A private tour specially designed for the World Bank 1818 Society
(This trip is full and cannot accept any more applicants for May 2024)
Led by an archaeologist, Dr. Ye Wa, this trip will reveal to you fragments of 5,000 history on the land of China through archaeological artifacts and findings, as well as ancient dynastical remnants along the Silk Road. Visiting world-renowned Buddhism Grottoes and museums, accompanied by lectures with intriguing titles such as “Silk Road before the silk trade” and “Monks and Merchants – Buddhist grottoes along the Silk Road”, you will gain insights into the rich history of the east-west cultural and commercial exchanges. You will also learn about the conservation efforts of the Silk Road treasures. The intellectual enjoyments will be intertwined with leisurely hikes and visits to beautiful sceneries such as “rumbling sands” recorded by Marco Polo and Crescent Lake, a waterbody that miraculously survived over thousands of years in desert. Indulging yourself in ancient history, authentic Chinese food, exploring new cultures and walking through beautiful sceneries, you will return home refreshed and enriched!
Highlights of the tour
The proposed 10-day tour will start in Xi’an – the most easterly point of the Silk Road and the ancient capital for several important and most prosperous dynasties, where we will visit the famed terracotta soldiers, as well as the newly (2022) opened Shaanxi Archaeological Museum. It displays hundreds of thousands of excavated items that would give you intimate knowledge of Chinese history and cultures. Visits to the treasures along the Silk Road include. ; UNESCO World Heritage Site Mogao Grottoes and numerous Buddhism caves along the Silk Road, with behind-the-scenes access with Dr. Ye and Neil Schmid, Scholar-in-Residence at the Dunhuang Academy and one of the leading authorities on medieval Buddhism’s visual culture; as well as meeting with the Getty Museum team to learn about Sino-American joint conservation efforts along the Silk Road. We will also witness Chinese infrastructure development, which will provide our travel with comfort even in remote areas.
The tour is designed for a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 participants to ensure involvement and camaraderie. (Note, the trip will start at Xi’an and end at Dunhuang. From Dunhuang to Xi’an is a two-hour flight, to Beijing is a three-hour flight.)
Price of Trip
For 8 persons: $6,650 pp; For 10 persons: $5,880 pp; For 12 persons: $5,310 pp on dual occupancy basis.
The single supplement is $1,000.
Click here to see the full itinerary and details of what is covered in the price.
To join the trip, please complete the form through the link at the bottom of this page. The registration will be closed upon a full enrollment of 12 people or up to March 15, 2020, whichever comes first. We will inform you of your total cost and balance due after the group size is finalized.
PAYMENT POLICY: The registration will be confirmed upon a deposit of $500. The balance will be due by March 15, 2024.
Cancellations: more than 60 days prior to the departure date, loss of deposit; 45-60 days, 30% of total tour price will be forfeited; 20 to 44 days, 50% of total tour price will be forfeited; 19 or fewer days: all payments will be non-refundable.
1818 Trip Coordinator: Xiao Ye. For more information send an email to yexiao.dc@outlook.com or call (202) 494-7050.
Booking Form: Click here to access the form.
