Global Heritage Fund China: The Wonders of the North October 14th - 21st, 2013 Global Heritage Fund China: The Wonders of the North October 14th - 21st, 2013 Trip Overview This journey takes us to an intriguing passel of places most visitors to China miss. From Beijing we fly to Taiyuan then drive through the northern Chi- nese countryside to Pingyao, whose lively narrow streets, magnificent old family mansions, and 1500-year old Shuanglin Temple have earned it World Heritage Site status. We’ll visit GHF project sites and meet with local research staff here. Continue to the town of Wutaishan and explore four gems of tem- ples: Foguang, Pusading, Tayuan, and Nanshan. We then head a bit further north to Datong, where we’ll visit the Hanging Monastery, stuck (almost impossibly, it seems) on the cliff of the Jinxia Gorge and we’ll explore the World Heritage Site Yungang Grottoes and their more than 51,000 Buddhist FEATURING: statues. Finally we take in Hohhot and its Dazhoa Temple before returning Vincent L. Michael, Ph.D. to Beijing for one final night. Chief Conservation Officer for Global Heri- tage Fund Vincent L. Michael, Ph.D has served on the GHF Senior Advisory Board since 2008. From 1996 to 2010 he was Director of the Master of Science in Historic Preservation Program at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he holds the John H. Bryan Chair in Historic Preservation. He is a Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Pres- ervation, the nation’s premier private preservation organization, and Chair Emeritus of the National Council for Preservation Education. Vince began working on the Weishan Heritage Valley in Yunnan, China, for the Center for US- China Arts Exchange in 2003 and has brought four Foguang Statues student groups to help restore this 7th century Southern Silk Road city. A popular study leader on Trip Highlights Art Institute of Chicago and National Trust trips to China and Southeast Asia, Vince has lectured on architecture, art, geography, literature, and natu- Pingyao City ral and industrial history throughout the United Bordering the southern edge of the Taiyuan Basin and joining the Loess Pla- States, Europe and Asia, and consults on the pres- ervation of historic sites and structures. His writ- teau to the south, Pingyao was once considered the Wall Street of China. ings include a book on Prairie School architect During imperial China, Pingyao’s banks had subsidies throughout Asia. But Barry Byrne, Michelin Travel Publications, and a though Pingyao was once on the cutting edge, it is now the only city in China host of scholarly articles in addition to a popular that has completely maintained its ancient structures. There are no modern blog Time Tells. buildings in the city, only gorgeous dark wooden buildings with bright red lanterns dangling from the roofs, a throwback to ancient China. Along with Xi’an, Nanjing and Lijiang, Pingyao is one of the only time-honored cities to have survived with its ancient walls intact. Rishengchang and Baichuantong are two of the oldest banks in China that have been restored as museums. Pingyao City Beginning in 2005, Global Heritage Fund initiated conservation work at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, to comprehensively preserve the ancient city and support its thoughtfully planned development. Detailed mapping, documentation, population survey, and threats assessment of the city have now been completed. We will explore GHF’s project here and meet with lo- cal GHF staff. Foguang Temple, Wutaishan Foguang Temple is a tranquil Buddhist temple nestled in the remote village of Wutaishan and is a GHF project site. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009, Foguang Temple is one of the finest examples of Tang Dynasty architecture remaining today. Well-preserved wooden buildings and sculp- tures date back to the Tang Dynasty. First built in 471 A.D. and reconstruct- ed several times in later dynasties, the temple’s architecture is some of the most classic among ancient Chinese styles, attracting architects, academics and photographers. Nonetheless, the Foguang Temple is unknown to many tourists. GHF completed the Foguang Temple project in a collaborative agreement with Shanxi Institute of Ancient Architecture Conservation and Research . A team of specialists in historic temple architectural design and mapping was then assembled to draft world-class computer models of the Main Temple to be used in scientific conservation. We’ll have an insider’s look at Foguang Temple’s picturesque and private sites. Yungang Caves Yungang Caves Hanging Monastery, Datong The Hanging Monastery which stands at the foot of Mt. Hengshan , hangs impossibly on the west cliff of Jinxia Gorge more than 160 feet above ground. Built in 491, it has survived more than 1500 years, largely rebuilt and maintained in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Supported by crossbeams, the monastery consists of 40 halls and rooms housing approximately 80 sculptures made of copper, iron, terracotta, and stone. Supported by long timber poles underneath, at first glance the mon- Yungang Caves astery seems to be connected to the cliff itself, or simply hanging in air. But the greatest structural support comes from unseen rock ledges upon which parts of the pavilions sit. In order to expand the pavilions, the monastery’s monks dug caves into the cliff behind them, which now contain beautiful carvings of religious statues. In these caves, Buddha, Confucius and Laozi sit comfortably side by side, an unusual fusion of Buddhist, Tao, and Confucian influences. We’ll climb up to the hanging monastery, and take a tour of this bizarre but beautiful old temple. Yungang Grottoes, Datong The Yungang Grottoes are a classical masterpiece of Chinese Buddhist art during Buddhism’s peak in the 5th to 6th century AD. Datong, or Pingcheng in ancient times, became the capital of the northern Wei dynasty between years 398 and 494. Buddhism came to this region on the North Silk Road, and the northern Wei adopted it as their region. Completing the trio of the three most important sites of cave art in China, next to the Dunhuang Mogao and Luoyang Longmen Grottoes, Yungang’s cave art represents the successful fusion of Buddhist religious symbolic art and Chinese traditions. Fifty-three grottoes remain at Yungang today, with around 51,000 statues in 252 caves. With statue heights ranging from 55 feet to less than an inch, these Buddhas are visually overwhelming. We’ll take a personal tour to get a better look at all of the statues and walk around the perimeter to get a stun- ning view of the entire site. Dazhao Temple Khara Khoto Dazhao Temple, Hohhot Dazhao Temple, the oldest building and the largest temple in Hohhot, is now a well-known tourist attraction because of the impressive buildings, splendid statues, delicate frescoes, musical instruments and fine collection of Buddhist scriptures. Of its abundant religious relics perhaps the most no- table are the ‘Three Marvelous Treasures’, a title given to the Silver Buddha, the carved dragons on the huge golden pillars on either side of the statue and the murals commemorating the Emperor’s visit. Inner Mongolia: Khara Khoto Sheng Wu Lou This remarkable Juyan Heritage Site is located within the Ejina River Basin, in the west of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. This emerging GHF project will focus on planning, documentation, conservation, community development, and strategic partnerships for the sustainable preservation of Khara Khoto, also known as the “Black City”. One of the most significant In the long and glorious history of Juyan civilization, Khara Khoto is the largest and most well preserved ancient city sites in Juyan and contains some of the richest archaeological finds. Learn about this incredible site in the company of GHF staff, who will discuss how GHF plans to protect it. Global Heritage Fund China: The Wonders of the North Trip Itinerary October 14th - 21st, 2013 Day 1 – Monday, October 14 Day 7 - Sunday, October 20 Beijing, China Hohhot and Beijing Map Notes: • Welcome Peking Duck Dinner Main Program - Beijing to Hohhot and return • Visit Dazhoa Temple in Hohhot Optional Post-Trip Extension - Hohhot to Yinchuan, Alax Zuoqi, and Ejini Banner and return to • Overnight Beijing Beijing • Fly to Beijing Peninsula Beijing (D) • Overnight Beijing Day 2 – Tuesday, October 15 Peninsula Beijing (B, L) Pingyao Day 8 - Monday, October 21 • Visit UNESCO World Heritage site of Pingyao City Depart Beijing • Visit and meet with GHF staff at the GHF Peninsula Beijing (B, L) project site • Visit the Rishengchang Money Exchange • Overnight Pingyao Jing’s Residence (B, L, D) Day 3 - Wednesday, October 16 Price*: Pingyao 8 – 12 Trip Participants……………………$7,650 per person, double occupancy • Continue visits with GHF staff and site projects 13 – 14 Trip Participants……………………$6,550 per person, double occupancy • Visit Shuanglin Temple Single Supplement…………………………$ 1,085 Jing’s Residence (B, L) *International airfare not included Day 4 - Thursday, October 17 Wutaishan • Visit Foguang Temple, a GHF project site • Overnight Wutaishan Huahui Hotel (B, L, D) Day 5 - Friday, October 18 Wutaishan • Visit Pusading, Tayuan, and Nanshan temples • Overnight Wutaishan Huahui Hotel (B, L) Day 6 - Saturday, October 19 Datong • Hanging Monastery • Yungang Grottoes • Farewell Dinner • Overnight Datong Holiday Inn (B, L, D) Beijing China: The Wonders of the North Reservation Form Please reserve space for: Salutation First Name Last Name Salutation First Name Last Name Address City State/Zip Home phone Work Phone email If this is a reservation for one person, please indicate: __I plan to share accommodations with____________________________________________________________ __I wish to have single accommodations. __I’d like to know about possible roommates. 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