We’re proud to share that WildChina’s GUDAO project has been selected as one of ten finalists for the Virtuoso Travel Sustainability Award, out of 200 sustainable initiatives reviewed. We were honored to present GUDAO at the Under One Sky lunch during Virtuoso Travel Week this month, where we premiered a short video showcasing our project dedicated to restoring China’s historic trails.
Our founder, Mei Zhang, is currently pursuing a PhD focused on transforming the ancient Tea Horse Trail into a continuous hiking route, and possibly a national park. Inspired by her vision, our team on the ground launched the GUDAO project, which extends beyond the Tea Horse Trail to revive several ancient trails across China—many of which have fallen into disrepair, with their cultures fading and communities overlooked.
The concept of GUDAO (meaning "ancient trails" in Chinese) is to turn these trails into multi-day treks, giving intrepid travelers the opportunity to experience these places while helping local communities to keep their cultures alive. We have worked to physically restore these trails by collaborating with local communities and creating service-learning opportunities for students, focusing on trail management and environmental preservation as part of the program.
Our hope is that by restoring these trails, we can breathe new life into the surrounding areas, preserving cultures and traditions at risk of extinction. We have already launched GUDAO to our Chinese followers, and later this year, we will make a broader announcement to an international audience, encouraging travelers from all backgrounds and nationalities to experience these trails and, in effect, discover a new way to connect with people, history, and China as a whole.
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