Mercier Zeng Photography Tours
Mercier Zeng Photography Tours
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About
I'm Mercier Zeng, a photography guide in Guilin, Yangshuo and Longji Rice Terraces. I helped over 1,000 photo lovers travel Guilin smoothly, and I'm very familiar with the photography spots and best time to shot. More Guilin photos, try my website.
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Mercier Zeng Photography Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
138 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
CSimSG
Singapore11 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
I have participated in several photography trips organised by reputable photographers and guides. Fresh from our recently concluded trip to Guilin, Yangshuo and Longji, I will say Mercier is absolutely top rate when it comes to trip planning and looking after his guests.
Apart from a carefully planned shoot schedule and finding the best locations for each shoot, he was very mindful of our individual photographic aspirations. Always accommodating and ever ready with some practical advice, it made for a wonderful experience for photographers of all skill levels.
Beyond the advantage of local knowledge, being an accomplished photographer himself helps with guiding us to capturing the best shots from the right place and at the right time..... which means very early 4am wake-up calls to hike up 1000 steps to capture some gorgeous sunrise over the karst mountains!
The quality of our accommodation and transport was excellent and there was ample leisure time which allowed us to recover and relax. Along with interesting facts and history of each location, it made for a wonderful experience which I am sure we will appreciate the background when we review our photos from the trip.
I strongly recommend engaging Mercier if you expect nothing but the best for a photography trip in China, especially to the Guangxi region. He is far more than your regular guide because he makes a real effort to ensure you have a great time photographing people and places that are just simply unforgettable!
As photographers, we are mere visual messengers of the beautiful imagery we witness, so enjoy the experience if you can!
Apart from a carefully planned shoot schedule and finding the best locations for each shoot, he was very mindful of our individual photographic aspirations. Always accommodating and ever ready with some practical advice, it made for a wonderful experience for photographers of all skill levels.
Beyond the advantage of local knowledge, being an accomplished photographer himself helps with guiding us to capturing the best shots from the right place and at the right time..... which means very early 4am wake-up calls to hike up 1000 steps to capture some gorgeous sunrise over the karst mountains!
The quality of our accommodation and transport was excellent and there was ample leisure time which allowed us to recover and relax. Along with interesting facts and history of each location, it made for a wonderful experience which I am sure we will appreciate the background when we review our photos from the trip.
I strongly recommend engaging Mercier if you expect nothing but the best for a photography trip in China, especially to the Guangxi region. He is far more than your regular guide because he makes a real effort to ensure you have a great time photographing people and places that are just simply unforgettable!
As photographers, we are mere visual messengers of the beautiful imagery we witness, so enjoy the experience if you can!
Written May 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SK
Singapore, Singapore1 contribution
Apr 2024 • Friends
The magical trip to Guilin/Yangshuo/Longji has been made more magical by Mercier.
With carefully curated itinerary, not just from a guide, but with sincerity of a photographer, Mercier has ensured the right timings, at the right locations, to capture moments every photographer can hope for.
As much as the stunning sunrises have more than made up for the lack of sleep, the rewarding sunsets eliminate the tiredness as each day ends. The planning wasted no photography opportunity, balanced with ample rest in between.
Ever ready to help, and an avid photographer himself, Mercier has been generous in sharing his knowledge and tips.
The differing needs and interests of the group have been carefully taken care of by Mercier throughout.
Looking toward to the next magical trip with Mercier!
With carefully curated itinerary, not just from a guide, but with sincerity of a photographer, Mercier has ensured the right timings, at the right locations, to capture moments every photographer can hope for.
As much as the stunning sunrises have more than made up for the lack of sleep, the rewarding sunsets eliminate the tiredness as each day ends. The planning wasted no photography opportunity, balanced with ample rest in between.
Ever ready to help, and an avid photographer himself, Mercier has been generous in sharing his knowledge and tips.
The differing needs and interests of the group have been carefully taken care of by Mercier throughout.
Looking toward to the next magical trip with Mercier!
Written May 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meander62535217770
5 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
My first contact with Mercier and his guides was prior to Covid so I already knew the quality of his service. I've been to China for around 30 times but never had the opportunity to go to Guizhou. As my time was very restricted I needed a professional to guide me and show me the best places. We changed the itinerary more than once but Mercier was always ready to listen to my needs. The guide itself was a gifted photographer. We had a great time and despite of bad weather during the first days we captured some really stunning sceneries. He was never in a hurry. When I asked him to wait for a clear sky he answered: "No problem". We did wait for about 3 hours until the clouds lifted. But it was worth every minute. I do recommend Mercier wholeheartedly.
Written December 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kwun-Phite L
10 contributions
Aug 2020
Had an amazing few days in Guilin with our guide Gao! These guys go above and beyond and provide excellent service. I think this is the best way to experience Guilin for any photographer. I usually almost exclusively shoot landscape photos, but this trip pushed me and got me to experience everything from portrait photography, to action photography, and then of course landscapes. Gao also made sure we got the best locations at all our shoots, which was amazing. Each day was fully packed, but we enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend these guys!
Written August 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernadette W
Kenai, AK12 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
We did two days of this tour with Mercier Zeng. From start to finish, each day was a phenomenal experience. His access to local residents, and hidden local gems for photographers to capture amazing scenery was well above our expectations. Mercier also shared his knowledge of local customs to aid us in exploring other photographic opportunities on our own. You will not be disappointed if you book a tour through this company. We usually travel independently without a tour guide, but know we never would have been able to do half of the sights we saw with Mercier on our own. He is friendly, professional, and offers photographers a unique experience they won't soon forget.
Written January 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francois V
London, UK23 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We had only two full days to spend in Guilin and my girlfriend knowing I like to take pictures got the idea to book a photographic tour with Mercier. Well, this was simply brilliant. In two days Mercier made us discover a lot around Guilin. Initially I thought our mini-trip would be a bit short but in the end we saw so much in the time available that I had the impression we had spend a full week there. Certainly, on our own, this is probably the time it would have taken us to see all this. I just regret we did not go for the rising sun above the mountains pictures. You have to wake up very early for that but seeing now the pics that some customers took, this is just amazing and I want to go back. Besides the wonderful places, Mercier also made the trip very comfortable and pleasant. He knows nice places to go eat on the way and the day is well planned. Basically, the only thing you need to care about is to take your camera and a bit of cash for the meals and anything you would like to buy on the way, Mercier takes care of the rest! This is also very relaxing when you are pretty far from home! Finally, Mercier obviously speaks English fluently and we had nice cultural exchanges while we were driving around! I hope to be back sometime, there are still plenty of great pictures to take! Thanks again Mercier, these were two of the best days I spent in Asia so far!
Written December 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John G
Orlando55 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We were not considering going to the Guilin & Yangshuo area until we seen Mercier on tripadvisor. We checked out his website with his amazing pictures and booked with him for several days. He is very prompt to return our e-mails, speaks excellent English, always on time to pick us up, and we were never rushed. We compared his itinerary versus other tour groups. The tour groups do sightseeing in the morning, then give you the afternoon free. Mercier knows the best spots, we seen twice as much as the tour groups. He tailors the itinerary to what you want to see and do, and takes you around in his vehicle. He offers private tours, so you never have to deal with a large group of people getting off the bus all trying to take pictures at the same time. As a photography guide, he really knows how to get you the best pictures at different locations, and at different times of the day. He knows a great deal about photography, and he will choose the best remote places with breathtaking views. The highlights of the tour was the sunrise photography and the cormorant fisherman. This is our favorite part of China.
We highly recommend Mercier, He has greatly exceeded our expectations!!
John & Cristy
We highly recommend Mercier, He has greatly exceeded our expectations!!
John & Cristy
Written November 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thibaut l
Marseille, France1 contribution
Feb 2014 • Couples
Our tour plan went well from the first call with Mercier. We paid until we arrived in Guilin, I was worried about it, because it's my first time to book with a guide, even i traveled china twice. When we met in the airport, all worries were gone, Mercier also took some local snacks in the car for us as our flight was delayed three hours in Chengdu.
He is very helpful, and knowledgable about the city. He looks young, i can't imagine he worked as a guide for over 5 years. I recommended him highly and would share my experience with everyone.
He is very helpful, and knowledgable about the city. He looks young, i can't imagine he worked as a guide for over 5 years. I recommended him highly and would share my experience with everyone.
Written April 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy J
Mountain View, CA61 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
Many of the reviews you will read may not be particularly helpful since they don't really say why you should book with one guide over another. Further, if you are like me you will research all the guides, study their photos and then make a decision. However, I'm going to tell you exactly why Mercier is superior to the other gudies.
1. Keeps promises - He makes a plan and keeps his promises. Some days we needed to get up at 3:00 AM in the morning. He was always right on time and got me to the spots to set up prior to the crowd arrival. This is critical in many spots because there are lots of photographers. On more than one occasion I saw the other guide groups arrive late and have to set up half a mile down the mountain. What a shame.
2. Camera settings - Even the most experienced photographers know that some times there is a limited window of opportunity to get the best photos. Mercier knows the ISO, Fstop, and shutter speed setting that work the best. This is very helpful when one day you are shooting portraits and the next landscape. The lighting can be quite tricky at times and can change quickly. This skill is critical to eliminate return trips. Do it once and do it right.
3. Actual Guide & Company - Many of the other tour gudies actually sub-contract to locals. So when booking make sure you actually get the guy and company you book with. Mercier is the real person.
4. Pricing & Plan- He's reasonably priced and willing to make adjustments on the schedule as necessary. I see other other guides screening client's based on price and if they ask questions on price, suddenly they become booked or not available. Given the crowds, weather, and roads a flexible guide is a must who can adjust things to meet all the goals.
5. Service - This guy is patient and professional. Yeah, I think I yelled at him once. I'm pretty demanding and he was able to look past the demands. I forgot to bring a reflector for the models. Mercier brought one as a back up and saved the day. He thinks ahead.
Well if that hasn't convinced you then let the photos speak for themselves. A special thanks to Art Wolfe for his inspiration to visit and Mercier for making it a reality.
Cheers,
Timothy H. Joyce
Author of 4 Amazon Best sellers with photos, Swimming Holes of CA
Triton Award Winner
National Geographic Award "Most Romantic Destinations"
Outdoor Photographer - Best photo, Push to the Swimming Hole
1. Keeps promises - He makes a plan and keeps his promises. Some days we needed to get up at 3:00 AM in the morning. He was always right on time and got me to the spots to set up prior to the crowd arrival. This is critical in many spots because there are lots of photographers. On more than one occasion I saw the other guide groups arrive late and have to set up half a mile down the mountain. What a shame.
2. Camera settings - Even the most experienced photographers know that some times there is a limited window of opportunity to get the best photos. Mercier knows the ISO, Fstop, and shutter speed setting that work the best. This is very helpful when one day you are shooting portraits and the next landscape. The lighting can be quite tricky at times and can change quickly. This skill is critical to eliminate return trips. Do it once and do it right.
3. Actual Guide & Company - Many of the other tour gudies actually sub-contract to locals. So when booking make sure you actually get the guy and company you book with. Mercier is the real person.
4. Pricing & Plan- He's reasonably priced and willing to make adjustments on the schedule as necessary. I see other other guides screening client's based on price and if they ask questions on price, suddenly they become booked or not available. Given the crowds, weather, and roads a flexible guide is a must who can adjust things to meet all the goals.
5. Service - This guy is patient and professional. Yeah, I think I yelled at him once. I'm pretty demanding and he was able to look past the demands. I forgot to bring a reflector for the models. Mercier brought one as a back up and saved the day. He thinks ahead.
Well if that hasn't convinced you then let the photos speak for themselves. A special thanks to Art Wolfe for his inspiration to visit and Mercier for making it a reality.
Cheers,
Timothy H. Joyce
Author of 4 Amazon Best sellers with photos, Swimming Holes of CA
Triton Award Winner
National Geographic Award "Most Romantic Destinations"
Outdoor Photographer - Best photo, Push to the Swimming Hole
Written October 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bernard767
Montreal, Canada103 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
Mercier helped me plan a 3 days photo tour in Guilin area. Whenever I had a question, he answered within few hours considering our time difference. The price was very competitive with no hidden fees. Kevin, my tour guide, was very patient, helpful, and knowledgeable. He brought me to the nicest spots and I never felt rushed.
Thank you very much Mercier for this tour of a lifetime!!!
I highly recommend to any photographer who wish to capture authentic Chinese culture.
Bernard
Thank you very much Mercier for this tour of a lifetime!!!
I highly recommend to any photographer who wish to capture authentic Chinese culture.
Bernard
Written October 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How do I book a photography tour with Mercier Zeng? I don't see a link in Tripadvisor.
Many thanks,
YP
Written May 21, 2018
As TA doesn't show the website link any more, you can search my name Mercier Zeng in search engines.
Written May 22, 2018
saltandlight777
Los Angeles, California
I am traveling alone and plan on arriving in Guilin (KWL) on May 21 early afternoon and depart on evening of May 23. How much is the cost of a full day photo tour and half day photo tour? Will you take me for sunrise photos and sunset photos, latter with cormorant fisherman?
Thanks.
Dean
Written March 26, 2017
Hi, my wife and I booked a tour with Mercier while we were in the Guilin Yangshuo area. He does custom photography tours. Check out his website mercierzeng. It is not allowed to post his website. It is a good alternative to being on a tour bus/group. Even though it is considered a photography tour, he will take you to, and customize locations that you would like to visit in his own vehicle. I highly recommend him, he is very flexible as far as your itinerary. You will not regret.
Written March 26, 2017
Hi what is the best time of the year to get those beautiful misty shots. I am 69 single and will travel any time after Nov 18th
Written October 17, 2016
Hi Gordon, the best time of year is from June to September. November to next April will be the rainy season
Written October 17, 2016
Gary K
Burnaby, Canada
Hi Mercier!
My partner and I are visiting Guilin June 10-12 and wanted either a half or full day tour of Li River and other areas you might suggest! We arent expert photographers or anything but wanted to snap some nice photos. How much do you charge for either a full or half day tour?
Thanks!
Gary
Written May 2, 2016
Hi Gary, could you email me? So that we can talk about more itinerary detail and cost
Written May 3, 2016
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