Description: 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 15 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 Main Trip: The trip cost ranges from $5,650 to $6,910 depending on the size of the group. The single supplement is US$1,000 per person.
Click here to see the full trip itinerary and details of trip costs and what is covered in the price.
Trip Extension to Xinjiang Province: Trip participants who want to will have an option to extend their trip and add a 5-day visit to Xinjiang. To see the Xinjiang extension program click here. The extension will cost $890 to $1,290 per person depending on the number of participants on the Xinjiang extension.
Tour Operator: Wild China Website: www.wildchina.com
1818 Trip Coordinator: Xiao Ye (yexiao.dc@outlook.com)
