Linden Centre

Inspired by years of collecting antiques and contemporary artwork in China, Wisconsin residents Brian and Jeanee Linden moved directly to the source and opened the Linden Centre in the southern province of Yunnan. Using a restored inn as a base, they’ve created a series of programs to introduce travelers to the region’s art, architecture, culture, and food. Guests at the restored historic mansion can participate in 10-day to three-week-long painting, writing, and culinary-arts programs, attend a local wedding, or even help carry sedan chairs during a temple celebration. The Linden Centre has helped persuade skeptical officials of the importance of preserving the heritage of China's rural areas, and the owners are now adapting their model for two more historic buildings in Yunnan.