My name is Brian Linden and I am a Chicago native who began working in China as a CBS cameraman in 1985. During the two years I was involved in interviews with Chinese leaders. I pursued graduate work at University of Illinois and Stanford and then worked on education projects and investment for international schools and education firms for 15 years before refocusing my passion, time and skills on a project of my own. My wife's name is Jeanee Linden and her love affair with China began with her involvement with the Cameron House community in San Francisco’s China town. She had an early passion for outdoor and community leadership with Cameron House and stood out in her large Cantonese-American family as the only cousin of 35 to invest time in understanding her family’s heritage and language. Jeanee pursued graduate studies at UC San Francisco and a career in nursing before permanently venturing back to China in 2007.

The award-winning Linden Centre is recommended for guests seeking immersion in Chinese culture. Located in Xizhou, a Bai minority village with thousands of years of history, around 17 km north of Dali’s old town. Situated between the foothills of the towering Cangshan mountains and the boundlessly blue Erhai lake (3km), Xizhou enjoys beautiful scenery and a pleasant spring climate all year round. The Linden Centre is consistently listed as the top hotel in its region and doubles as a model for cultural heritage protection and has received international recognition as a model for sustainable development. The Linden Centre was originally built as a private residence by Yang Pinxiang, a local businessman trading on the Tea-Horse Road in the early 20th century. The site has been carefully restored to its original grandeur, preserving the traditional materials, artwork, and wood carvings and still includes three courtyards and a lush private garden and terrace overlooking rice paddies beyond the Centre’s walls. At The Linden Centre, the magnificent history of Chinese culture is accessible to every guest. We stand apart from other boutique hotels by prioritizing experience over

We are about 5 min. walking distance from the centre of Xizhou town which houses nearly 100 old Bai architecture, is rich in tea horse road culture, and where the local Bai people makes visitors very welcome. Biking from the centre for around 15 min., you will find yourself near the Er’hai lakeside. You can take your time enjoying the beautiful view and also take tons of great photos here. Zhoucheng village, the home of Indigo tie-dye, is about 10 min. drive north from us. Our travel curators can take you to local family workshops to experience the tie-dye making. If you want to go to Dali Ancient town, we could assist in arranging transportation and give you tips on what to visit there. At the end of a long day, you can always return to the peaceful and quiet Xizhou for a good restful night. In addition, the Linden Centre’s concierge is happy to help arrange tours and luggage storage, and our business travelers have free and full use of our front office’s printer and photocopying services. Our concierge can help arrange transportation at a fee upon request, and we offer free parking.