Beyond Beijing

The northern frontier of modern China, often referred to as the “Northern Zone,” is a distinctive cultural region characterized by deserts, steppes, and forests. This vast area stretches from Heilongjiang in the east to Xinjiang in the west. Historically, the frontier between China and the north has been envisioned as a network of routes and avenues that facilitated the continuous exchange of people, ideas, goods, and beliefs between the East and the West.

Here, the Great Wall served with some limitations as a boundary, demarcating the agricultural and advanced society of China from the nomadic and untamed wilderness of the northern tribes. It represented a divide between safety and the unknown.

Besides Beijing and traveling, we have a deep love for Chinese tea and we want to share it with you. Tea has been an integral part of daily life in China for centuries. It rooted during the Tang dynasty and has continuously evolved to this day. Beyond being a staple of the local diet, tea has played a significant role in Chinese history, particularly in contemporary times.

We offer a variety of tea-related experiences designed to immerse you in this rich culture. Explore Maliandao, Beijing’s famous tea street, with its countless tea shops. Enjoy a personalized tea session where you can taste different teas and deepen your understanding of this ancient tradition. For a more hands-on experience, travel to the tea fields of southern China and witness the art of tea-making up close.

The Silk Road traversed numerous states, but its origin lay in the territory we now know as China. Starting from Xi’an (ancient Chang’an), the route passed through the Gansu Corridor, skirted the Taklamakan Desert, and went by Jiayuguan and several oasis cities, including Dunhuang, renowned for its caves and ancient library. From there, the route extended to Kashgar, where it branched off in different directions.

More than just a trade route, it played a fundamental role in communication and exchange between cultures, encompassing religious, diplomatic, military, and even technological spheres. As an anecdote, silk—one of the most valuable commodities of the time and frequently used as tribute or a form of payment in the region—gave this network of roads its name. However, the term “Silk Road” was coined much later, in the 19th century.