Chinese Ethnic Nationalities Program
Return to Education
China Summer 2004 Cultural Tour
Freeman Foundation Sponsored
Summary
The Freeman Foundation Sponsored Summer 2004 China Cultural Tour promoted the understanding of Chinese cultural and ethnic diversity to American professors. All group participants were from different minority serving institutions within the United States. The Cultural Tour began with a weeklong orientation session at the University of Hawaii. For five days, University of Hawaii Center for Chinese Studies faculty taught the group about Chinese politics, economics, history, education, ethnicity, and geography. After the orientation, the group was led on a three-week tour of China, traveling to numerous ethnic minority locations in order to give the group-members an introduction and exposure to Chinese cultural diversity. Stops along the tour also were at Central University for Nationalities and Yunnan University where Chinese faculty experts gave the group participants guest lectures. Each of the group members left China with a better familiarity of Chinese ethnic, cultural, social, and economic diversity. They returned to their respective universities and shared their experiences and knowledge of China with faculty and students. Most incorporated their understanding of China into their courses and personal fieldwork or lectures.
Participants:
- Kay T. Payne - Howard University
- Norbert Brockman - St. Mary's University of San Antonio
- Doris Davenport - Stillman College
- John H. Payne II - University of Texas El Paso
- Jeannette Filomena Ford
- Trevellya Lavidia P. Ford
- Getachew Metaferia
- James E. Rush
- Otis Phillip Elliot Jr.
- Dolores Ann Annarella
UHM Guides and Faculty:
- Sen-dou Chang - Geography
- William Nitzky - Center for Chinese Studies
- Diane Perushek - Head Librarian Hamilton Library
Tour Destinations
Beijing Tour: Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Heavenly Temple and Hongqiao Market, Xiushuijie Market, and Great Wall and Ming Tombs.
Central University for Nationalities: 4 part Lecture series on Chinese ethnic minorities.
Yinchuan, Ningxia - Hui Minority Region: visits to Hui family home, the Grand Mosque, the Tomb of Xixia Kings, and Rock Paintings of Helan Mountain.
Kunming, Yunnan Province: Visit to the Yunnan Folk Culture Villages, Yi villages and Stone Forest (Shilin).
Yunnan University: Lecture on economic development in Yunnan and the Sub-regions of the Great Mekong and on Ethnic groups in Yunnan.
Lijiang, Yunnan Province - Naxi Minority region: Visit the Jade Dragon Snow-Capped Mountain, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum, White Sand Murals, a Naxi village in Longquan, and night Naxi performance.
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province: Visit a local market (Olive Dam), a Dai village, Menglun Botanical Garden, Jingzhen Pavilion, Rubber Producing Garden, Wild Elephant Valley, Manting Park, and a Hani village
Guiyang, Guizhou - Buyi and Miao Minorities: Visit Qingyan(Blue Rock) Ancient township, bus tour to Huangguoshu (Yellow Fruit Trees) county and waterfall, Buyi community villages and Dragon Palace.
Kaili, Eastern Guizhou: Visit Miao community village, Langde
Jishou, Hunnan - Tujia Minority: Visit to Jishou University, Tujia and Miao village, Jade-band Waterfall.
Detailed Description of Tour
Orientation Week
The group of ten professors arrived on the University of Hawaii campus on May 23, 2004. The week that followed was composed of five Orientation sessions. Each morning, for three hours, the group members learned about various aspects of China. On Monday May 24th, Dr. Christopher McNally, of the East West Center, presented on China’s Capitalist Transition: Domestic Challenges and International Implications, On Tuesday May 25th, Dr. Ned Davis, of the University of Hawaii's History Department, spoke on China's Cultural Characteristics, touching on history and religion. On Wednesday May 26th, Dr. Gay Reed, of the University of Hawaii's Education and Korean Studies Departments, addressed Education in China. On Thursday May 27th, graduate students from Asian Studies, Jennifer Dunn and William Nitzky, gave a general introduction to Chinese Ethnic Minorities and contemporary issues concerning them. And finally, on Friday May 28th, Dr. Chang Sen-dou, of the University of Hawaii Geography Department, gave a China in Perspective lecture, illustrating China through slides.
China Tour Itinerary
On May 30th the group of ten participants, along with tour leaders Dr. Chang Sen-dou and William Nitzky, and University of Hawaii's Head Librarian Diane Perushek, arrived in Beijing. The group stayed in Beijing for one week at the Central Nationalities University (CUN). For the first three days in Beijing the group enjoyed lectures by CUN faculty regarding Chinese minorities. Those who presented were Professor Song Shuhua, Professor He Keyong, and Professor Pan Jiao. During the afternoons of these first three days the group visited various tourist destinations, such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Heavenly Temple. They also enjoyed night activities such as Peking Duck dinner, Acrobatic Performance, Peking Opera, and a Laoshe Tea House Performance. The second half of the week involved a variety of excursions to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs, Xiushuijie Market and a Mongolian Dinner Performance accompanied by CUN faculty. During the week in Beijing, all excursions were lead by international tour leaders Dr. Chang Sen-dou and William Nitzky and local guides from CUN.
On June 5th the group departed and arrived in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. For two days they stayed in a four star hotel and were escorted around Yinchuan by a local guide. Places visited included Northwest Nationalities University, where meetings with the President and International coordinator was scheduled, Xi Xia Tombs and museum, the Grand Mosque, the Petrogliphs of Helan Mountain and a visit to a Hui family, where the group could experience family life and ask questions. The group was able to receive a good understanding of Hui minority history, culture, and religion by visiting Yinchuan.
On June 7th the group departed and arrived in Kunming, capital city of Yunnan Province. The group stayed in Kunming for 3 1/2 days at Yunnan University guest hotel. The group enjoyed lectures by Yunnan University faculty for two days, discussing the topics of "Economic Development in Yunnan and the Sub-regions of the Great Mekong" and a "General Introduction to Yunnan Minority Nationalities." The group also visited the Nationalities Villages Park, the Stone Forest, and Yi minority village while in and around Kunming. Meeting and attending lectures by Yunnan University faculty allowed the group to receive a foundation in Yunnan minority characteristics and issues at an academic level before departing and visiting Yunnan minority communities and regions.
On June 10th the group departed and arrived in Lijiang, Northwest Yunnan Province. Home of the Naxi minority, Lijiang provides a rich environment for Naxi and Dongba traditional customs, art, music, and history. While in Lijiang for two days, the group visited the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum, Bai Sha White Sand Murals, and a Naxi village in Longquan. The group also enjoyed a night performance of Dongba traditional dance, song, and music in old Lijiang town.
On June 13th the group departed and arrived in Xishuangbana, southern Yunnan Province. For two days the group visited such places as the local market of Galanba, a local Dai minority village, Menglun Botanical Garden, a Rubber plantation, the Jingzhen Pavilion, Wild Elephany Valley, Manting Park, and a local Hani minority village. The diversity of landscapes, markets, and minority villages gave the group a greater outlook on social life in Xishuangbana as well as enlightened them on the cultural diversity within this multiethnic region.
On June 16th the group went back to Kunming in order to make a connecting flight to Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou Province. The local guide escorted them to the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall, a nearby Buyi minority village, and the Dragon Palace. On the second day in Guizhou the group visited Kaili, a market town center for all ethnic groups in Guizhou. From Kaili the group traveled to Langde, a local Miao minority village. In this village the group was experience the growth tourism in China, specifically ethnic tourism.
On June 19th the group arrived in Jishou, city in Western Hunnan province, by bus from Guizhou. The group stayed in Jishou University and was greeted warmly. In Jishou the group met and spoke with multiple university students and visited two primary and middle schools. The group also visited the nearby town of Dehang, a Miao and Tujia minority village. Within the village various activities of ethnic tourism took place and demonstrations of unique minority handcrafts.
The last stop on the cultural tour was Guangzhou city, in Guangdong province, on June 22nd. From Guangdong all group members departed China for the United States.