The Wild Heart of China

15-Day Wildlife Expedition – Snow Leopards, Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys, Chinese Alligators & More

16–30 September 2027 | £4,795 per person | Maximum 8 guests

China is home to some of the world's rarest and most remarkable wildlife, from the mountain forests of central China to the vast, remote landscapes of the Qinghai Plateau.

This 15-day expedition takes us across the country in search of endangered and endemic species, exploring coastal wetlands, subtropical forests, high-altitude grasslands and rugged mountain valleys.

Beginning in Shanghai, we'll travel through the wetlands of Jiangsu, home to the once-extinct-in-the-wild Père David's deer, before visiting Chinese alligator conservation facilities in Anhui. From there, we'll head into the forests of Shennongjia to observe golden snub-nosed monkeys and search for other wildlife, including golden takin, colourful pheasants and Jerdon's pit vipers.

The second half of our journey takes us west to Qinghai, where we'll explore the grasslands surrounding Qinghai Lake in search of Przewalski's gazelles and other plateau wildlife.

The highlight of this final section is approximately four days searching for wild snow leopards in the Kunlun foothills. Working with experienced local guides and conservation researchers, we'll explore remote mountain valleys that are also home to Pallas's cats, Tibetan foxes, Eurasian lynx, wolves and blue sheep.

Led by Richard Pearce of Bushido Adventure Travel in partnership with Deep Nature Expeditions, this small-group expedition offers the chance to discover some of China's most extraordinary wildlife and the conservation work helping to protect it.

Tour Highlights

• Snow Leopards: Approximately four days searching for wild snow leopards in the remote Kunlun Mountains of Qinghai.

• Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys: Observe these remarkable primates in the mountain forests of Shennongjia.

• Chinese Alligators: Visit conservation and breeding facilities dedicated to protecting one of the world's rarest crocodilians.

• Père David's Deer: Explore the coastal wetlands of Dafeng, home to thousands of these once-extinct-in-the-wild deer.

• Rare Plateau Wildlife: Search for Pallas's cats, Tibetan foxes, Przewalski's gazelles, Eurasian lynx and other high-altitude species.

• Reptiles, Birds and Other Wildlife: Look for Jerdon's pit vipers, Chinese giant salamanders, golden takin, colourful pheasants, bearded vultures and other wildlife.

• Conservation and Research: Visit important conservation areas and learn about efforts to protect China's endangered wildlife.

• Small-group Expedition: Travel with experienced wildlife guides and naturalists, with a maximum of eight guests.

Tour Itinerary

Days 1–2: Shanghai

Our expedition begins in Shanghai, where we'll meet our guides and fellow travellers. The first day is reserved for arrivals, with time to settle into our hotel before a welcome dinner and tour briefing.

The following day we'll explore some of Shanghai's highlights, including the historic Bund, Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Natural History Museum, where we'll get an introduction to some of the remarkable wildlife we'll be searching for during the expedition.

Overnight: Shanghai

Days 3–4: Eastern China's Wetlands and Wildlife

Leaving Shanghai, we'll travel into eastern China's coastal wetlands and countryside in search of two of the country's most remarkable conservation success stories.

Our first target is Père David's deer, a species that became extinct in the wild before being successfully reintroduced to China. We'll visit an important reserve where thousands of these unusual deer now live, with opportunities to observe them and explore the surrounding wetland habitats.

We'll also visit a conservation and breeding centre for the critically endangered Chinese alligator, one of the world's rarest crocodilians, and learn about efforts to restore its wild populations.

Days 5–8: The Mountain Forests of Shennongjia

Our journey continues west into the mountains of central China, where we'll spend several days exploring the remarkable forests of Shennongjia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its biodiversity.

One of our main targets here is the golden snub-nosed monkey, an extraordinary primate found only in China. We'll visit an area where these monkeys have been studied for many years, offering excellent opportunities to observe their behaviour.

We'll also explore different forest habitats and higher mountain elevations in search of other wildlife, including golden takin, Chinese goral, colourful pheasants and Jerdon's pit vipers.

During our time in the region, we'll also have an opportunity to learn about Chinese giant salamander conservation and visit an area housing captive giant pandas.

Days 9–10: The Qinghai Plateau

Leaving the forests of central China behind, we'll travel west to the Qinghai Plateau, a region of vast grasslands, high-altitude lakes and rugged mountains.

We'll explore the landscapes surrounding Qinghai Lake, searching for the rare Przewalski's gazelle, a species found only in this region, alongside other mammals and birds adapted to life at high altitude.

This part of the expedition also gives us time to adjust to the thinner air before continuing into the more remote mountains.

Days 11–14: Searching for Snow Leopards

The highlight of our expedition is approximately four days dedicated to searching for wild snow leopards in the remote mountains of Qinghai.

Working with experienced local wildlife guides and conservation researchers, we'll explore mountain valleys and rocky slopes, scanning the surrounding terrain with binoculars and spotting scopes.

Snow leopards are notoriously elusive, but our local guides have an exceptional track record of finding them in this area, with sightings on almost every previous expedition. While no wildlife encounter can be guaranteed, our chances of seeing these magnificent cats are extremely good.

The mountains are also home to an extraordinary variety of other wildlife. During our searches, we'll look for Pallas's cats, Eurasian lynx, Tibetan foxes, wolves and blue sheep, as well as impressive birds of prey including bearded vultures and golden eagles.

These days will be flexible, allowing us to respond to wildlife activity and local conditions rather than following a rigid daily schedule.

Day 15: Return to Xining

After our time in the mountains, we'll return to Xining, where our expedition comes to an end.

Guests wishing to extend their stay in China may be able to arrange additional travel through our local partners.

Please note: This is a summary itinerary. A more detailed itinerary and practical information will be provided to prospective guests upon request. The programme may be adjusted according to weather, wildlife activity and local conditions. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Wildlife Highlights

China is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife, much of it found nowhere else on Earth. Our expedition takes us through several very different habitats, from eastern wetlands and temperate mountain forests to the high-altitude landscapes of the Qinghai Plateau.

Snow Leopard

One of the world's most elusive big cats, the snow leopard is our main target in Qinghai. We'll spend approximately four days exploring its mountain habitat with experienced local guides, searching rocky slopes and ridgelines for signs of these remarkable predators.

Golden Snub-nosed Monkey

Found only in China, golden snub-nosed monkeys are among the world's most distinctive primates. Their golden fur, blue faces and complex social behaviour make them a particular highlight of our time in Shennongjia.

Chinese Alligator

One of the world's rarest crocodilians, the Chinese alligator is critically endangered and survives in only a small part of eastern China. Our visit to a conservation and breeding centre offers an opportunity to see the species and learn about the work being undertaken to protect it.

Père David's Deer

Once extinct in the wild, Père David's deer has made a remarkable recovery through captive breeding and reintroduction. We'll visit one of China's most important reserves for the species, where large herds now roam the wetlands.

Pallas's Cat and Other Plateau Mammals

The Qinghai Plateau supports an impressive variety of mammals adapted to its harsh conditions. Alongside snow leopards, we'll be searching for Pallas's cats, Tibetan foxes, Eurasian lynx, blue sheep and the rare Przewalski's gazelle.

Reptiles, Amphibians and Birds

Our time in Shennongjia offers opportunities to search for reptiles such as Jerdon's pit viper and learn about Chinese giant salamander conservation.

Birdlife is another important part of the expedition, with possible sightings ranging from forest pheasants to the magnificent bearded vultures, golden eagles and snowcocks of the high mountains.

All wildlife encounters depend on local conditions, and sightings of wild animals cannot be guaranteed. Chinese alligators and Chinese giant salamanders will be viewed at conservation or breeding facilities rather than in the wild.

Tour Details

Tour: The Wild Heart of China – 15-Day Wildlife Expedition

Dates: 16–30 September 2027

Duration: 15 days / 14 nights

Price: £4,795 per person (GBP)

Group size: Maximum 8 guests

Tour leader: Richard Pearce, Bushido Adventure Travel

Local partners: Deep Nature Expeditions

Start point: Shanghai, China

End point: Xining, China

Accommodation

We'll stay in a mixture of hotels and local accommodation throughout the expedition. Standards will vary depending on the location, particularly during our time in the more remote mountain regions of Qinghai, where facilities will be more basic.

Transport

The expedition involves a combination of private road transport, domestic flights and rail travel. In the more remote mountain areas, we'll use suitable vehicles to explore wildlife habitats.

Fitness and Altitude

A reasonable level of fitness is recommended. Much of our wildlife watching will involve travelling by vehicle and spending extended periods outdoors, sometimes in cold or exposed conditions.

During the Qinghai portion of the expedition, we'll be travelling through high-altitude landscapes, with some areas reaching approximately 3,000–4,200 metres. Guests should be comfortable with the demands of travelling and spending time at these elevations.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of physical fitness. Guests should seek medical advice before travelling if they have concerns about spending time at high elevations.

Wildlife Watching

This is a wildlife-focused expedition rather than a conventional sightseeing tour. Our daily programme will remain flexible to take advantage of wildlife activity, weather and local conditions.

We'll work with experienced local guides throughout the journey, particularly during our search for snow leopards.

Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, and patience and flexibility will be important parts of the experience.

What's Included

• 14 nights' accommodation throughout the expedition

• Services of Richard Pearce as tour leader

• Experienced local wildlife guides and specialists

• Private transport throughout the expedition, including suitable vehicles for mountain wildlife watching

• Domestic flights and rail travel included in the itinerary

• Entrance fees to national parks, nature reserves and conservation facilities

• Meals throughout the expedition

• Wildlife watching excursions and activities described in the itinerary

What's Not Included

• International flights to Shanghai and from Xining

• Chinese visa fees, where applicable

• Travel insurance

• Personal expenses, souvenirs and additional activities

• Alcoholic drinks and other personal purchases

• Single-room supplement: £295 (subject to availability).

• Gratuities

• Any additional accommodation or travel arrangements before or after the expedition

Book Your Place

Join us for The Wild Heart of China, a 15-day wildlife expedition exploring some of China's most remarkable habitats, from the forests of Shennongjia to the remote mountains of Qinghai.

With a maximum of just eight guests, places are limited.

Tour dates: 16–30 September 2027

Tour price: £4,795 per person (GBP), based on twin-share accommodation

Single-room supplement: £295 (subject to availability)

Enquiries and Reservations

Interested in joining The Wild Heart of China? Get in touch to check availability or request our detailed tour information pack.

We're happy to answer any questions about the itinerary, wildlife, accommodation and physical requirements before you make a booking.