STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY JUSTINE KIRK, ALONG THE SILK ROAD, 2013 TRACING CHINA’S ANCIENT CARAVAN ROUTES August 30 to September 14, 2018 Traveling the Silk Road 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 gold, ivory, and exotic plant and animal products. Traveling overland today from Shanghai to Central Asia 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-filled Buddhist caves in Dunhuang, the oasis city of Turfan, Kashgar’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 Great Wall of China in cities along the route of Bezeklik, caves filled with Mutianyu north of Beijing, 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 Buddhism started in graduate school when he was a teaching assistant for Stanford’s course on Zen 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 Mogao Caves.” — 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 Turpan Beijing Kashgar Dunhuang Xiahe Lanzhou 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 Labrang Monastery, 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 Gansu 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 sculpture, 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 Yellow River, 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—Uyghurs, Tajiks, KASHGAR / URUMQI / the Great Wall and the Beijing- Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Han BEIJING Hangzhou Grand Canal. 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 Gaochang 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 Flaming Mountains MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 perors. Visit the Lama Temple on our way to Bezeklik, an KASHGAR / LAKE archaeological site encompass- KARAKUL / 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- Ming tombs. 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 Xinjiang 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.