October 2021 ROMTravel – An Art and Culture Trip Feel the aura of mystery and adventure as we follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo along China’s Silk Road. Camels loaded with exotic goods travelled over mountains and across deserts on these arteries of trade, culture and religious exchanges between East and West. Figure 1: Abakh Hoja Mausoleum, Kashgar. Our journey starts in Beijing. Visit Courtesy of Wikipedia and Colegota. several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Enjoy a rickshaw ride along old Hutong alleyways. In Xian, the end of the Silk Road for Westerners, visit the tomb complex of China’s first Emperor, guarded by its terracotta warriors, the Muslim Quarters, the Wild Goose Pagoda and Han and Tang dynasty tombs. Visit the 7,000 statues in the Maijishan Grottoes. In Kashgar, the Figure 2: Map showing the route of this trip. Id Kah Mosque and Abakh Hoja Mausoleum are exquisite examples of Islamic culture and architecture. In the Sunday bazaar discover luscious produce and colourful handicrafts. Near Turpan, view the Flaming Mountains and the amazing karez underground irrigation system. Walk in a Tuyoq village and explore the ancient ruins of Jiaohe. Figure 3: Camel-riding in the Echoing Sand Dunes near Dunhuang, China. Courtesy of In Dunhuang, visit the Mogao Marion Ho. Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, decorated with - 1 - frescoes and painted clay Day 5-6 Xian sculptures. Visit Crescent Moon Special access to the terracotta Spring near the Echoing Sand warriors site including lunch with Dunes and experience a sunset archaeologists at the site. Han and camel ride. At Jiayuguan, the last Tang dynasty tombs. frontier in China’s west, climb up the Overhanging Great Wall. Visit the Wei and Jin tombs with their exquisite murals. Near Zhangye, view the Rainbow Park’s rainbow- striped sandstone mountains. In Shanghai, where East meets West, contrast the disappearing alleys and markets in Old Shanghai to the grand colonial buildings on the Bund and the skyscrapers in Figure 5: Research site near the terra cotta Pudong. warriors pits, first Emperor's tomb site near Xian. Courtesy of Marion Ho. Trip Itinerary and Highlights Day 7 Xian to Tianshui to Xian Day 1 Beijing Train to see the Maijishan Grottoes. Individual arrivals. Day 8 Xian to Kashgar Day 2-3 Beijing Fly to Kashgar. Abakh Hoja The Forbidden City Palace Mausoleum. Museum, the National Museum, the Mutianyu Great Wall and the Day 9 Kashgar Summer Palace. Peking duck Sunday bazaar. Walking tour of Old Welcome Dinner. New Town and Id Kah Mosque. Dinner at a Uyghur home with entertainment. Day 10 Kashgar to Turpan Fly to Turpan. Visit the karez irrigation system and Emin Minaret. Day 11 Turpan Flaming Mountains, Tuyoq and Jiaohe. Day 12 Turpan to Dunhuang Train to Liuyuan; bus to Dunhuang. Figure 4: Gate of Divine Might, Forbidden City, Shazhou Night Market. Beijing. Courtesy of Wikipedia and kallgan. Day 13 Dunhuang Day 4 Beijing to Xian Mogao Grottoes, the Echoing Sand Hutong and Yandai Byway. Fly to Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring. Xian. Dinner overlooking the dunes. - 2 - Hotels Beijing Hilton Wangfujing 3 nights Xian Sheraton North City 4 nights Kashgar Radisson Blu Figure 6: Mogao Grottoes, near Dunhuang. 2 nights Courtesy of Wikipedia and Zhangzhugang. Turpan Day 14 Dunhuang to Jiayuguan Houzhou Dunhuang Museum. Bus to 2 nights Jiayuguan. Dunhuang Day 15 Jiayuguan DH International Jiayuguan Fortress and the 2 nights Overhanging Great Wall. Jiayuguan Nuo Jin Day 16 Jiayuguan Area 3 nights Train to Zhangye to see Rainbow Shanghai Park. Fairmont Peace 2 nights Resource Person Sara Irwin has accompanied fourteen ROM Travel trips to East Asia, including the last ROM Travel trip to Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. She was the manager of the Asian collections at the ROM. Sara's Figure 7: Rainbow Park near Zhangye. Courtesy of Wikipedia and Han Lei. knowledge will enhance this trip. Day 17 Jiayuguan to Shanghai ROM Travel Coordinator Wei and Jin tombs. Fly to Shanghai. Marion Ho is a long-time volunteer, Day 18 Shanghai City Tour a past Chair of ROM Travel, Jewish Refugee Museum and the Hospitality, ROM Docents, DMV Shanghai Museum. Sunset cruise Programs and Events, and has led along the Huangpu River. Farewell trips to China; Southeast Asia; Dinner. Mexico and Guatemala; and Day 19 Shanghai Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. Individual departures. - 3 - Trip Cost Per Person All quoted costs are in $ CAD. Double Occupancy: $ TBA Tour begins at Beijing Airport (PEK) and ends at Shanghai Airport (PVG). Single Supplement: $ TBA International flight costs NOT included. Terms and Conditions Intriguing Silk Road Across China October 2021 Trip costs and Terms and Conditions, including insurance, will be announced as soon as possible. For more information, please contact: Marion Ho ROM Travel Coordinator Phone: 416.586.8034 E-mail: [email protected] Figure 8: The Pudong skyline, Shanghai. Courtesy of freepik evening_tao. - 4 - .