jiangxi province, Wuyuan is a fantastic locality for finding a diverse mix of eastern China’s species. In the winter, the endangered Scaly-sided Merganser migrates to Wuyuan where it can be seen along the rivers. This duck is one of Asia’s most scarce waterfowl species, making this an unforgettable addition to the itinerary. Aside from the obvious “star-of-the-show”, there are many other incredible species we will target during the duration here. Other targets include Pied Falconet, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Chinese Hwamei, Chinese Bamboo-Partridge, Mandarin Duck, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Collared Finchbill, and Masked Laughingthrush.

Day 6:Wuyuan

Today will be a clean-up day and focused on plugging any gaps in our list. There is also the possibility of revisiting previously seen targets for better viewing and photography opportunities if all our major targets have already been seen. After a full morning of birding and photography we will have lunch and begin our journey to the next city destination before a full day of travel.

Day 7: Transfer to Tengchong

Pre-tour extension participants will spend the day transferring and flying to Tengchong. A whole day is required due to two flights and a fair amount of driving.

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Hainan Island Post-Tour Extension

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Day 1: Nanning to Hainan

Today we will travel from Nanning to Hainan. As the flight is only a few hours, we should have plenty of time to begin birding during the afternoon. The field birding can present us with many local species, but the top target will be the endemic Hainan Leaf Warbler. This imperiled little leaf warbler is the antithesis of a typical leaf warbler, its bright yellow colors make it seem like a golden nugget as it hops through the branches. Another top target of birding here will be the Yellow-billed Nuthatch. This bird can be quite difficult due to its nomadic nature, but Hainan is the best place to see this bird. Afterwards we will check into our hotel for the next three nights.

Days 2 - 4: Hainan Endemics

The two major targets of Hainan Island have never been easier to find. The Hainan Partridge and Hainan Peacock-Pheasant have been nearly impossible to see historically. However, in recent years there have been several blinds established which have made these enigmatic birds easier to both see and photograph. Our first day will be spent focusing on seeing these birds, with a second full day to ensure we don't go home empty handed. There are plenty of other great species to see at the hides like Silver Pheasant, Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, Indochinese Green-Magpie, and Rufous-tailed Thrush. Another epic bird is the “Hainan” Laughingthrush, an endemic subspecies of Black-throated Laughingthrush that is likely to be split in the near future. We’ll be sure to spend some time in the field too to boost the trip’s species list. Birds like Chinese Barbet,  Chinese Bulbul, Green-billed Malkoha, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, and Black-naped Monarch all also occur there. If the Hainan Leaf Warbler or Yellow-billed Nuthatch have still not been found, then we will prioritize finding these birds as well. Our third and final full day on the island will be utilized to target one of the most unique shorebirds in the world, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper! This unmistakable bird is critically endangered, with less than 1,000 mature individuals left in the world. In the wintertime, these birds migrate south to places like Thailand and Hainan Island. Since tides are an integral part of searching for this species, we will have the last day reserved for being at the locality for this bird at prime time. There are other waterbirds present in the area too like Black-faced Spoonbill, Red-necked Stint, Common Redshank, and Kentish Plover. It will be an epic way to end a long and incredible tour. We will wrap up our birding and return to Haikou in the afternoon of Day 4, for our departing flights the next day.

Day 5: Departures from Haikou.

There is not birding on this day, and so you are free to depart whenever you wish to do so.

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Trip Considerations

PACE: Easy to Moderate. The pace of this tour is mostly easy although some physical activities can be difficult. Blind time will involve several hours sitting. Hiking on trails and roads is usually easy but the terrain can vary and clients that struggle walking up hills or steep slopes are recommended to bring a hiking pole. Clients should expect early breakfasts, followed by field or blind time. Lunch will either be done at local restaurants or done in the field or hides. However, we will incorporate optional breaks before or after lunch.  The mornings and afternoons will offer us the best opportunities for wildlife activity.

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PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY:  Easy to Moderate. There are many blinds/feeder options on this tour. The activities of this tour will be a combination of blind and trail time. Most hiking activities will be in varying terrain and elevations. Weather can always impact trail conditions and clients should be prepared with proper rain gear, footwear and hiking poles. The hiking days may be physically impactful, so it is important for clients to pace themselves and sit out of certain activities when needed. Though it is impossible to confirm this far in advance, alternative hides may be available for clients uninterested or unable to take part in hiking and field birding. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended for hide activities and boots with proper ankle support are better for hiking activities

CLIMATE: The temperature between locations is quite variable since we will be visiting a large array of different localities. The middle of the day can be warm when in the lower elevation forests (maximizing between high 70’s to low 80’s Fahrenheit), with the nights being dramatically cooler in temperature (between high 40’s to low 50’s Fahrenheit). This trip is scheduled in the winter, weather conditions can be rainy and windy, so it is important to pack rain gear, a warm jacket and good socks for our days at higher elevations. The mountainous parts of the tour will be cooler than the tropical lowlands. For this reason it is important to pack a warm jacket, and even base layers for the night. While daytime temperatures in the mountains will be much warmer (averaging in the mid 60’s to low 70’s Fahrenheit) it is good to pack an extra light layer since nighttime temperatures range from  (between mid 30’s to low 40’s Fahrenheit). 

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Extensions: The pre-tour extension to Poyang Lake and Wuyuan are the coldest localities of the tour. Conditions can be rainy or sunny, with large variability in the winter. Daily temperatures in the regions vary drastically, between mid 40’s to low 60’s Fahrenheit in the day to night time temperatures that range between high 20’s to low 40’s Fahrenheit.

The post-tour extension to Hainan is dramatically different to the  pre-tour extension. Conditions are usually sunny, although rain is always possible. Daily temperatures in the regions are usually consistent, between high 60’s to low 80’s Fahrenheit in the day to night time temperatures that range between high 50’s to high 60’s Fahrenheit.

ACCOMMODATION: All accommodations in cities are excellent. Accommodations away from major cities are sometimes restricted in their amenities but all have hot water and showers. Western toilets (“sit-down”) are available at almost all hotels and eastern toilets are becoming less common in hotels. Most hotels will have WIFI, but it is important to understand some places may experience difficulty in providing this amenity at all times. If contact with anyone outside of the tour group is necessary, please inform them ahead of time about this possible restriction. Patience is appreciated but adaptability is required. We will have a varying pace of accommodation changes. We will be staying at several hotels for three nights on the itinerary, but there are several hotels that we will only be staying at for a single night. Please read the day-by-day itinerary for more details.

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WHEN TO GO: This is an excellent time to visit China, since the places we are visiting are most productive during the winter months. Winter brings snow to the surrounding mountains of locations like Baihualing and Hornbill Valley, causing many species to descend from higher elevations and congregate in the locations we are visiting. The blinds have the highest productivity during February, allowing many epic photography opportunities. The endemics of Hainan are present year-round and their activity is consistent throughout the year. The targets of the pre-tour extension to Poyang Lake and Wuyyuan are migratory and only present in the country during this time of year. The weather is much cooler than in the summer, allowing a much more comfortable outdoor environment. Just be sure to pack warm clothes for this winter tour!

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PHOTOGRAPHY: This is a Birding with a Camera Tour, meaning photography is a secondary priority. Assuring everyone sees the wildlife will take precedence, though this is most relevant in the field. Unlike most BwC tours, this tour will include many blind visits. It is important to understand that we are not only visiting blinds, this tour will feature a combination of field and hide birding. The hides we are visiting have redefined what is possible in terms of Asian bird photography. Many elusive and secretive species have become accustomed to visiting these feeders, allowing once in a lifetime photo opportunities. The feeder locations will be the best location for photography, since the birds are more accustomed to people. For hide photography, lenses ranging between 300mm to 500mm are most useful. Photographers who want to focus on tight cropped portraits can bring a 600mm. As we search for our tour’s field targets the photography opportunities will be more limited, especially when considering mammals. Like all BwC tours, we will move at a slower pace to ensure field birding still presents us with some great photo ops. Clients are encouraged to bring camera gear for when photo opportunities arise. While birds and select few mammals are our main priorities there are many reptile, amphibian, invertebrate and plant species present. Winter will be a bad time for reptiles and amphibians, but those interested in pursuing photography of these groups are invited to bring a macro lense, between the 60mm and 105mm length. 

GEAR:  Binoculars are the most essential item for wildlife viewing, but photographers are encouraged to bring their cameras and lenses. The guide will have a scope which clients are welcome to use. If you would like to bring your own scope you may do so. A tripod is always welcome and clients may find this especially useful in the blinds, though it is important to know that some of the hides can be tight and not all of the hides may have enough space for tripods. Monopods are often a better, quicker and more portable option for field photography. However, neither a monopod or tripod is necessary to join this tour.

Proper hiking gear and attire is highly recommended, remember to know your own limits and comfortability, so please plan accordingly. Sunglasses and wide-brim hats are highly recommended for our walks. Mosquito head nets and insect repellent will not be provided, so if you are concerned about insects, it is good to bring both. In the winter, insects are in minimal numbers, so they are often not an issue. Other gear requirements are good footwear (like hiking boots with good traction and ankle support), hiking poles, and a day backpack (something that will be sufficient for carrying camera gear, snacks, enough water, etc.), and sunscreen. In the case of hiking poles, most people don't consider it to be necessary and regret not bringing them once they have arrived on the tour. I highly encourage everyone to bring hiking poles due to the varying terrain and trail conditions we will experience. In case of rain, a waterproof bag and rain jacket are recommended. It’s always best to prepare for the worst conditions! Lastly for those interested in walking around at night a flashlight and/or rechargeable headlamp are recommended.​