An Archaeological Study Tour
The Silk Road of China
23 Days  September 14 – October 6, 2010      
Led by Professor Robert Thorp Washington University

The legendary Silk Road linked China to the trading centers of Persia, the Middle East and Europe. More than 2,000 years ago, merchants first began to use this great artery for the flow of goods between China and the Roman West. Its routes skirted searing deserts, followed narrow tracks through mountains and crossed vast grasslands. Caravans from the West risked great hardships in order to import the precious silk cloth that only the Chinese knew how to produce. But it was not only merchandise that was imported by these travelers. Buddhism, Islam and other ancient cultural traditions diffused along these routes and created cities of great ethnic and cultural diversity. Our exciting journey traces the Silk Road through China from Xian to the caravan cities of Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Turpan, Hotan and Kashgar. Although much has changed along the Silk Road in 2,000 years, both first-time China travelers and those for whom this is a return visit will find this an exciting and adventuresome tour.

Tuesday, September 14: Independent departures from our home cities arriving into Beijing on Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 15: BEIJING: We arrive into Beijing this evening and transfer to the Sino-Swiss Beijing Airport Hotel.

Thursday, September 16: XI'AN: Our flight departs early, arriving midday into Xi’an. The Chinese terminus of the Silk Road, Xi’an was the capital of China during the Han and Tang dynasties, the two ages when the world came to China. En route from the airport we will stop to visit Yangling, the tomb of the Han emperor Jingdi, renowned for its miniature army of figurines. During the next three days, we will visit the extraordinary sites in both the city and the surrounding countryside. Touring in Xi’an proper will include the Shaanxi History Museum, the Forest of Steles, the Great Goose Pagoda, associated with Xuanzang, the great Tang monk-traveler. There will also be a chance to sample local cuisine. Our three-night stay will be at the refurbished and centrally located Hyatt Regency Hotel. This evening we will meet for an orientation lecture and dinner at our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Friday, Saturday, September 17 & 18: XI'AN: We will make an excursion into the countryside to visit the Tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor, who unified China. It is outside his tomb that over 8,000 life-size terra-cotta figures depicting soldiers, cavalry, charioteers and horses have been unearthed. On Saturday we will once again drive through the Wei River valley to the Famen Temple, where imperial gifts sealed in a crypt in 874 CE demonstrate the devotion of the Tang emperors to a “True Body Relic of the Buddha,” imported from India. Returning to Xi’an, we will visit the Great Mosque (Huajue Lane Mosque) and Muslim quarter.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch daily & 1 dinner

Sunday, September 19: LANZHOU: This morning we fly to Lanzhou. Known as the “fragrant city,” Lanzhou was a garrison town and a vital stop for caravans. We will spend the afternoon visiting Lanzhou’s excellent Gansu Provincial Museum, which houses among its many treasures the famous “Flying Horse of Gansu.” Lanzhou Legend Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Monday, September 20: LANZHOU: This wonderful day begins with a boat trip on the Yellow River to the Buddhist caves at Binglingsi. Accessible only by water, thirty-four caves, dating from the Western Qin (385-431), are spread along rock cliffs for over a mile. We will visit those caves that have the finest sculptures and paintings, the most impressive of which is the huge stone-carved Buddha, over 80 feet tall, carved into the face of the cliff, before returning to Lanzhou.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Tuesday, September 21: LABRANG: We leave Lanzhou, traveling into the loess hills of the Yellow River basin to the village of Xiahe, a miniature Lhasa in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. At 9,700 feet, a serene valley surrounds this colorful town of two-story wooden shops and mud-walled communal compounds. Village life is as it has been for centuries: small dirt lanes, bent old women spinning the large drum-shaped prayer wheels and everywhere traditional prayer flags. This afternoon we will visit the Labrang Monastery, one of China’s six great monasteries of the Yellow Hat Sect. Once the home of 4,000 monks, its enrollment is now restricted. The Tibetan-style temples are lovely, their golden roofs capped with traditional images and their fine interiors dimly lit by yak-butter lamps. Labrang Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Wednesday, September 22: DUNHUANG: After visiting the local bazaar, we return to Lanzhou. This evening we fly to Dunhuang. Dunhuang Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Thursday, September 23: DUNHUANG: The highlight of our stay here will be the Mogao Cliff cave-chapels, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This complex of some 492 cave-chapels was begun about 366 CE and is a veritable museum of magnificent sculpture and beautiful wall paintings in both Chinese and Central Asian styles. Our two half-day visits will allow us a good look at the best of the caves currently open. Our emphasis will be on the chapels of the Sui and Tang periods (7th-9th centuries). We will also visit Dunhuang’s small museum and Mingsha, known as the Singing Sands. Here we will have an opportunity to ride a camel across the desert to a lovely crescent-shaped lake set amidst the impressive sand dunes.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Friday, September 24: DUNHUANG/ÜRÜMQI: Touring continues with our second visit to the Mogao Cliff cave chapels. This evening we fly on to Ürümqi and the Hoi Tak Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Saturday, Sunday, September 25 & 26: TURPAN: We drive via the Daqin Pass, a major passage along the northern Silk Road, across the forbidding Gobi desert to the lush oasis of Turpan, known for its grapes and melons. Turpan is a basin, the second lowest point on the face of the earth, bordered on the north by red sandstone hills, called the Flaming Mountains. This afternoon we will visit the excellent regional museum, and the 18th-century Emin Minaret and Mosque. On Sunday, our touring includes the ancient walled capital of the Uighurs, Gaochang, as well as the Bezeklik and Toyuq cave chapels, both in the Flaming Mountains. We will have time to explore the local bazaar and stroll along the wonderful grapevine-covered lanes. Our two-night stay will be at thenew Tuha Petroleum Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily

Monday, Tuesday, September 27 & 28: ÜRÜMQI: This morning we will visit the ancient citadel of Jiaohe, another World Heritage Site, notable for its temples and stupas. We return to Ürümqi late in the afternoon. Tuesday’s touring will include the new Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum and a scenic view of the city from Red Hill. Hoi Tak Hotel.    

Wednesday, Thursday, September 29 & 30: HOTAN: A flight brings us to Hotan. Our stay in this oasis will be a true adventure as it is visited by very few Westerners. Touring here will include the Han-dynasty site of Melikawat, the ancient tower of Rawak and the small local museum. We will learn about the region’s famous jade production, see how Khotanese silk has been woven for centuries and walk amidst the sand dunes of the Taklamakan Desert. Hotan Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Friday, October 1: KASHGAR: An unusual drive takes us along the edges of the Taklamakan desert through dozens of small oases to Kashgar. En route we will stop at Yarkand (Shache), a tradional Uighur town with an old fort, an interesting cemetery and the Aleytun Mosque, which can be viewed from the outside. The westernmost Chinese city on the Silk Road today, Kashgar (ancient Shule, Jiesha) continues its role as a cultural crossroads. Traders still cross the borders with the former Soviet Union and Pakistan to trade in the local markets. Kashgar International Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Saturday, Sunday, October 2 & 3: KASHGAR: On Saturday we will visit the Great Mosque, the largest in China, and the Apaq Khoja Shrine, as well as the intriguing craft streets of the Old Town. Our visit coincides with the Sunday Market, one of the largest and most colorful markets in China. Sunday morning thousands of people travel from miles around Kashgar to trade their fascinating merchandise at this huge bazaar. Some of the traders will have arrived from distant villages during the night and will begin to set up their stalls in the morning. We will have plenty of time to explore both the animal market and the main bazaar.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Monday, October 4: ÜRÜMQI: This morning we fly back to Ürümqi and return to the Hoi Tak Hotel. This evening we will meet for our farewell dinner and toast the end of our Silk Road journey.

Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Tuesday, October 5: BEIJING: A morning flight returns us to Beijing. We will be transferred to the deluxe Grand Hotel Beijing, centrally located a short walk from Tian’an Men Square. The remainder of the day will be at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Wednesday, October 6: We will transfer to the airport for our departure flights.

Meals: Breakfast

Tourist facilities on the Silk Road are not well developed. Hotels are simple and there will be some long drives between cities on roads that may be in poor condition. The flight and train schedules change frequently causing a revision of the tour program. Every effort will be made to ensure that such changes maintain the intent of the itinerary.

This tour should be considered strenuous. It requires walking over rough, uneven and sandy terrain. For the most satisfying experience, and in fairness to your fellow travelers, all participants are expected to be physically active and able to walk independently throughout our full touring days. Although the rewards are great, only those willing to accept some discomforts should consider taking this tour.