Callie Chee Photography

Real vs Surreal

Photography Tour Great Wall to Guilin, China 2025

Photography Tour Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), China 2025

Photography Tour Great Wall to Guilin, China 2025

Photography trip to Guilin - just a normal typical sunrise!

Photography Trip Guilin & Great Wall

"Chasing Magic & Mist"

04 - 10 May 2019 *** sold-out ***
11 - 16 May 2024 *** completed ***
Dates in 2025 *** stay tuned ***

This is the trip with TOP landscapes of China all rolled into one! 6D/5N of sunrise and sunset shoots at the wild, remote, endless and stunning part of Great Wall - free from the crowd and tourists.

There are very few places at Great Wall where one can do sunrise, sunset or astro photography as most of these sites are gated access with set opening hours. These locations however, you can! As night falls, there's the opportunity to hike up the Wall situated in an ancient water-town nearby.

In Guilin, we will be chasing after fog and light at various mountain tops for the epic panoramic view of ethereal mountains peaking through the mist by the hundreds, that makes you feel like you have stepped into a Chinese ink painting. There’s also the option to photograph the Birds Nest Stadium or the Forbidden City if you get to Beijing early.

Cost : AUD 4280/ pax
Group Size : 8
Hotel : 4 stars hotels and modernized farm-houses (western toilets) at foothill of the Wall. Amazing location!
Fitness level : moderate (lots of climbing on steps & uneven grounds)
Includes : hotel, meals (except lunch), tours and transport, entrance fees, modelling fees, airport transfers in Guilin.

Check out the gallery below for locations we will be covering.

Photography Tour Xiapu, China 2025

Photography Tour Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), China 2025

Photography Tour Great Wall to Guilin, China 2025

Photography Trip Xiapu, China "Fishing Village and Fine-Art in Mudflat"

10 - 14 May 2018 *** sold-out ***
21 - 24 Sept 2018 *** sold-out ***
29 Oct - 1 Nov 2021 *** sold-out ***
18 - 21 May 2024 *** sold-out ***
19 - 22 Oct 2025 *** opened for booking ***

Xiapu's landscapes is EPIC and unique during the seaweed harvest seasons. I'd first discovered Xiapu when I saw a winning entry in the National Geographic photography competition. Since then many of the images captured here had bagged prestigious photography competitions worldwide.

I too had won multiple awards with images from Xiapu. This place is ideal for photographers serious about competitive photography.

In China itself, Xiapu ranks as one of the top 10 photographers' paradise. The oncoming and outgoing tide constantly transforms the landscapes. From its shifting mud-flats, floating fishing villages and tens of thousands bamboo frames spreading vastly across the ocean, the compositions are endless. It is also a perfect location for those into black and white minimalism.

Cost : AUD 3980/ pax
Group size : 8
Hotel : 4 stars hotels
Fitness level : easy
Includes : hotel, breakfast/ dinner, transport, entrance fees, models' fees, guides, return Fuzhou airport transfer.

Check out the gallery below for locations we will be covering.

Photography Tour Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), China 2025

Sunrise photography at Yellow Mountains (Huangshan)

Photography Trip Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), China "Autumn in the Sky"

23 -27 Oct 2021 *** sold-out ***
23 - 27 May 2024 *** sold-out ***
12 - 17 Oct 2025 *** opened for booking ***

This place is unreal! Huangshan or Yellow Mountain is undoubtedly one of China’s most stunning mountain range, drawing tens of thousands of visitors a month.

It looks incredible after the rain. Yellow Mountain is not a single mountain. It consists of 72 peaks and hundreds of ravines. Where does one even start? Well, I'd done the hard yard and had it sum up in a focused itinerary to explore the best of Huangshan has to offer for photography's purposes.

We will be staying at mountain-top hotels with early start to photograph sunrises and sunsets. We will also visit several ancient villages celebrating the autumn harvest festival.

It is often said “once you’ve ascended the Yellow Mountain, you will never view other mountains in China the same way again”. It is famous for its ethereal beauty, mystical seas of clouds and the oddly shaped pines and rocks.

Cost : AUD 4980/ pax
Group size : 8
Hotel : 3-4 stars hotels at mountain top/ at foot of the mountains
Fitness level : moderate - high (lots of steps)
Includes : hotel, transport, entrance fees, local guides and tour services.

Check out the gallery below for locations we will be covering.

Other Photography Tours

Awards & Non-Profit Work

Photography Tour Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), China 2025

Photography Trip Iran, "The Magical Land of Persia"

29 Oct - 6 Nov 2022 *** completed ***

2025 *** not offered ***

The landscape in Iran is truly mind-blowing. The mountains. The deserts. The architectures. All rolled into one and delivers one of the most diversified experience for any genre of photography (see gallery below).

But Iran - is it safe? YES! It is. I'd just spent a month there, travelling solo from north to south, from cities to mountains to deserts and had never felt safer. Iran is not Iraq so please don't get the 2 confused. Lonely Planet too had vouched for its safety. Just googled safety in Iran and judge for yourself. Or check out my blog below.

Join us for a 9D/8N trip, exploring the best Iran has had to offer. We will be photographing some of the world's most beautiful mosques, the kaluts/ the crazy strange formations in the Mars-like desert, the bazaars, the ruins and the mountains.

We will be covering all those locations featured in the photographs below (except for the multi-layered village where access is seasonal).

Register your interest now. This trip is open to all except for those that had travelled to Israel/ Israeli nationality (country's policy).

Cost : AUD 5900/ pax
Group size : 8
Hotel : Guest houses and eco-lodge in the desert
Includes : domestic flights, accommodation, meals, entrance fees, models' fees, guides, airport transfer.

Check out the gallery below for locations we will be covering.

FAQ about Tours

Awards & Non-Profit Work

A winning image of mine at the exhibition in Sydney, Australia.

Who's the trip for?

Photographers of all levels except raw beginners. I'll provide assistance in your photography, however you need to know your camera's basic functions/buttons.

If you like to photograph unusual yet stunning locations with a small team of like-minded photographers, then these trips are for you.

Who should not participate?

Our tours are geared to those who genuinely love photography and would not mind breaking out a sweat or "suffer" a little to get those winning shots. If you are not culturally open-minded or diva-like, these tours are not for you, sorry!

There will be times when the bush is your toilet and western meals are non-existent. At remote sites, the accommodation although clean and decent, can be basic. To ensure group harmony during the tours, I am a little selective in who's coming for the tours (just a little!).

Are these destinations safe?

Safety First! Please check the travel blog below. There's plenty of information there to address your concerns.

Can my non-photographer partner come along?

Yes. The shoots are usually held in the morning and evening (golden hours) and there is free & easy time in between.

Are your images manipulated?

Yes to some and no to some. I love to create and post processing allows me the freedom to transform the real into the surreal.

Are post-processing workshops included in the tour?

Sorry, no. These tours are not workshops. I do however provide post-processing tuition outside the tours.

What are the cancellation terms if my travel is affected by Co-VID19?

We had adapted our cancellation term to cater to the unpredictability of this pandemic. If the participant cancels due to travel ban, the fees are fully refundable, up to 90 days prior to departure.

Awards & Non-Profit Work

Awards & Conservation Work

Winner of Big Traveller 2016 National Photography Competition (Australia)
1st, 2nd and 3rd placing (various categories) in FOCUS photography competition 2017
Wanderlust UK Landscape - Winner (Photographer of the Year 2018)
Commissioned by Costa Rica Tourism to photograph the landscape of the country 2018
1st, 2nd and 3rd placing (various categories) in FOCUS photography 2018
2 golds/ 3 silvers in Epson Pano Award 2018
International Travel Contest SFR 2019 - Winner (Landscape Category)
Invited by NEOM, Saudi Arabia tourism as the debuting team of photographers to this new region. Images used in NEOM tourism campaigns (www.discoverNEOM.com) 2019
Maria Luisa Memorial 2019/2020 - Winner (Nature Category)
Overall Winner and Category Winner (Travel) Australasia Photographer of the Year 2020
Australian Geographic Photography Award - Winner (Botanical Category) 2021
CEO Choice Heritage Bank Photography competition 2022, Australia's largest photography competition
International Nature Conservancy Category Winner 2022
Published work by National Geographic, The Guardian News, The Weekend Australia 2022, BBC Science and CNN Arabic 2022

My work were also exhibited in New York Smithsonian Museum, Australian Museum, China, Kuala Lumpur, London, Taiwan, Spain, Saudi Arabia, etc.

Currently, I am involved in several of non-profit conservation work for Jane Goodall Institute via Vital Impact, raising funds for humanitarian and environmental effort, hoping to do my part in protecting this planet!

Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) 6D/5N Itinerary

Yellow Mountain Photography Tour - right after a downpour

Day 1

Arrive in Huangshan City

Explore Tunxi Ancient street, Although its 630 years in history, Tunxi ancient street is one of the best preserved streets in China and showcases a mix of Song and Yuan Dynasties architectures.

Day 2-3

Sokdam Village, Shexian - Sunrise Photography.

Sokdam Village is a relatively new location and is not on many photographers’ radar. It is virtually unknown to foreign photographers/ visitors. We will drive to the top of a vantage point for sunrise and hopefully some rolling m

Ancient Villages – Sunset Shoot and Night Shoot

Within a couple of hours drive from Huangshan, there are several ancient villages, originated during Song Dynasty (960-1276), thatare voted by Nat Geo as the most beautiful “Chinese countryside". It is listed in UNESCO world heritage sites and showcases the best examples of ancient Huizhou-style architecture. Naturally this place is swamped with tourists making photography difficult. However we will work around this and hit the sites while this place is deserted and while the light is soft.

Day 4-6

Ascend Huangshan via Cable Car in early morning after sunrise shoot. Travel light and bring clothing/ necessities just for next 3 days. Check into Huangshan mountain top hotel and explore the surroundings. Sunset shoot. If the sky is clear, we will aim for astro shoot as well. 3am sunrise shoots at various peaks that overlook columns of needle-like mountains rising starkly from the ravines. Sunset shoots at different peaks that commands a panorama view of northern sea of Huangshan. Free and easy time in between shoots for personal exploration.Descend Huangshan on day 6 in the afternoon. Evening shuttle from Huangshan to Huangshan airport.

Terms & Conditions

Itineraries are subject to change, dependent primarily on weather, snowfall that impact the trail access and the cableway operation

The Great Wall to Guilin Photography Trip Itinerary

The cormorants and the fisherman in Guilin / Yangshuo by the Li River

This is the MEGA trip with TOP landscapes of China all rolled into one! Join us for 6D/5N of sunrise and sunset photography shoots at remote part of Great Wall follows by breakfast on the Wall itself. It’s very cold hiking up there at 3am so be prepared. You will get to explore different sections of the restored and unrestored/ wild parts of the Wall during the golden hours. These sites are hardly visited by tourists and you can have miles and miles of Wall to yourself. As night falls, we will aim for astro photography or explore the dreamy watertown nearby. The watertown is made up canals, willow trees with quaint, ancient houses litted by thousands of lanterns.

In Guilin, we will be chasing after fog and light at various mountain tops to shoot the layers of misty karst mountains which Guilin is famous for. During the free-and-easy time, there’s the option to head over to the gigantic, impressive library near Beijing that you might had oo-ahh on Instagram before. This site is great for photographers that are into urban/architecture shoots. Alternatively you can explore the mysterious Forbidden City nearby the hotel. For further details on photography trip to Guilin and Great Wall, check out the gallery and itinerary.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arriving at Beijing

For those that arrive early, we will be doing a evening/ night shoot of the Beijing National Grand Theatre or colloquially known as The Giant Egg. This follows by a Chinese style banquet welcome dinner! Peking duck!

Day 2

Long drive from Beijing to the remote section of Great Wall for sunset shoot. Our first farm-cooked dinner right by the Wall. We will be staying at farm houses located right at the foot of the Great Wall. This location is unique and great for exploration of the Wall anytime of the day.

Day 3

A 3 am start! We will be climbing up a restored but deserted part of the Great Wall passing through a series of amazing watch towers to wait for first light. Shooting sunrise at the Wall is a surreal experience. As the sun rises, the Wall turns red and golden resembling very much a flaming dragon. Sunset shoot at another section of the Wall. We will shoot Milky Way if weather and season permit!

Day 4

Morning flight from Beijing to Guilin. Photography trip of Guilin commences.

Day 4 - Day 6

For the next 3 days, its all about sunrise and sunset shoots at different mountain/ hill tops and at river banks. From the mountain top, one can see a sweeping view of the endless layers of mountains peaking through the fog (fog’s not guaranteed although its best seen in May). If time permits, we will visit a fishing village for those that are interested in street/ portraits photography, And lastly we can't leave Guilin without shooting the quintessential setting of the fisherman wielding his lantern and his cormorants by the riverbank amidst the soft glowing sky.

What The Guests Said...

"Excellent trip, my first ever photography tour!! Callie was in contact constantly, even before the trip, with updates and information about China, checking that I had arrived and made it to my hotel the night before meeting up. One of her great tips: get a Translate app! it saved me heaps of times! During the tour, I was always advised what was happening next, and what to expect, what kind of lens would be useful to shoot with, the conditions that we were going to experience. I really missed that guidance when I stayed on after the tour on my own, but Callie made sure I had a private driver arranged, and he had a list of places to take me to. There was a good mix of guidance/tuition if I asked, or leaving me to my own devices to enjoy the scenery. Callie's main objective was that we were fed well, went to the best places in the best conditions, and had a lot of laughs as well. I would definitely recommend this tour to any photographer with a keen interest in culture, and an open mind to experience new things, and I suppose a cultural learning experience as well!! "

Wanda Craswell

Queensland, Australia

@wandacraswellphotography

“Callie’s photo tour to Iran was really incredible. Logistically, it was by far the most difficult guided photo trip I have been on, but her planning and execution were excellent.

She scouted the best locations and where the light was at the best time of day. Overall, Iran is a beautiful country with amazing cultural sites and the world’s friendliest people. We felt incredibly safe and secure as well. The landscapes are amazing and unique in the world, especially the vast Lut Desert and Rainbow Mountains. We covered a lot of ground and got to photograph a wide variety of landscapes and historic sights. It was truly one of the best photo tours I have been on.”

Arne Fuglvog
Seattle, WA, USA
@arnefuglvog

"The photo tour May 2024 was an amazing photography experience, as well as an immersive dive into the local food & culture. We travelled through several areas in China and experienced great photography spots at best time and conditions. In case of few days of bad weather, there was always an alternative plan available. The tour had a good balance of photo and personal time, we had the chance to experience China according to our interests, between photo sessions. Callie's experience and language skills was of great value. Fun and joy was accompanying our tour, we had a great time! Came back home with a great set of pictures. Overall the tour was perfectly organized."

Agota Kadar

Austria, Vienna

@agota_kadar

"I originally booked a trip to Xiapu with Callie for May 2021. However, due to Covid-19 spikes and related travel restrictions making it near impossible to travel, I had to cancel my planned trip. Callie was very understanding and offered a deposit refund, during the process of which she was very responsive and proactive. She was also very helpful in ensuring that the deposit refund was done in a timely manner - I received my refund on the same day of processing. I hope to be able to join future workshops and photo tours with Callie!"

Douglas Yang

Hong Kong

@Dougyang

"I have been on a number of photography tours and always do my research on the itinerary and the group leader prior to booking. The trip to Xiapu, China certainly did not disappoint.

I also rate Callie highly as a leader. Travelling in China can be challenging in terms of language, food and culture but Callie's organisation was seamless, everything was taken care of. If the location did not work out or the conditions are not right, there's always plan B. Callie is always there to assist and share her photographic know-how whenever required. Our group consisted of photographers with different interests, she managed that very well. She made sure our individual goals are met. She has a wicked sense of humour so there was never a dull moment on our trip. We had such a great time that we are already booked in for another adventure with her, Guilin!"

Niall Chang

Sydney, Australia

@NiallChang

2018 Australian Photography Forum Winner - Travel category (with images captured during the 2018 Xiapu trip)

"I have been to a few of Callie’s photo tours and I have enjoyed every one of them. She has always provided us with the details of the tours from start to end including how to get visas. Each one of her tour is customized to provide us with the best photography experience we can get from the places we visit. Though the main focus of each tour is landscape photography, she also includes architecture and culture photography when it is appropriate. She loves food and always on the lookout for best places to eat. Of course she takes safety seriously and making sure her top priority is to ensure our safety first. I am looking forward to joining more of her tours in the future."

David Sov

Melbourne, Australia

@david.sov

"If you are like me and haven’t considered a trip to China due to the language and other considerations then book yourself into one of Callie’s trips. She is a gifted photographer who absolutely takes care of everything and I mean everything both before, during and after the trip. She speaks fluent Chinese so it’s a case of sit back, relax and fill your memory cards with images of incredible places. I was fed, watered and escorted around a very picturesque part of China called Xiapu for 4 days and elected to stay an extra day. Callie very kindly organised a local guide to take me to some shoot locations during that day and checked, whilst in another country, that I was managing OK with booking a bus to take me to the airport. Callie also shared her knowledge of each of the shoot locations and was keen to offer tips to ensure you come home with something special no matter what our skill levels were. I cant recommend her trips highly enough so if you are considering a trip to China then don’t hesitate…You wont find better."

Ray Jennings

Sydney, Australia

2017 Epson Pano Awards Winner

"I am so glad to have decided to go on this trip. What is there to say; Callie is a natural leader; the food was amazing; the group was fun to hang out with and the sceneries simply take my breath away. For someone who does not travel a lot, I have learnt much about photography, myself and other cultures during this trip. This trip exceeds all my expectation.

Thank you, Callie, for such an amazing and memorable experience. Looking forward to your next trip. Did I mention the food was amazing?"

Mark Foo

Singapore

@markfoo.photos

"Jackie and I had a great time and the trip exceeded our expectations. Everything went smoothly and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Callie is enjoyable and fun to be with and will give help and advice if you want it. We both learnt a lot and feel that our photography has taken a big step forward."

Steve Wyatt & Jackie Wyatt

Sydney, Australia

"Callie is an excellent guide. Her knowledge in photography and her expertise in the location made those 4 days of the tour most incredible and memorable. She is helpful, courteous, and concerned about helping with all aspects of the trip. I definitely do the tour with her again".

Duangmon C

Bangkok, Thailand

@duang.c

Callie Chee Photography

Photography Tours to Unusual Locations in China & Asia