1. We skip the megacity circuit and go where tour buses don't — historic villages, working craft studios, and active restoration sites, many not open to the general public.

2. You participate rather than spectate: doing the craft under the guidance of experts, living in the heart of the places you visit, and participating in the traditions that bring people together.

3. Your trip is a sustainable funding mechanism — fees flow to restoration projects, heritage initiatives, and directly to the local practitioners who host you.

4. We only offer programs that we have personally developed and shaped with cultural custodians and local experts. Each offering you see is the result of a careful process.

Our current programs center on the historic Huizhou region (present-day Anhui Province) — including Shexian, Yixian, and Qimen — plus Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital.

We will soon launch new programs in other regions, including Fujian, Shanxi, Gansu, Jiangsu, and others.

No. All programs run in English with bilingual guides, and every artisan conversation, demonstration, and site visit is interpreted for you.

However, you are also more than welcome to engage our experts and guides in Chinese at any time.

It depends on your passport.

China offers visa-free entry to citizens of a growing list of countries and a visa-free transit policy for many more, but the rules change frequently.

Always check with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before booking flights. Where a visa is required, the fee is not included in program prices. If you need help navigating visas, pleases reach out to our team.

Small, always.

Our flagship treks are hard capped to ensure a guest to staff ratio of 3:1. Shorter Stepping Stones programs are suitable for private groups as well.

Small groups aren't a luxury choice — many of the sites we visit are not suitable for hosting more people.

Every journey channels money into heritage preservation in two ways: a portion of each program fee goes into restoration funds or cultural initiatives, and program revenue pays fair fees directly to the artisans, farmers, cooks, and cultural practitioners who teach and host our travelers.

Traveling with us is itself an act of preservation.

Most programs are moderate: village walking on uneven lanes and steps, plus occasional longer hikes (announced per itinerary).

Tell us about any medical, dietary, or mobility needs early and we'll assess arrangements honestly.

Email hello@inkstonechina.com with the program you're interested in. You'll receive the agreement, detailed itinerary, and payment instructions.

Typically a 25% deposit confirms your request, with the balance due once the group is formed.

Email hello@inkstonechina.com with the program you're interested in. We can offer customizations and add-ons to private departures of existing packages.

If you would like to join an preview of a program under development (i.e. “Upcoming Destinations”), please reach out to one of our co-founders.

Early access trips are currently reserved for select inkstone alumni and partners.