Sierra Club Outings | Across China on the Silk Road

Across China on the Silk Road
May 12-31, 2008

Highlights:

Marvel at Xian's terra cotta warriors
Enjoy Kashgar's vibrant Sunday market
Admire treasured Buddhist art at the Magao Caves

Includes:

All meals and lodging
Sightseeing with English-speaking guides
All in-country transportation: air, rail, and coach

Our journey of discovery follows the path of the fabled Silk Road, stretching approximately 2,000 miles from China's ancient capital city of Chang'an (Xian) to Kashgar on the far western border, and beyond. Along the way we will visit ancient Buddhist sites, caravan towns in the desert, the western end of the Great Wall, the exciting medieval city of Kashgar, and much more.

On this journey the curious traveler will find excitement and pleasure in visiting places that few western tourists see. We will cross the vast distances of China by plane, train and vehicle to visit towns, oases and historical sites that were once trading centers, shrines and respite stops for the great caravans. This is a good time to visit the Silk Road, because China plans to open up this route soon to major tourism.

The trip starts in Xian, China. Please plan to arrive in Xian on the morning of day one or earlier. There are several sights to visit in the city that will help to prepare us for the Silk Road journey.

Day 1: This afternoon we will visit Xian's Ming Dynasty City Wall, nine miles of which still surround the city center. This wall, encircled by a moat, is one of the few in China that remains intact and demonstrates how it was meant to protect a city from invaders. We will have the opportunity to bike atop the City Wall as energy and time permit. A trip orientation meeting will precede dinner. Overnight: Xian.

Day 2: Today we will visit the famed terra cotta warriors -- one of China's treasures. The site contains over 7,000 life-sized clay warriors and war horses standing in battle formation. We'll also see the Banpo Neolithic Village, which holds the remains of a 6,000-year-old matriarchal clan community. We will then enjoy a dumpling dinner. Overnight: Xian.

Day 3: This morning we will tour the a museum exhibit about the Silk Road, followed by a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 CE, which houses ancient Buddhist scriptures from India. In the afternoon we will stop at the Han Dynasty Yangling Museum to view the recently discovered "naked warriors." Originally sculpted in wood and clay an adorned with fine silk, only the torsos of these warriors remain, but in perfect condition. This museum has received rave reviews from past trip members. We will then take a one-hour flight to the city of Lanzhou, once a caravan stop along the Silk Road. Overnight: Lanzhou.

Day 4: A boat ride on the Yellow River will take us to the Thousand Buddha Caves of Binglingsi. The site is striking -- the caves can be reached only by river. They consist of grottoes carved into the walls of a 200-foot-high cliff by Buddhist monks and their followers in the fifth century and were an important center for Buddhist study. We will also visit a nearby Tibetan Temple. Overnight: Lanzhou.

Day 5: We will visit Lanzhou's excellent museum, which has an impressive exhibit of Silk Road artifacts. A late afternoon flight will bring us to Jiayuguan in the Gobi desert, an ancient crossroads and garrison town on the Silk Road. Overnight: Jiayuguan.

Day 6: This morning we will visit Jiayuguan Fort, which has been part of the western end of the Great Wall since 1372. The Fort is a striking edifice standing in desolate splendor in the desert with snow-capped mountains as a backdrop. We will also see other remnants of the western Great Wall, as well as many tombs that dot the desert in this area. We will visit one tomb that has been excavated where we can view paintings and drawings depicting facets of daily life in earlier times. Overnight: Jiayuguan.

Day 7: We'll travel by coach from Jiayuguan to the 2,000-year-old desert town of Dunhuang, an important caravan stop on the Silk Road. Today it is known as the site of one of the most priceless troves of Buddhist art the world has ever known, the Magao Grottoes. En route we'll stop at the Yulin grottoes, which were carved into cliffs in the sides of mountain gorges during various dynasties and painted with Buddhist frescoes. Overnight: Dunhuang.

Day 8: This morning we will have a guided tour of the Magao Grottoes. The carving here began 366 CE and the work continued for a thousand years. Many of the caves contain statues of Buddha and his followers and many of the walls are covered with vivid murals. A visit to a small desert lake and a camel ride in the sand dunes will complete the day. Overnight: Dunhuang.

Day 9: Today we will visit Yumenguan Pass and Yangguan Pass, two of the passes or gates of China through caravans were required to pass. Lunch will be at a farmer's home near Yangguan Pass. In the afternoon we'll visit an oasis settlement in the desert as well as the Western Thousand Buddha Caves, which are set into a cliff on the banks of the Dang River. After dinner we will drive to the railhead town of Liuyuan to board an overnight train across the desert to the oasis town of Turpan, which lies in one of the lowest depressions on earth, 260 feet below sea level. Overnight: sleeper train.

Day 10: Turpan is an agricultural town with lush, cultivated fields. This sharp contrast to the surrounding desert is due to a unique system of harnessing melting glacier water from nearby mountains. The population is made up of Uygurs, Turkic muslims with a distinct culture. The flavor of the town, with its busy bazaar and market, is that of Central Asia. The sights that we will see today include the ruins of the ancient city of Jiaohe, the unique water system called the karez, and the beautiful Emin Minaret, a sun-baked clay mosque standing amid grape vineyards. Overnight: Turpan.

Day 11: An all-day excursion will bring us to the ancient Uygur village of Toyoq, situated in the Flaming Mountains. The town, surrounded by vineyards, is known for its special grapes and raisins. This is a timeless place where families have lived for centuries. Don't be surprised if you are invited into a home to share a melon with them. Overnight: Turpan.

Day 12: We will visit the ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang, a Silk Road garrison town dating to the second century CE. It was a great center for learning until it was destroyed by warfare in the 14th century. A visit to the Astana tombs of the imperial dead of Gaochang will complete the morning. Participants will have free time this afternoon. In the evening we'll enjoy a Uygur song and dance performance. Overnight: Turpan.

Day 13: This morning we will drive to the large city of Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang province. We will visit a museum that has a fine exhibit of archeological treasures of the Silk Road, as well as an exhibit about the minority cultures of Xinjiang. We'll also visit the Uygur market before taking an evening flight to Kashgar, a large oasis city strategically located at a crossroads of Silk Road routes into Central Asia, India, and Persia. Overnight: Kashgar.

Day 16: This will be a free morning to rest or explore at leisure. After lunch we will tour the significant sights of the city, visiting the Id Kah Mosque, the Abak Hoja Tomb, the handicraft street, and the fascinating Old Town. An evening flight will take us back to Urumqi.

Day 17: We will take a morning flight to Beijing. After we settle into our hotel we will make an afternoon visit to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, which served as the Imperial residence of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for almost 500 years. On one evening in Beijing we will have an opportunity to attend the Beijing Opera as an optional activity. Overnight: Beijing.

Day 18: Today we will have an excursion to the Great Wall of China. No visit is complete without setting foot on this awesome structure as it hugs the ridges of the Yanshan Mountains. We will also visit the Ming Tombs where thirteen of the sixteen Ming dynasty emperors are buried. There is a striking honor guard of twelve carved human figures and twelve pairs of animals leading to the tomb sites. Overnight: Beijing.

Day 19: This morning we will visit the beautiful Temple of Heaven, a perfect example of Ming architecture. It was here that the emperor came to pray for good harvest and perform other ceremonial rituals. The park where it is situated is well used by locals and is an interesting and enjoyable place to visit. The afternoon will be free for shopping, resting, or exploring. In the evening we will have a farewell Peking duck dinner. Overnight: Beijing.

Day 20: The trip will end after breakfast. Transfers will be arranged to the airport for international flights.

Note: Plans may change unexpectedly due to new rules and regulations and other unforeseen factors. Trip members must be prepared to accept possible changes to this itinerary, however unlikely.

Accommodations will be in three- and four-star hotels. All rooms will have private bathrooms with tub and/or shower. The trip price is based on two persons sharing a room. Persons traveling alone will be assigned a same-sex roommate. A few single supplements will be available for an additional charge.

All meals are provided from lunch on day one through breakfast on the last day. Food will be plentiful, wholesome and tasty, although it may become repetitious since there is little change in food patterns between Xian and Kashgar. We do our best to provide the best of local food rather than confining ourselves to just "tourist" food. In northwest China beef, rather than pork, is commonly served whereas mutton and lamb will become more popular as we travel farther west. A popular dish is barbecued mutton on skewers eaten with a wide variety of flatbreads. Noodles and dumplings (often with a ground mutton filling) are common. There will be a moderate amount of vegetables and a variety of melons and other fruits.

The itinerary is quite active and fairly long so participants must have the stamina and energy to keep going at a moderately quick pace. We will cover large distances by plane (five flights), train (one overnight journey), and bus. There will be a few longer driving days (up to five hours). We will do a moderate amount of walking at various sites. The Great Wall visit will have some steep and uneven steps to climb once on the Wall. The elevation of 11,000 feet at Karakuli Lake may be a problem for some people. Participants may opt to remain in Kashgar for the day if this is the case. Checking in and out of airports can be tiring and time consuming. The overnight train ride can also be fatiguing. However, the itinerary does allow for three free half-days that can be used for rest and relaxation.

The temperatures in the desert areas should be pleasant in May with the possibility of some warmer days with temperatures climbing to the mid or high eighties at times. There may be some rain in Xian or Beijing.

No special equipment is necessary. A suggested clothing and equipment list will be sent to trip participants. All are urged to pack as lightly as possible considering the amount of moving we will be doing on this trip.

Along the Silk Road, China's many environmental problems will be less evident for much of the trip, however problems do exist. One of the most severe is desertification. Keeping the sands at bay is a constant battle. The government has instituted impressive tree planting programs in an effort to halt the desertification and soil erosion and to provide adequate windbreaks. Toxic rain caused by air pollution is also damaging many precious relics, including the Buddhist grottoes.

The town of Turpan has an impressive water system that uses meltwater from nearby glaciers for irrigation. As glaciers shrink due to global warming, the ability of this town to remain an oasis in the desert may be in jeopardy.

A very ambitious project is also in the works that involves building a south-north canal to bring water from the Yangtse River to some of the more arid parts of the north and also to the Yellow River. What will the eventual effect be on the Yangtse River flow and the areas it supplies with water?

There are so many issues, so many problems, interesting solutions. It will be fascinating to learn more about all of this first hand in China, and then to realize that many of the same issues affect our own country.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Ruth Dyche has been involved with Sierra Club Outings for more than 25 years in a variety of capacities. She has led a variety of trips in North America as well as in the South Pacific, Latin America, and China. However, it is Africa which has her heart and she returns as often as she is able. She has lead many trips to East and West Africa and has visited South and Central Africa on numerous occasions. Her personal involvement with Africa began years ago, when, as a young nurse, she worked at a remote mission hospital in Zambia for one adventure-filled year. Africa and its people have been an integral part of her life since that time.

E-mail: dyche2747@sbcglobal.net