Preliminary Program Schedule (subject to change)
           
Orientation: 3 days on the Wittenberg campus or in China (to be determined)

Lectures: Introduction to Chinese language; What is experiential learning?; Background on China: geography & climate; history, contemporary political system, Chinese civilization and cultural values, ethnic identities, national identity issues; Background on the Silk Road: nexus of Eurasian interactions, geography & climate; history

Travel to Xi’an: by plane from US, train (overnight sleeper) to Xi’an: 1½ days

Xi’an: 7 days at Northwest University

Lectures: Introduction to Shaanxi Province and Xi’an: geography, history, walled cities; Education in China; Buddhism; Islam and Xi’an’s Hui community; Tang Dynasty culture; Local artifacts from the Silk Road; Rural life

Group activities: Map the Northwest University campus and walled city; Excursions to Qin Shihuang Mausoleum, Terracotta Warriors, loess cave village; Meet with Imam, Hui and middle-school students

Experiential learning site options: Xi’an: city wall, Drum & Bell Towers; Banpo Neolithic village; Museums: Shaanxi Provincial, Xi’an City, Museum of Steles; Buddhist temples: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xingshan, Xiangji, Xingjian, neighborhood; Mosques: Great Mosque, neighborhood; Markets: Muslim night market, shopping centers, neighborhood markets; Traditional Chinese medicine college/hospital; Culture & play: foot massage, Tang Song & Dance performance, sports; individual interest

Train (over night sleeper) from Xi’an to Jiayuguan: 1 day and night

Jiayuguan: 1 day

Lectures: Historical expansion of China westward; Great Wall
Group activities: Climb the westernmost section of the Great Wall; Jiayuguan Fort; Great Wall Museum
Experiential learning sites: Night market; individual interest

Bus from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang across Gobi Desert: ½ day

Dunhuang: 1.5 days

Lectures: History and importance of Buddhist caves and Dunhuang; Buddhist patrons     
Experiential learning sites: Mogao caves; Dunhuang Museum; Farmer’s village overnight stay; Singing Sands & Crescent Lake; night market; White Horse Pagoda; Remains of western terminus of Great Wall; individual interest

Train (overnight sleeper) from Dunhuang to Turfan

Turfan: 3 days
Lectures: Introduction to Xinjiang and Turfan: geography, climate, history, contemporary social structure and economy

Group activities: Map the town; Tuyugou village: lunch with Uigher family, Tuyugou caves, mosques and Yemeni tomb; Astana graveyard; Gaochang; Uigher Song & Dance performance

Experiential learning sites: Turfan Museum; Karez; Emin Mosque; Turfan bazaar; Bezeklik caves; Jiaohe; Sand therapy center; individual interest

Bus from Turfan to Urumqi: ½ day

Urumqi: 3 days

Lectures: Ethnic minorities in Xinjiang; Jade; Han migration westward; Nomads

Group activities: Meeting and dinner with Xinjiang Normal University ethnic minority students; Overnight yurt camp in Nanshan grasslands

Experiential learning sites: Xinjiang Uigher Autonomous Regional Museum; International and Erdaoqiao bazaars; Grand Mosque; individual interest

Flight across the Taklamakan Desert from Urumqi to Hotan

Hotan: 4 days

Lectures: Introduction to southern Xinjiang and Hotan: history, economic transition; Traditional medical systems: Chinese, Ayurvedic, Unani; Uighur traditional medicine (at Uigher Traditional Medicine College); Silk and paper

Group activities: Map the Sunday bazaar; Taklamakan camel trek; Day-long stay with artisan families; dinner with Uigher medical students; Village middle school; Student presentations

Experiential learning sites: Factories: jade carving, silk, carpet, knife; Silk & Mulberry Research Institute; Jade mining; individual interest

Flight to Urumqi, then Beijing: overnight stay in Urumqi; 1 day

Beijing: 2 days

Group activities: Great Wall and Yuan Gate at Juyong Pass; farewell banquet

Experiential learning sites: Complete program requirements and/or individual interest