Linden Centre in Xizhou catches the eye of James Fallows, Atlantic national correspondent.
Brian and Jeanee Linden, Xizhou - 2007 photo by Stephen Kastner
The Linden Centre, a project in Yunnan Province, China undertaken by Ellison Bay residents, Brian and Jeanee Linden, is currently featured in an Atlantic Monthly article by renowned columnist, James Fallows. It traces the evolution of the Lindens’ unprecedented project based in China’s southeast Himalayas. Brian and Jeanee have been living on-and-off in China since 1984.
“James’ article has spurred on many interesting inquiries and customers,” says Brian. ” I just spent three days in Shanghai with Chinese television, Chinese National Geography magazine and SpaChina. We are currently highlighted in China’s largest expat magazine as well! It truly has been surprising.”
They are among the first foreign couples to gain access to a Type A Cultural Relic – a massive stone complex built by a leading Southwest Silk Road merchant and protected by the Chinese government at the same level as the Great Wall.
The Lindens, who started the Linden Gallery in Ellison Bay in 1996, have spent five years developing this complex into one of China’s most unique cultural retreats. Their careful restoration of the buildings, which employed nearly 100 local craftsmen a-day for nine months, is being praised worldwide as a shining example of sustainable development.
The Linden Centre represents a new paradigm for Chinese tourism. Located in Xizhou, a pristine and lively village, the Centre immerses guests in the traditions of China’s dynastic past. The goal is for un-staged interaction with locals through activities and volunteerism. These experiences are complemented by a variety of lectures and workshops conducted by leading scholars and artists.
The Atlantic Monthly article on the Linden Centre can be found at http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200910/chinese-town.
SLIDESHOW: James Fallows shares his photos of the Lindens and their Yunnan village retreat.
