I am an American photojournalist and travel correspondent based in Beijing and have traveled extensively to all 33 provinces in China. I specialize in budget travel and have a personal affection for remote villages, ethnic minority culture and uncharted locales. I am also the author of CHINA: Portrait of a People, the most comprehensive collection of imagery of contemporary China ever published by a single author.
Experience
Experience: In 2006, photojournalist Tom Carter embarked on a historic, 2-year journey that would take him throughout the 33 provinces of China, making him one of the first foreigners in China’s 5,000 year history to do so. From the Yellow Sea to the Himalayas, Tom traversed 56,000 kilometers and visited well over 200 cities and villages in a determination to understand, and thoroughly record, life and humanity in today’s People’s Republic of China.
Question Hi. I was watching a program on the Travel Channel and the host went to Chengdu, which I believe is in the Sichuan province although I'm not sure. She went to a panda reserve where she was allowed to interact with pandas and even hold one. Do you know where exactly this is allowed to take place? I was doing some research on the internet and came across the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center and Sichuan Panda Reserve. Do either of those places allow this? Also, is the Sichuan province close to Hong Kong at all, or is it closer to Beijing? Thanks
Hi Danielle,
I won't be much help on this one because I never went to the panda reserve. However I know for a fact that any hostel or hotel in Sichuan can arrange a tour for you. I'd imagine that the Travel Channel had to pay heavily to handle the pandas; from what I've read, pandas are vicious animals that you don't want to go petting. Nonetheless, this being China, I'm sure you can arrange something if you have enough money. Lastly, Sichuan is in Southwest China. It's closer to Hong Kong (Beijing is on the other side of the country), but as it is a popular tourist destination, you can arrive there from any Chinese city with ease. Good luck and have fun!
Tom Carter
author, CHINA: Portrait of a People http://www.tomcarter.org http://www.blacksmithbooks.com/9789889979942.htm http://www.havenbooksonline.com/shop/index.htm
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