July 20 - August 14, 2005

DAILY ITINERARY

DAYS 1/2    JFK to HONG KONG
Wed/Thu July 20/21
       
4:45 pm           Meet in hotel lobby ready to depart to airport.
5:00                 Depart from hotel and transfer to JFK International Airport.
6:15                 Arrive JFK.
                        Dinner on your own.
     
8:00                 All participants check in with Cathay Pacific Airways for flight  to Hong Kong.
11:10               Depart New York (JFK) on Cathay Pacific Airlines flight #889.
                        Cross the International Date Line en route (meals aloft).

DAY 3   HONG KONG to KUNMING
Fri July 22

8:00 am           Arrive Hong Kong.
10:30               Check in for flight to Kunming.
11:30               Proceed to Dragon Air departure gate area.
12:15 pm         Take Dragon Air flight #760 to Kunming.
2:35                 Arrive Kunming.
                        Transfer to the Kunming Hotel  (3 nights).
Time for rest and leisure or take a walking excursion near the
hotel. Welcome dinner and orientation by Dr. Eileen Walsh. Meet your other trip leaders.
 
DAY 4   KUNMING
Sat July  23

8:00 am           Breakfast at the hotel.
                        Depart on city tour Including Yuan Tong Temple and the Muslim Quarter.
                        Lunch.
Afternoon Presentation "Chinese Identity in the Era of Reform" by Dr. Xiang Rong,  Prof. of Sociology Yunnan University followed by group discussion.
Visit the Flower and Bird Market. 
Return to hotel.
Dinner and evening entertainment.               (B,L,D)

DAY 5   KUNMING
Sun July 24

8:00 am           Breakfast at the hotel.
                        Visit Social Sciences Academy and Presentation on Yunnan by Prof.
Yang Fuquan of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences.   
                        Visit to the Nationalities Museum.
                         Lunch in the Park area.
                        Visit the Minority Theme Park and group discussion led by Dr. Eileen Walsh.
4:30 pm           Presentation by Ed Norton, Director of The Nature Conservancy “Great
Rivers Project.”
                        Dinner.
                        Evening cultural program.                   (B,L,D)

DAY 6   KUNMING to LIJIANG        
Mon July 25

Bags outside your door.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart on morning flight to Lijiang.
Arrive Lijiang and and check in to Yu Yuan Hotel  (3 nights).
Walking tour of Old Town.
Visit the orphanage near the Old Town Market Square.
Lunch
Afternoon visit to Black Dragon Park and the Naxi Cultural Center.
Dinner.
Evening Orientation on Naxi culture             (B,L,D)

DAY 7   LIJIANG - LASHI HAI & YI VILLAGES
Tue July 26
   
                        Breakfast at the hotel.
                        Presentation: "Gender and Development Issues" by Dr. He Zhong Hua, the Center for Gender and Development. 
Depart by dugout canoe across Lashi Hai for ecotour.
                        Lunch.     
                        Afternoon drive to Yi Villages in the hills north of Lashi Hai.
                        Return to hotel.
                        Dinner.
                        Evening cultural event.                 (B,L,D)

DAY 8   LIJIANG
Wed July 27
   
        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Visit Dr. Joseph Rock’s former residence and perhaps Baisha.
        Lunch.
        Afternoon visit to the Yulong Xueshan Nature Protection Area.
        Return to hotel.
        Dinner.                         (B,L,D)

DAY 9   LIJIANG TO LUGU
Thu July 28

6:00 am           Bags out for storage pick up.  Breakfast at the hotel.
7:00                 Depart this morning to Lugu Lake.  (Take just a small bag for
2 nights.)
Noon               Lunch in Ninglang.
4:30 pm           Arrive Lugu Lake and check in to Matriarch Inn (2 nights).
                        Walk by lake on own.
                        Dinner.
                        Evening Cultural Orientation by Cao Xi Zhen.        (B,L,D)

DAY 10  LUGU LAKE AREA
Fri July 29
       
        Breakfast at hotel.
        Visit lake villages and Mosuo School.
        Lunch in Yongning.
        Possible presentation by local women’s representative.
        Visit Lamasery.
        Return to Lugu Lake for dinner.
        Evening cultural event.                 (B,L,D)

DAY  11     LUGU TO NINGLANG & LIJIANG
Sat July 30

        Breakfast at the hotel.  
        Other activities in the Lugu area.
        Lunch.  
        Afternoon return to Lijiang.
        Arrive Lijiang and check into Yu Yuan Hotel  (1 night).
        Dinner.                         (B,L,D)

DAY 12      LIJIANG to ZHONGDIAN    
Sun July 31
   
        Bags out.  Breakfast at the hotel.
        Depart for Zhongdian. 
        Stop en route at "Tiger Leaping Gorge".
        Lunch.
        Arrive Zhongdian and check in to Zhoubinguan Hotel  (2 nights).
        Dinner.
        Evening Orientation to Tibetan Culture in Zhongdian.    (B,L,D)

DAY 13      ZHONGDIAN
Mon  Aug 1
   
        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Depart for tour of the Old Town or villages on the road to Bitahai.
        Have tsampa and butter tea with a local family.
        Lunch.
        Afternoon visit to Songzalin Lamasery.
        Return to hotel.
        Dinner.                         (B,L,D)

DAY 14  ZHONGDIAN TO LIJIANG
Tue Aug 2
   
        Bags out.  Breakfast at the hotel.
        Depart for tour of villages around Napa Lake.
        Lunch.
        Visit traditional medicine hospital.
        Fly or drive back to Lijianig.
        Check into Yu Yuan Hotel  (1 night).
        Dinner.                         (B,L,D)

DAY 15  TO URUMQI & KASHGAR
Wed Aug 3
        Breakfast at the hotel.  Bags out.
        Transfer to the airport for flights Lijiang to Kunming and to Urumqi.
       
        Flight arrives in Urumqi.
        Lecture - “Silk Road Introduction.”
        Explore the ethnic Erdaoqiao Market with handicrafts from Uyghur  people, silk carpets, fruits, vegetables and many household items.         
        Visit the Old Town populated mainly by Uyghur people.
        Transfer to the airport.

7:45 pm China Southern CZ#6801 flight departs for Kashgar.
(5:45 pm local)
9:25 pm Beij.   Flight arrives in Kashgar.
(7:25 pm local) 
        Transfer to the Chinibagh (Qiniwake) Hotel (2 nights).
        Dinner at hotel.
                                        (L,D)              

DAY 16  KASHGAR
Thu Aug 4

            Breakfast at our hotel.
        Visit to the Keshen School, established in 1933. 
        Welcome introduction to the history and goals of the school. 
        Visit the classrooms and talk with some of the English speaking students.
                        Lunch.
Visit the Id Kah Mosque; in contrast to the Chinese-style mosques in
eastern cities, this is typically Central Asian. Also visit the daily bazaars near the mosque to see the local musical instruments  and other items of interest.
        Dinner at English Consulate building behind the hotel. 
                                         (B,L,D)

DAY 17  KASHGAR TO TASHKURGAN
Fri Aug 5

        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Bus along the Karakoram Highway to the region of Tashkurgan, an area of grassy plateau with herds of yaks and yak herders of the Kirghiz ethnic group. 
        Visit with the herdsmen and discuss their economic situation.  
        Lunch.
        Visit the beautiful Karakuli Lake for a short walk. 
        Discussion - “The Environment and Water Issues in Xinjiang”.
        Arrive in Tashkurgan (elevation 3600 meters or approx.11,812 feet).
        Overnight at the Stone City Hotel (1 night).       
        Dinner at the hotel.
Evening lecture - “Minority Groups in Xinjiang.”       (B,L,D)

DAY 18  TASHKURGAN TO KASHGAR
Sat Aug 6
        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Morning visit to the Tashkurgan, Tajik Autonomous County to meet the local Tajik people who live below the “the roof of the world.”
        Lunch.
        Afternoon drive back to Kashgar.
        Dinner at the Chinibagh (Qiniwake) Hotel (2 nights).
        Evening discussion:  “China’s Relations with Central Asia.”   
(B,L,D)

DAY 19  KASHGAR SUNDAY BAZAAR
Sun Aug 7

        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Explore the exciting weekly market.  This is the traditional Sunday Bazaar with many Moslem nationalities in colorful apparel.
        Of special interest will be the fascinating livestock bazaar.
        Lunch at the Market.
        Afternoon to continue to explore the bazaar and to visit the Tomb of Appakh Hoja.
        Dinner at the hotel.
        Evening lecture - “The Economy of China.”          (B,L,D)

DAY 20  KASHGAR TO URUMQI
Mon Aug 8

        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Possible home visit with Uyghur family.
        Depart for the airport.
11:45 am Beij.  China Southern flight #6808 Kashgar to Urumqi.
(9:45 am local)
1:15 pm Beij.   Flight arrives Urumqi.
(11:15 am local)
        Lunch.
        Afternoon visit to the Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Museum and visit to Xinjiang University (or factory visit).
        Check in to the World Plaza Hotel (2 nights).
        Dinner at the hotel.
        Evening discussion - “National Politics on the local Landscape.”    
(B,L,D)

DAY 21  URUMQI
Tue Aug 9

        Optional visit to the Renmin Park to see and participate in the morning ritual of slow exercises.
        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Depart on an all day excursion to either Nan Shan (South Mountain) pastures or Tian Chi (Heaven Lake) to learn about the Kazakh people and changes from a nomadic to settled lifestyle.
        Picnic lunch.
        Late afternoon return to the hotel.
        Dinner at the hotel.                            (B,L,D)

DAY 22  URUMQI TO TURPAN   
Wed Aug 10

        Breakfast at hotel.
        Morning drive to Turpan, an ancient stop along the famed Silk Road.
        Lunch.
        Afternoon visit to the Ruins of Jiaohe, a multi-cultural garrison town.
        Then visit the Karez Irrigation System devised by the Uyghurs. This is the life blood of this desert region which is near (and below) sea level.
        Check in to the Turpan Grand Hotel (2 nights).
        Dinner at hotel.      
        Enjoy a performance of dance and song by the Uyghur Ensemble.     
(B,L,D)

DAY 23  TURPAN              
Thu Aug 11

        Breakfast at the hotel.
        Visit the Bezikelike Buddhist Caves and Gaochang ancient city in the morning.
         Lunch.
        Visit the Emin Minaret (Sugongta), one of the architectural gems along the Silk Road.
The group will divide up and visit homes of Uyghur people.
        Discussion to compare and contrast these home visits.
         Dinner.                                                    
Discussion - “Uyghur life in China.”                (B,L,D)

DAY  24     TURPAN TO URUMQI TO SHANGHAI   
Fri Aug 12

         Breakfast at the hotel.
         Morning drive back to Urumqi, stopping for photos and maybe talk with local people traveling along the road.
         Lunch in Urumqi.
        Afternoon lecture - “The Rise of Industrialism in China.”
        Dinner.
6:45 pm Beij    China Southern CZ#6997 flight to Shanghai.
(4:45 pm local)
         11:10 pm Beij. Flight arrives Shanghai.
        Transfer to the Ocean Hotel (2 nights).
                                            (B,L,D)

DAY 25  SHANGHAI  UNIVERSITY, MUSEUM & JADE BUDDA TEMPLE
Sat Aug 13

                 Breakfast at hotel.
                 Morning visit to the Shanghai University with visits with  professors and students.
                 Enjoy a Buddhist vegetarian lunch at the temple.
                 Today we pay homage to the great Jade Budda and learn more about this revered site in China. The saffron colored Temple is home to about 70  practicing monks and we hope to meet them and learn of their devotion.Visit the Shanghai Museum with thousands of works of art, bronzes, ceramics, terra cotta figures, jewelry, paintings, silk, and crafts.
                  Late-afternoon walk along the “Bund” to share the experience with hundreds of people enjoying the mixing of street  vendors, artists, and people watching.
Farewell dinner in Shanghai.                                     
                     (B,L,D)

DAY 26  SHANGHAI TO HOME
Sun, Aug 14

                        Breakfast at the hotel.
                        Transfer to airport for return flights to the USA, arriving JFK (same day)                                                (B, meals aloft)

Please Note: Lecture topics are suggested and are subject to finalization
with leaders, local educators and experts.