China's Silk Road May 2006

Bookended by the bustling urban centers of Beijing and Shanghai, our journey led an intrepid group westward along the old Silk Road. Weathering smog, sand, extreme heat, and even snow, journeyers took in the diverse sights, sounds, ethnicities, and languages that are spread across China. Visiting local families for home-cooked meals, viewing some of the world's largest buddhas, riding camels through the desert sand dunes, and exploring ancient tombs and living quarters of China's past emperors we were able to sample Chinese culture at every city along the way. Leading us with great wisdom and enthusiasm, Professor Peter Brown enhanced our understanding of the history of the region and the exchange of goods and religion that took place many moons ago along the Silk Road. We completed this journey by examining the striking contrast of the old versus the new in this rapidly changing country and with a better understanding of why China has become a rising player in the international scene.