Publication date: Sunday 11th October 2009
HA tour of China: the Silk Road
Menade in silk dress, Naples National Museum.
Introduction to the Silk Road for the Historical Association
The HA first visited China in 1981 and 1983 and then combined China with North Korea and Mongolia. After a gap of many years, it is now time to explore a new area of China, to travel along parts of the Silk Road. This itinerary will hopefully appeal to those who already know Eastern China as well as to those for whom this will be a first visit. It will be led by Neil Taylor, who took the early tours to China and has also taken HA groups to Albania, Berlin, the Baltics and Hungary.
The tour will take place from 13th - 30th Oct 2010 when the weather in China is at its best, neither too hot nor too cold. The price is likely to be around £2750. It will last nearly three weeks, and it will be possible to stay on in Peking or Shanghai for those who wish to do so. This is to be recommended, as both can be now enjoyed by individuals, with relevant signs being in English, as are station announcements on the underground. The museums in both cities, which were a disappointment to visitors in the 1980s and 1990s, now properly reflect the culture they represent. In Shanghai we are including time at "EXPO 2010".
The architectural and political transformation undergone in Eastern China since our early visits is well known. In Western China change has been less marked, and many aspects of life recall Central Asia and the Middle East. We will see deserts rather than paddy fields and camels rather than lorries.
The Silk Road was one of the great trade routes of history. Its many branches were a vital source of cultural and material exchange - Buddhism found its way into China from India and the magnificent grottoes with their carved figures, which we visit, are their testament. Islam came from Persia and its influence is omnipresent in the towers and cupolas of the mosques, which dominate the market squares along our route
We will leisurely retrace parts of the Silk Road, We will visit the great Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang and travel through the loess landscape of the Yellow River Valley and Xi'an which was the Caravanserai of the Silk Road during the Tang dynasty in the 8th and 9th century. We have three full days in Xian. We expect to have one modern political visit, to Yanan, Mao's base area north of Xian, from where he emerged to conquer the whole of China in 1948-9.
HA members who have already been in touch about this tour, originally planned for May 2010, will automatically receive this revised itinerary. Others should contact Heritage Group Travel phone 01225-466620 heritage @grouptravel.co.uk for full details and a booking from.
