Archaeology Along the Silk Road

About this Journey
In the capable hands of Dr Ye Wa, co-director of the International Field School of Archaeology at Yangguanzhai and one of the foremost experts on ethno-archeological approaches and Neolithic settlement patterns, embark on an archaeological exploration like no other, picking the brains of experts and getting hands-on with digs throughout central China.

Where you're going

Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Xi’an
Arrive in Xi’an and meet your local WanderEastern guide in the airport arrivals hall Check-in to hotel • Enjoy a welcome reception with Dr. Ye Wa and trip briefing with your local WanderEastern guide.

Day 2 Xi’an
Start the day with a curator-led visit to the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum to view the proudly unflinching, life-sized Terracotta Warriors  • Step into the Muslim Quarter and observe the sunset Salat prayers in the city’s Great Mosque • Dinner with archeologists – Mr. Zhang Zhongli and Mr. Jiao Nanfeng. Mr. Zhang was the chief archaeologist of the Terra Cotta Warriors from 1995 to 2005, and Mr. Jiao the chief archaeologist of many important archaeological work near Xi’an, including excavation of the Yangling Mausoleum. 

Day 3 Xi’an
Visit the Yangling Mausoleum to see the contrast in thought and style of the Qin and Han Dynasties • Visit the newly (2022) opened Shaanxi Archaeological Museum, the first museum in China to focus exclusively on the subject of archaeology • View hundreds of thousands of excavated items, showing the past and the present of China. • Meet Ms. Wang Xiaomeng, the vice director of the Shaanxi Academy of Archeology, a well known archaeologist specialized in medieval Chinese archaeology

Day 4 Xi’an - Tianshui
Take the morning bullet train for 2 hours to Tianshui and then drive for an hour to Maijishan • Visit the Maijishan Grottoes, a collection of over 7,000 Buddhist statues and murals carved into the side of a hill. • Meet with the director there. • Check in to your hotel and spend the evening at your leisure

Day 5 Tianshui - Lanzhou
Take the morning train to Lanzhou (1.5hrs), the capital of Gansu Province • Visit the Gansu Museum and discover artifacts relating to Buddhist Art and Silk Road civilizations that date back over five thousand years • In the evening, dine with a museum curator, together with Dr. Ye Wa – Buddhist grottos along the Silk Road

Day 6 Lanzhou
Rise early and travel (2hrs’ drive and another 30mins’ speed boat ride) to Binglingsi, the site of one of the largest remaining carved statues of Buddha in China • Travel back to Lanzhou and rest at the hotel

Day 7 Lanzhou - Dunhuang
Take a 2-hour morning flight to Dunhuang • Drive to hotel for check in and rest • Drive about 1 hour to Yangguan, a mountain pass that was fortified in the Western Han Dynasty to protect against the invasion of the northwest nomads •  Take a hike on the Gobi Desert for about 2 hours on your way back to the hotel, along the Danghe River. • If weather permits, on our way back, enjoy the sunset on the Gobi Desert. • Dine with Dr. Ye Wa and local Dunhuang scholars, hear their insights and experience on Conservation of Silk Road treasures

Day 8 Dunhuang
Explore the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is a complex of 492 grottoes representing the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art. • Enjoy behind-the-scenes access with Professor Ye Wa and Neil Schmid, Scholar-in-Residence at the Dunhuang Academy and one of the leading authorities on medieval Buddhism’s visual culture • Meet with the Getty Museum team to learn about their joint efforts with the Dunhuang Museum to promote conservation and sustainable tourism in Mogao

Day 9 Dunhuang
Rise early for a 2-hour drive out of the city to Yulin Caves, a better-preserved Buddhist cave with its spectacular frescoes and statues • Drive to Suoyang, an ancient city dating back to Han Dynasty. • See the ancient city wall, relics, pagodas and farmland relics. • Returning to the hotel • Visit the Ming Sha Sand Dunes by climbing the dunes to experience the “rumbling sands” named so for the sound they make when the wind blows • Travel to Crescent Moon Lake, an oasis situated in the notoriously inhospitable desert

Day 10 Depart from Dunhuang
Departure from Dunhuang

Your Accommodation

Hilton Xi’an 5 star

Ideally situated inside the city walls, a mere ten-minute drive from such key historical sites as the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and Great Mosque, the Sofitel Legend is a modern escape where you can recharge after long days of exploring the ancient capital. Guests can use the hotel’s fitness center and indoor pool for free. This 5-star spot has earned a reputation as one of the city’s best hotels.

Maijishan Pearl Hotel Tianshui Local boutique

Newly opened in 2023, Maijishan Pearl Hotel offers spacious guests rooms equipped with high quality latex mattress and beddings, smart in-room control system. With only less than 30 minutes’ drive away to both Maijishan Grottoes and Tianshui city, Maijishan Pearl Hotel is a great choice for visits to Tianshui.

Crowne Plaza Lanzhou Hotel 5 star

Seated front and center in Gansu’s dusty capital is the Crowne Plaza Lanzhou, an oasis of comfort sheltering travelers from the arid deserts of northwestern China. Guest rooms feature flat-screen televisions with satellite channels, high-speed internet and western amenities, and dining options range from fine dining to 24-7 room service. In the evening, sprawl out for a massage at the Spa Center or enjoy a cocktail at the signature lounge. Given the shaky standards of many of China’s more remote hotels, the Crowne Plaza offers a relieving experience and serves as a cushy launching pad into China’s sunbaked outback.

Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel Local Boutique

Our clients’ favorite part of staying at the Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel is its unbeatable views overlooking the rolling sand dunes, which can be enjoyed from the rooftop terrace restaurant area (barring sand storms).  Situated in a pleasant corner of town, the 4-star Dunhuang Silk Road aesthetics and local service bring out the character and history of the ancient Silk Road trading route.

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