Arts-Based Research, Following the Silk Road

This course traces a fragment of the Silk Road beginning and ending in Xi’an—home of the Eighth Wonder of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—exploring historical, cultural, and geographic continuities along this ancient trading network. Participants will visit major heritage sites including the Terracotta Warriors, the ancient art of the Mogao Grottoes, and modern art installations and sculpture, as well as engaging with iconic landscapes such as the Echoing Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Spring, and the Gobi Desert. Through these encounters, students will explore themes of movement, exchange, and cultural production across time.

At multiple sites, students will interact with artists and residents, engaging in various art-making practices such as bread sculpture, mask drawing, and incense making. Throughout, students will consider tangible and intangible features of heritage and will utilize arts-based research and multimodal scholarship to produce a final project reflecting their experience.

Students will explore the complex history of the material, cultural, and artistic practices along the silk road through arts-based research. Themes will include the intersections of the contemporary and the traditional, the local and the global, the analogue and the digital, the rural and the urban, and how these themes are expressed in both tangible and intangible aspects of Chinese heritage.

Location: China | Credits: 1 or non-credit | Dates: August 2025 or January 2026  | Enrollment range: 20 - 50

 

1. Visit the World Cultural Heritage Site — Badaling Great Wall

The Great Wall, the most extensive military defense project in the world, has stood resilient for over two thousand years. As a prime example of Ming Dynasty fortifications, Badaling Great Wall exemplifies exceptional architectural craftsmanship and strategic military design, embodying both national wisdom and attention to detail. Not only is it a witness to centuries of history, but it also draws visitors from around the globe as a remarkable symbol of Chinese culture. The existing Badaling section is constructed with stone and brick, with an average wall height of 7–8 meters, a base width of 6–7 meters, and a top width of 4–5 meters. It is built on a stone foundation using sticky rice mortar to bond the bricks, ensuring remarkable durability. Complete with watchtowers and beacon towers, it features a layered defense system. During the Ming Dynasty, it incorporated earlier defense elements, making it one of the most technologically advanced segments of the Great Wall.

 

2. Visit One of China's Four Major Grottoes — Yungang Grottoes

The Yungang Grottoes are renowned for their grandeur and richness, representing the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art in the 5th century. Hailed as a treasure trove of ancient Chinese sculpture, Yungang marks the beginning of the Sinicization of grotto art. The mid-period grottoes introduced carvings modeled after Chinese palace architecture and developed unique Chinese-style Buddhist niches that later influenced grotto construction throughout China. The late-period grottoes further emphasize Chinese architectural and decorative styles, reflecting the deepening Sinicization of Buddhist art. These grottoes vividly document the historical transition from Indian and Central Asian Buddhist art to its Chinese adaptation, showcasing the secularization and localization of Buddhist imagery. A diversity of artistic styles converge harmoniously at Yungang, making it a unique cultural landmark.

 

3 Visit the World’s Largest Yellow Waterfall — Hukou Waterfall

Hukou Waterfall is a natural wonder of the Yellow River. It forms where the river suddenly narrows from a width of 300–400 meters to just over 50 meters, plunging over 30 meters into a rocky basin that resembles a giant kettle—hence the name "Hukou" (meaning "kettle spout"). Standing by the banks, one can witness the roaring Yellow River mixed with ice chunks thundering down with deafening force. Water spray rises several meters high, forming a dazzling rainbow bridge under sunlight. White ice formations on the cliff walls shimmer alongside the rainbow, creating a majestic scene painted by nature itself.

 

4 Explore Ancient Residences and Architecture in Shanxi

“Yingxian Wooden Pagoda” (Fogong Temple Pagoda): Known as the world’s tallest and oldest wooden pagoda, it stands alongside the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower as one of the “Three Great Wonders of the World.” Constructed mainly from larch and elm, the pagoda used over 10,000 cubic meters of wood. It features a square lower base transitioning to an octagonal upper base and five visible levels with six eaves, though it actually comprises nine levels (five visible, four hidden). It is a classic example of ancient wooden architecture and holds significant architectural, seismic, and scientific value.

Pingyao Ancient City: A superb example of a Han Chinese city during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Pingyao preserves its original layout and urban features. Its streets and shops retain their historic appearance, reflecting ancient urban planning and showcasing five centuries of architectural evolution. It serves as a “living sample” for the study of Chinese ancient cities, offering rich value in architecture, religion, commerce, folk traditions, and art.

Jinci Temple: Jinci is the oldest surviving classical ancestral temple and garden complex in China, containing 98 buildings over 300 years old, 110 sculptures, 300 stone inscriptions, and 37 cast artworks. It blends solemn ancestral architecture with natural landscapes and is a rich repository of Song–Qing architectural styles, sculptures, murals, and cultural continuity from the Western Zhou through the Tang dynasty.

Wang Family Courtyard: Built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, this grand family compound is famed for its intricate **three types of carvings**—wood, stone, and brick. These carvings appear on eaves, brackets, walls, altars, stone drums, doors, and windows, with themes such as the "Three Friends of Winter," four-season flowers, traditional arts, moral stories, and filial piety. These masterful carvings reflect superb craftsmanship and cultural depth.

 

5. Study the Art and Architecture of the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties

Nanchan Temple: The oldest surviving wooden building from the Tang Dynasty, featuring exquisite sculptures that exemplify the sculptural artistry of the era. Inside the main hall, sculptures are arranged in a horizontal tableau centered on Shakyamuni Buddha. Despite some repainting in the Yuan dynasty, the works retain Tang characteristics in form, expression, attire, and technique. Together with other sites like Foguang Temple, Mogao Grottoes, and Qinglian Temple, it preserves rare Tang-era polychrome sculptures.

Foguang Temple: Featuring grand halls and spacious layouts, the temple uses large timber components and deep eaves. The thick columns, massive brackets, and austere painting style contribute to its Tang dynasty architectural character. Sculptures intentionally protrude beyond the columns to harmonize with the structure’s overhangs and sloped ceilings, creating spatial unity and contrast with intricate ceiling patterns and refined backdrops.

Hanging Temple: Known for its cliffside architecture and religious sculptures that embody the aesthetic and stylistic features of northern Shanxi. The Tri-religion Hall provides valuable material for studying the syncretism of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in the late Ming. The three gauze-layered statues in the Main Hall represent the artistic exchange between northern and southern Chinese Buddhist traditions.

Shuanglin Temple: Famous for its 2,000+ painted clay sculptures, most from the Ming Dynasty (except the Yuan-era Heavenly Kings at the gate). These include low-relief, high-relief, round, and wall-mounted sculptures depicting Buddhist figures as well as secular scenes, architecture, landscapes, and flora. The scale and artistry make them rare treasures of international significance.

 

6. Visit a Center of Chinese Cultural Heritage — The Palace Museum (Forbidden City), Beijing

The Forbidden City holds immense cultural and historical value, serving as a key symbol of China’s 5,000-year-old civilization. As a cultural nexus, it embodies the ingenuity of Chinese laborers and centuries of multicultural exchange. Its diverse architectural forms—palaces, courtyards, towers—combine Ming and Qing elements to demonstrate extraordinary craftsmanship. The palace layout follows feng shui principles, creating a harmonious structure. Its detailed decorations, from wood and stone to brick carvings, highlight exceptional artistry. The Forbidden City is both a national treasure of architectural heritage and a vivid archive of Chinese civilization.

 

 

 

 

10 Days Schedule

 

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

Meet the group at the airport and transfer to the hotel by private vehicle for rest. Free time for personal activities afterwards.

 

Day 2: Beijing – Datong (High-speed rail schedule subject to ticket availability)

After breakfast, transfer to Beijing Railway Station and take a high-speed train to Datong, Shanxi Province. Upon arrival, visit the Yungang Grottoes, then check in to the hotel and rest.

 

Day 3: Datong – Yingxian (approx. 130 km, 3 hrs)

After breakfast, visit Huayan Temple and the Hanging Temple. Continue to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. After the tour, check in to the hotel for rest.

 

Day 4: Yingxian – Foguang Temple – Nanchan Temple (approx. 170 km, 3.5 hrs) – Taiyuan (approx. 130 km, 2 hrs)

After breakfast, head to visit Foguang Temple (closed on Mondays), followed by Nanchan Temple (also closed on Mondays). After the visits, transfer to Taiyuan and check in to the hotel.

 

Day 5: Taiyuan – Hukou Waterfall (approx. 370 km, 5 hrs)

After breakfast, visit Xiaoxitian, then transfer to Hukou Waterfall. After the visit, check in to the hotel.

Important Note: In case of upstream flooding, heavy rain, or snow, Hukou Waterfall may be closed for safety. Alternative plans:

Plan A: View the waterfall from a distance (Shanxi side).

Plan B: Visit another site in Shanxi (guide will decide on-site; extra entrance fees at your own expense).

Plan C: Visit the Shaanxi side of Hukou Waterfall (mandatory shuttle fee of 40 RMB; entrance is 100 RMB for those under 65, free for those 65+).

 

Day 6: Hukou – Pingyao (approx. 330 km, 5.5 hrs)

After breakfast, visit the Flying Rainbow Pagoda of Guangsheng Temple, then transfer to Wang Family Courtyard. In the afternoon, tour Shuanglin Temple and Pingyao Ancient City. Check in to the hotel for rest.

 

Day 7: Pingyao – Taiyuan (approx. 120 km, 2 hrs) – Beijing (High-speed rail schedule subject to ticket availability)

After breakfast, transfer to Taiyuan to visit Jinci Temple, then take a high-speed train to Beijing. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel.

 

Day 8: Beijing

After breakfast, visit the heart of the nation: Tiananmen Square, with exterior views of the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China. Tour the Forbidden City (ticket included; daily visitor limit of 30,000—if tickets are unavailable, a substitute site or refund will be provided). In the afternoon, visit the Shichahai Scenic Area and stroll through Beijing's traditional hutongs, appreciating the charm of grey-brick alleys and northern water-town scenery.

Reminders:

This place of interest lies along Beijing’s historic central axis and require extensive walking. Due to traffic restrictions, expect long waiting times for vehicles and limited parking. Please be prepared.

The Forbidden City is a one-way route—follow your guide closely to avoid getting lost.

Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are large; expect a late lunch. You may want to bring snacks.

The Forbidden City and Mausoleum of Mao Zedong are closed on Mondays. If closed due to policy changes, alternative plans or exterior viewing will be arranged.

Real-name ID is required for Forbidden City entry—please bring your second-generation ID card. Children or students must bring household registration or passport if no ID card.

No bags, cameras, or water bottles allowed in Mao’s Mausoleum—please leave items with your guide before lining up.

 

Day 9: Beijing

After breakfast, visit the Great Wall at Badaling, then the Olympic Park, followed by the Temple of Heaven. After the tours, return to the hotel.

 

Day 10: Departure from Beijing

After breakfast, transfer by coach to the airport and depart for your home country, concluding your journey in China.

 

Learn more and register here!