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Home , Bezeklik Caves, Kongur Tagh, Mogao Caves

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

JUSTINE KIRK, ALONG THE ROAD, 2013

TRACING ’S ANCIENT CARAVAN ROUTES

August 30 to September 14, 2018 Traveling the is, without question, one of the world’s epic journeys— even to this day. Though named for its famous silk trade, the route also acted as a conduit for , ivory, and exotic plant and animal products. Traveling overland today from Shanghai to through China’s remote northwest is still not an undertaking for the inexperienced traveler, though the rewards are great for those who are drawn to the prospect: art-flled Buddhist caves in , the oasis city of Turfan, ’s famed Sunday livestock bazaar, and an unforgettable mix of exotic cultures and fascinating peoples. Our caravan is led by Buddhist expert Greg Watkins, ’85, PhD ’02. This is a journey not to be missed!

BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights EXPLORE markets DISCOVER the Buddhist MEANDER along the and mosques of oasis grottoes of Dunhuang and in cities along the route of Bezeklik, caves filled with Mutianyu north of , ancient caravans, including art that was commissioned and marvel at the most Kashgar’s vibrant Sunday by rich merchants looking remarkable series of market. to win favor with Buddha. fortifications ever built.

COVER: DUNHUANG Faculty Leader GREG WATKINS, ’85, PHD ’02, is the associate director of Stanford’s Structured Liberal Education (SLE) program and a resident fellow in East Florence Moore Hall. A filmmaker himself, Greg focuses his research on the intersection of film and religion, and, more generally, of art and religion. His interest in started in graduate school when he was a teaching assistant for Stanford’s course on Buddhism. Since then, Greg has taught multiple times at Stanford’s Sophomore College and the Bing Overseas “[Greg’s] lectures Seminars, which has included trips to Bhutan, Mongolia and a number of countries in Southeast Asia. His lectures during this trip will focus on some of the basics of Buddhist were extremely thought and on the transmission of knowledge in Buddhism, through text and painting. He says, “As someone who has been studying Buddhism the past couple of decades, I’m interesting and incredibly excited for the opportunity to visit the .” — Associate director, Stanford Structured did a lot to add Liberal Education program (SLE) — Co-director, Virtual Mandala project, to my overall trip Stanford Humanities Lab — Instructor, Continuing Studies Program — Co-instructor, Stanford’s Sophomore College and experience.” Bing Overseas Seminars to Bhutan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma RIAH FORBES, ’10, — BA, social theory, 1985, and a dual PhD, religious MS ’11, BURMA, 2016 studies and humanities, 2002—all Stanford University

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?silkroad2018 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093

ID KAH MOSQUE, KASHGAR Urumqi MONGOLIA Beijing Kashgar Dunhuang

Xiahe Labrang Shanghai

NEPAL C HINA

INDIA

mosques and Hui Muslim vil- WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 lages en route. AIRLINE HOTEL (B,L,D) DUNHUANG Itinerary Today we explore Dunhuang, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 a major crossroads on the Silk THURSDAY & FRIDAY, XIAHE / LABRANG / Road, where Indian, Chinese, AUGUST 30 & 31 LANZHOU and Central Asian monks and DEPART U.S. / Spend the day exploring the pilgrims mixed with merchants, SHANGHAI, CHINA , which sits traders and camel caravans, Depart the U.S. on flights bound at an altitude of 9,500 feet in carrying with them in both for Shanghai, crossing the a remote mountain valley in directions their various forms of international date line en route province. Home to more Buddhism. Spend some time and arriving in Shanghai on than 1,000 monks, Labrang is at Dunhuang’s famous Mogao Friday. After checking in to our an important pilgrimage site Caves, nearly 500 grottoes that hotel, enjoy the remainder of and center of scholarship and is contain 1,000-years’-worth of the evening at leisure. HYATT ON considered the most important Buddhist , art and THE BUND Tibetan monastery outside of murals and are a designated Tibet. Continue by coach to our UNESCO World Heritage site. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 hotel in Lanzhou. CROWNE PLAZA This afternoon, visit the towering SHANGHAI (B,L,D) Mingsha (or “Singing Sands”) After a welcome orientation, sand dunes and perhaps take explore Yu Garden and tour TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 a camel ride across the desert. LANZHOU / the Shanghai Museum with DUNHUANG HOTEL (B,L,D) its 30 centuries of art trea- DUNHUANG sures. Enjoy lunch and then an Enjoy a day in Lanzhou, a THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 afternoon of exploring Shanghai former caravan stop on the DUNHUANG / TURPAN independently before rejoin- Silk Road and an historic transit This morning, we drive from ing our group for a welcome point for the wool, silk and tea Dunhuang to Liuyuan where reception followed by a thrilling trades. Situated on the banks we take a high-speed train to acrobatic performance. HYATT of the , it’s the the oasis city of Turpan with its ON THE BUND (B,L) present-day capital of Gansu mix of Uyghur, Han Chinese province. Visit the Gansu and Hui peoples. The extremes SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Provincial Museum with its rel- of heat and cold in the desert SHANGHAI / ics from the Silk Road, which landscape are mitigated by the LANZHOU / XIAHE provide evidence that ancient ingenious underground karez Fly to Lanzhou and this after- traders made contact with a irrigation channels that bring noon continue by coach on a cross-section of civilizations. melted snow from the Tian fascinating four-hour cross- Fly to Dunhuang late this after- Shan Mountains. This system country drive to Xiahe, passing noon. DUNHUANG HOTEL (B,L,D) is considered one of the three Urumqi MONGOLIA Turpan Beijing Kashgar Dunhuang

Xiahe Lanzhou Labrang Shanghai

NEPAL C HINA

INDIA

DUNHUANG

great ancient engineering Each Sunday thousands of TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 projects in China, along with people—, Tajiks, KASHGAR / URUMQI / the Great Wall and the Beijing- Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Han BEIJING Hangzhou . Con- Chinese, converge on Kashgar Today we fly from Kashgar back tinue by coach to Turpan. to trade and socialize. Goods to Urumqi and on to Beijing, TUHA SHIYOU HOTEL (B,L,D) and services of every descrip- transferring upon arrival to our tion change hands. We also centrally located hotel. GRAND FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 explore the Id Kah Mosque, BEIJING HYATT (B) TURPAN / BEZEKLIK built in 1442, and the tomb WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, Visit Emin Mosque with its of Abakh Hoja, where many 130-foot-tall minaret, one of the SEPTEMBER 12 & 13 generations of the same family BEIJING best-preserved in China. Ex- are buried in an enclosed com- plore the ruins, the During our two full days in pound surrounded by shaded China’s capital, see the “Forbid- remains of a major Silk Road gardens. RADISSON BLU HOTEL (B,L,D) trading post. Then stop for a den City,” the Imperial Palace of omnipotent Chinese em- view of the MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 perors. Visit the Lama Temple on our way to Bezeklik, an KASHGAR / LAKE archaeological site encompass- / KASHGAR of Tibetan Buddhism and the ing nearly 13,000 square feet Enjoy a full-day excursion to Confucian Temple nearby. Stroll and with cave murals dating Lake Karakul, one of the great- along the wondrous Great Wall at Mutianyu and explore the from the 5th century. TUHA SHIYOU est natural sights in western HOTEL (B,L,D) China and known for its daz- . Enjoy a farewell zling blue-and-green-hued reception with fellow Stanford SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 waters. At an altitude of almost travelers and a dinner of local TURPAN / URUMQI / 12,000 feet, it’s the highest specialties. GRAND HYATT BEIJING KASHGAR (9/12: B,L; 9/13: B,D) lake of the Pamir plateau and Today we drive to Urumqi surrounded by even higher where we visit the FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 mountains that remain snow- Provincial Museum to view its BEIJING / U.S. covered throughout the year. impressive Caucasoid mum- After breakfast, transfer to Enjoy a walk along the lake’s mies discovered in the Taklam- the Beijing airport for our flight shore, perhaps viewing the akan Desert. This evening fly to home, crossing the international three highest peaks visible from Kashgar. RADISSON BLU HOTEL (B,L,D) date line en route and arriving the lake: Muztagata (top eleva- back in the U.S. the same day. (B) tion: 24,750 feet), Kongur Tagh SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 KASHGAR (25,088 feet) and Kongur Tiube The Kashgar market is one of (24,698 feet). RADISSON BLU HOTEL (B,L,D) the highlights of our journey. GREAT WALL YU GARDEN, SHANGHAI

PASSAGEWAY, EMIN MOSQUE, TURPAN LAKE KARAKUL

and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet Trip Information access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services DATES August 30 to September 14, 2018 AIR ARRANGEMENTS (16 days) You are responsible for booking and pur- chasing airfare to the start location and from SIZE the end location of the program. These air 36 participants (single accommodations limited—please call for availability) purchases are NOT included in the program cost. To assist you in making these independent COST* arrangements, we will send you details with $8,495 per person, double occupancy your confirmation materials on when to arrive $9,595 per person, single occupancy and depart. *Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers add $300 per person WHAT TO EXPECT Participants must be physically fit and in good INCLUDED health. We consider this to be a strenuous program

14 nights of hotel accommodations that is at times physically demanding and busy.

14 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners Daily excursions involve one to three miles of

Welcome and farewell receptions Gratuities walking, often on uneven terrain and cobbled to guides and drivers for all group activities paths. Stairs may not have handrails, and elevators All tours and excursions as described in the are limited or unavailable. Some days require itinerary Transfers and baggage handling on early-morning starts. Our journey at times requires program arrival and departure days Internal several hours of travel by motor coach, the longest flights in China Minimal medical, accident drives being up to four hours. Luggage will need and evacuation insurance Educational to be handled by individual travelers at airport program with lecture series and pre-departure customs points. If you are susceptible to altitude materials, including recommended reading list, sickness, please be aware that Xiahe is almost a selected book, map and travel information 10,000 feet above sea level and Lake Karakul Services of our professional tour manager to is nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. China’s assist you throughout the program tourism industry is developing and we expect that participants will be a self-selecting group whose NOT INCLUDED International and U.S. domestic airfare interest in the places we visit far outweighs the Passport and visa fees Immunization costs need for creature comforts. In many ways, the Meals and beverages other than those speci- challenges of this program are part of the learning fied as included Independent and private experience. We welcome travelers 15 years of transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption age and older on this program. Terms & Conditions if you purchase your policy within Deposit & Final Payment war, quarantine, force majeure or A $1,000-per-person deposit is 14 days of written confirmation of other causes beyond our control. required to hold your space. Sign your participation on the trip. All such losses or expenses will up online at alumni.stanford.edu/ have to be borne by the passenger Eligibility as tour rates provide arrangements trip?silkroad2018 or call the Travel/ We encourage membership in the only for the time stated. We reserve Study office at (650) 725-1093. Stanford Alumni Association as the Final payment is due 120 days the right to make such alterations program cost for nonmembers is to this published itinerary as may prior to departure. As a condition $300 more than the members’ price. of participation, all confirmed be deemed necessary. The right is A person traveling as a guest paid reserved to cancel any program prior participants are required for by a current member will not to sign a Release of Liability. to departure in which case the entire be charged the nonmember fee. payment will be refunded without For more information or to purchase Cancellations & Refunds further obligation on our part. The Deposits and any payments are a membership, visit alumni.stanford/ right is also reserved to decline to refundable, less a $500-per-person goto/membership or call (650) accept or retain any person as a cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to 725-0692. member of the program. No refund departure. After that date, refunds can will be made for an unused portion Responsibility of any tour unless arrangements be made only if the program is sold The Stanford Alumni Association, are made in sufficient time to avoid out and your place(s) can be resold, Stanford University and our operators penalties. Baggage is carried at the in which case a $1,000-per-person act only as agents for the passenger owner’s risk entirely. The airlines cancellation fee will apply. with respect to transportation and concerned are not to be held exercise every care possible in doing Insurance responsible for any act, omission or so. However, we can assume no Stanford Travel/Study provides event during the time that passengers all travelers who are U.S. or liability for injury, damage, loss, are not onboard their plane or Canadian citizens with minimal accident, delay or irregularity in conveyance. Neither the Stanford connection with the service of any medical, accident and evacuation Alumni Association, Stanford automobile, motor coach, launch coverage under our group-travel University nor our operators accept or any other conveyance used in insurance policy. Our group policy liability for any carrier’s cancellation carrying out this program or for the is intended to provide minimal penalty incurred by the purchase of acts or defaults of any company or levels of protection while you are a nonrefundable ticket in connection person engaged in conveying the traveling on this program. You may with the tour. Program price is based passenger or in carrying out the choose to subscribe to optional trip- on rates in effect in October 2017 and arrangements of the program. We is subject to change without notice to cancellation and baggage insurance. cannot accept any responsibility for Information offering such insurance reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, losses or additional expenses due tariffs or fuel charges. will be provided to travelers with their to delay or changes in air or other welcome materials. The product services, sickness, weather, strike, offered includes special benefits

© COPYRIGHT 2017 STANFORD ALUMNI TELEPHONE (650) 725-1093 ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. EMAIL [email protected] PRINTED ON RECYCLED, FSC-CERTIFIED California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50 IN THE U.S. STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY PAID Association U.S. Postage Nonprofit Org. Stanford Alumni CA 94305-6105 CA Galvez Street (650) 725-1093 Stanford Travel/Study Stanford Frances Arrillaga C. Alumni Center 326 Stanford, Stanford, TRACING CHINA’S ANCIENT ANCIENT TRACING CHINA’S ROUTES CARAVAN August 30 to September 14, 2018 14, 2018 September August 30 to

“The best trip I’ve ever taken—a high-quality learning experience, cultural delights and sheer enjoyment with an excellent group, professor and guides.”

JUSTINE KIRK, ALONG THE SILK ROAD, 2013

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

KASHGAR