UNDER
CHINA SKIES:
RITUAL,
SYMBOL, AND ASTRONOMY
IN TRADITIONAL CHINA
Co-sponsored
with UCLA Extension
No
trip currently scheduled
May
we suggest a journey
along
The Silk Road in
China
Systematic skywatching in China is at least as old as the Stone
Age, and this expedition from China’s heartland to its southwest
frontier explores the relationship between astronomy and culture
in familiar and off-trail relics in Beijing, Luoyang, Lianyugang,
Nanjing, Xian, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Sichuan.
Highlights
of this tour’s rich and unusual itinerary include astronomical instruments,
cardinal palaces, and cosmic alters of old Beijing; the Great Wall;
remains of the Han Dynasty observatory at Luoyang; the monumental
Longmen Caves; Guo Shoujing’s astronomical tower at Gaocheng; celestial
neolithic rock carvings at Jiangjunyan; the monumental tomb and
buried army of Emperor Qin; riverside pictographs in Zuo Jiang;
the temples and Stone Forest of Kunming; the summit of the Taoist
mountain Qunshen Shan; and the giant Leshan Buddha.
Join
Griffith Observatory Director Dr. E.C. Krupp on this exciting 21-day
search for astronomy, ritual, and myth in some of China’s most celebrated
and evocative monuments.
ITINERARY:
(B)
breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1, Friday: Depart Los Angeles on our flight to Narita,
Japan.
Day
2, Saturday: Arrive Narita. Transfer to our flight to Beijing. Upon
arrival, transfer to the Hotel New Otani and overnight for three
nights.
 Day
3, Sunday: Ancient monuments mingle with residential quarters in
Beijing, and most of the city’s famous antiquities have been declared
World Cultural Heritage monuments by UNESCO. Our all-day tour of
Beijing includes several stunning sites. Begin in the Forbidden
City, the cardinally-oriented palace of the emperors of the Ming
and Qing dynasties and one of the most magnificent of Chinese treasures.
From the summit of Coal Hill, the highest point of the city, the
panoramic vista reveals city's axis, which was aligned toward the
north pole of the sky. Originally
known as the "Garden of Preservation of Harmony," the
Summer Palace, or Yihe yuan, is an imperial garden located a few
miles west of Beijing. This is the largest ancient preserved garden
in China and a former summer retreat for royalty.  The
site includes more than 100 traditional pavilions, mansions, towers,
halls, temples, and bridges and an enormous clear water lake. The
Old Summer Palace and grounds were destroyed by the allied forces
of Great Britain and France in 1860. Then, drive into the western
hills to Tanzhe Temple, one of the largest of the Buddhist temples
dating back 1600 years. Gather this evening for our welcome dinner
party. (B/L/D)
 Day
4, Monday: The renowned Great Wall straddles China for almost 4000
miles from the sea in the east to the Gobi desert of Gansu. We shall
walk the Wall and the Cloud Terrace, with its sculptured relief
of the Four Celestial Kings, at Juyong Pass and see the resting-place
of Emperor Yongle at Changling. The impressive complex contains
a large hall whose roof is supported by 32 huge cedar pillars. Returning
to central Beijing, we shall view the Ancient Observatory (Guanxiangtai),
built on the remains of the old city walls that allowed the Middle
Kingdom access to the stars. The roof hosts magnificent bronze instruments
from the Jesuit era, including a six-foot celestial globe. (B/L/D)
 Day
5, Tuesday: This morning’s flight takes us to Luoyang. The city
is almost 3000 years old and was a capital for nine dynasties. Our
tour today will include the Luoyang Museum of Ancient Tombs, imperial
burial sites of Eastern Han emperors and the emperors of the Western
Jin and Northern Wei dynasties. The Buddhist grottoes just outside
Luoyang document the earlier importance of Buddhism in China. Longmen
Grotto boasts 1352 caves, more than 100,000 statues, 40 pagodas,
and 3600 tablets with Buddhist inscriptions. Overnight at the Peony
Hotel. (B/L/D)
 Day
6, Wednesday: Our drive today takes us to the Lingtai platform,
the remains of the foundation of Zhang Heng’s 2000-year-old Han-dynasty
observatory, the oldest documented observatory site in the world.
Continue to Dengfeng, lying at the foot of one of the five
Sacred Mountains. View Songyue Pagoda is one of the oldest surviving
large brick pagodas in China, and Zhongyue Temple is famous for
its eleventh century guardians–fierce soldiers cast from 
iron. Overnight at the Hotel New Century. (B/L/D)
Day
7, Thursday: Begin today with a visit to the observatory established
at Gaocheng zhen by the famous astronomer Guo Shoujing in 1279 A.D.
This stone pyramidal tower is the oldest architecturally-intact
observatory in China. In the afternoon, drive to Zhengzhou and board
a train to travel to Nanjing, a famous historic city described as
"a birthplace of southern beauties and a habitat of royal rules"
by ancient Chinese poets. Overnight for two nights in Nanjing at
the Hilton Hotel. (B/L/D)
 Day
8, Friday: The modern telescope domes of the Purple Mountain 
Observatory populate the summit of Zijin shan) in a picturesque
setting of traditional stone gates and buildings. Research conducted
here contributes to the worldwide astronomical enterprise, but the
site also is the home of fifteenth-century copies of Guo Shoujing's
bronze instruments—a celestial globe, an armillary sphere, a gnomon,
and the abridged armilla. Continue to the mausoleums of the first
and second Southern Tang emperors Li Bian to see the astronomical
ceiling. (B/L/D)
Day
9, Saturday: This morning’s four-hour drive takes us to Lianyungang.
After lunch, visit the monumental
two-thousand-year-old Kongwangshan rock sculptures. From
there, continue to the prehistoric petroglyphs at Jiangjunyan. A
large panel of these petroglyphs has been interpreted as a map of
constellations and Milky Way. Overnight at the Hotel Dengtai. (B/L/D)
Day
10, Sunday: Today’s exploration takes us to the excavation site
at Jingping Mountain before we drive back to Nanjing for the night.
A rock in the Peach Blossom Gorge of Jingpingshan is extensively
carved with Yi petroglyphs, approximately 4000 years old. In the
afternoon, return to Nanjing and the Hilton Hotel. (B/L/D)
 Day
11, Monday: Today is a travel day. We fly from Nanjing to Guilin,
journey by bus for four hours to Nanning, and then continue for
another three hours to Ningming. Overnight in the simple Hotel Jiangbin
this evening. (B/L/D)
Day
12, Tuesday: This morning, we take a boat through the beautiful
karst limestone landscape of the Zuo River. The Zuo Jiang Scenic
Area has cliffs with eighty groups of unique Zhuang minority rock
paintings. The largest of these panels is at Huashan Bihua area,
where an immense cliff face,130 feet high and 720 feet wide, is
covered with red pictographs. We will meet with the local historic
relics protection bureau people at lunch to exchange ideas about
antiquities and their preservation. Transfer to Nanning by bus and
overnight in the International Hotel. (B/L/D)
 Day
13, Wednesday: Fly to Kunming, in central Yunnan. In ancient times,
Kunming was an important gateway to the celebrated Silk Road. Visit
the exquisite and serene Jin Dian, or "Golden Temple,"
built of bronze upon a base of marble. Completed in 1671, it is
the largest metal hall in China. Also see the Bamboo Temple, or
Qiongzhu Si, a Tang Dynasty temple six miles northwest of Kunming.
It is known for its arhat statues and arguably the most famous of
Kunming’s temples. Arhats are famous monks and “saints” of Chinese
Buddhism, usually displayed in large groups of 500 or more. Overnight
for two nights in the Horizon Hotel. (B/L/D)
 Day
14, Thursday: Today, visit the Stone Forest, or Shilin, one of China's
most famous scenic spots. It is a massive collection of grey limestone
pillars, split by rainwater and eroded to their present fanciful
shapes. Here, we'll see the 
Yuantong Temple, or Yuantong Si, the grandest and most active temple
in Kunming with a history of more than 2100 years. This old temple
is famous for its unusual structure, which is high at the front
and low at the back. Behind a haze of smoke created by the incense
that worshippers leave burning, a majestic octagonal temple pavilion
sits in the middle of a big pond with stone bridges in front and
behind. Inside the pavilion there is a golden statue of Buddha.
The stone staircases on both sides of the main hall are carved out
of the cliff and are known as the Caizhilu. From here, those wishing may climb to the top of the mountain.
Beside the path are the most 
ancient inscriptions in Kunming. The characters are still clear
today in spite of suffering from centuries of wind and rain. (B/L/D)
 Day
15, Friday: Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Chengdu
in Sichuan Province, and then drive to Qingchengshan, a holy Taoist
mountain west of Chengdu. A number of Taoist temples dot the mountainside.
As we walk to the top, we will see the Temple of Utmost Purity,
or Shanqinggong, maintained by a Taoist community of blue-clothed
monks. Descend by cable car. Overnight for two nights in the Tibet
Hotel decorated in the Tibetan style.
(B/L/D)
Day
16, Saturday: Presiding over the confluence of two rivers that sweep
past the foot of Lingyun Hill , 75 miles south of Chengdu, the huge
Leshan Buddha is carved from the rock face. It is a staggering 233
feet high and was created over 1200 years ago during the Tang dynasty.
This recent restoration of this monument received international
attention and news coverage. We shall view the Buddha from both
the ground and by boat from the river. Steps cut into the rock next
to the carving direct viewers up and down. As we climb, we pass
the impressive halls of the Tang dynasty Wuyou Temple. The Han dynasty
Mahaoya Tomb Mausoleum (Mahaoyamu bowuguan) is also located on the
mountain. Continue to see the Thousand Buddha Cliffs at Jiajiang
before driving back to Chengdu. (B/L/D)
 Day
17, Sunday: There are only about 1,000 giant pandas in the world.
More than 80 percent of them live in mountains in the western part
of Sichuan Province.  To
protect the giant panda from extinction, the Chengdu Zoo and the
Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center were established.
We shall visit the Breeding Center and Museum and learn about a
variety of species native to China. Afternoon flight to Xi’an and
overnight for two nights at the Hotel Grand Castle. (B/L/D)
Day
18, Monday: As one of the six ancient capitals of traditional China,
Xi’an is a treasure house of cultural relics. In 1974, a group of
peasants digging a well 
discovered what was to become one of the greatest archaeological
finds of the twentieth century—the buried 
army of Emperor Qin. Thousands of life-sized terra cotta warriors
have since been excavated. Emperor Qin's huge earthen tomb is nearby,
and like many imperial monuments, it is cardinally oriented. We
shall see the famous buried statues, the Xi’an city wall constructed
of blue brick, and the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum—a striking
pavilion in Tang dynasty style housing the collection of cultural
artifacts found in this area. (B/L/D)
Day
19, Tuesday: Today is a travel day. We fly from Xi’an to Beijing
and return to the Hotel New Otani, our home for the next two nights.
(B/L/D)
 Day
20, Wednesday: Tiananmen Square straddles the polar meridian that
governed the design of the entire city of Beijing, and it represents
the bond the emperor maintained between Heaven and Earth. The tomb
of Mao Zedong, the Monument to the Heroes of the People, and the
national flag all occupy stations on an axis that defined the heart
of imperial China. We continue to the site of the Year Star (Jupiter)
Altar at the Temple of Agriculture, and Temple of Heaven, where
winter solstice ritual was performed at the open-air Round Mound
and where the emperor conducted New Year sacrifices at the Hall
of Prayer for Good Harvests. The Temple of Heaven is also laid out
on a meridian axis. We celebrate our final meal together for a very
special lunch in a local restaurant. The afternoon is free for last
minute shopping. (B/L)
Day
21, Thursday: An early morning transfer takes us to the airport
for our flight to Narita where we connect to American Airlines for
the flight back to Los Angeles (B)
TRIP LEADER
Dr. E.C. Krupp is Director of the Griffith Observatory;
author of Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings: Astronomy and the Archaeology of Power,
Beyond the Blue Horizon,
Echoes of the Ancient Skies,
The Comet and You, The Moon and You, The Big Dipper
and You, and The Rainbow
and You; editor
and co-author of In Search
of Ancient Astronomies and Archaeoastronomy
and the Roots of Science; Contributing editor with a monthly
column in Sky and Telescope magazine; and a popular lecturer on archaeo-astronomy.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Register
for this Trip
TRIP
DATES: No
trips currently scheduled
TRIP
COST:
(per person, double occupancy, land only) includes round-trip international
airfare from Los Angeles to Beijing, all hotels, meals as noted,
tips to guides and drivers, and land and air transportation within
China. The cost does
not include the UCLA enrollment fee of $260.00, passport or visa
fees; beverage or food not on regular menus; departure taxes; laundry;
excess baggage charges; and other items of a personal nature.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
UCLA
ENROLLMENT
TO
REGISTER: As this is co-sponsored with UCLA Extension, all registrations
must be made with UCLA. To
register, send the UCLA enrollment fee of $260.00 noting that it
is for the tour to China (Reg#
N7476) with UCLA Extension.
This enrollment fee includes tuition, instruction, and instructional
materials. Enrollment Fee does not include transportation, meals,
accommodations, and other program expenses.
Refund
of the UCLA Extension Enrollment Fee: A written refund request
for the UCLA Extension enrollment fee must be postmarked or phoned
in by February 17. Prior
to this date, a refund less $50 service charge will be granted.
No
one under the age of 18 may enroll without consent. Minors must
be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Call (310) 825-7093 for
further information.
By
Phone: For your convenience, enrollment may be charged on MasterCard,
Visa, American Express, or Discover. Call (310) 825-9971 or (818)
784-7006.
By
Fax: Send completed enrollment form with charge card information
and authorizing signature to (310) 206-3223.
Via
Internet: Click here
for UCLA enrollment. Complete
the enrollment form for secure registration.
FAR
HORIZONS RESERVATION:
A deposit of $500.00 is required along with your registration
form. Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Cancellations
received in writing at least 75 days before departure will result
in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received less
than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. If for
any reason you are unable to complete the tour, we will not reimburse
any fees. The
purchase of travel
protection
with both trip cancellation and emergency evaluation is strongly
recommended.
Upon
receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will
be sent a reading list and a clothing and equipment list. An information
book designed for this trip, including maps of archaeological sites
and articles of pertinent interest, will be sent upon receipt of
final payment.
If
you haven't yet, please read the UCLA enrollment information above
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