Notes from the Field

Next week, I will be in China on my 18th trip to the Middle Kingdom. This trip will combine visits to urban and rural areas in an effort to gain more insight into a changing China. Like most trips, this trip will have a few phases and purposes. Expedition Phase Read more…

The last day of my Xinjiang trip was spent in Urumqi, the region’s capital. Once a major hub on the Silk Road, Urumqi has seen large amounts of economic and infrastructure development to become the largest city in Western China. Highway development is evident everywhere in the city — overpasses Read more…

Today’s Silk Road travels bring us to Turpan, a small city and former oasis on the Silk Road. With the construction of the new high-speed railway in 2015, this city is now only an hour by train from Urumqi. The train was scheduled to leave Urumqi at 9:07 a.m., so Read more…

Greetings, Off the Silk Road readers! I write to you with some very exciting news. For the first time, Off the Silk Road is actually on the Silk Road! For the next five days, I will be embarking on an expedition to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Xinjiang (新疆), meaning “new Read more…

Day: 3 Current Location: Kunming (昆明) Miles traveled: 1518 Hello from Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring. After taking a car to Lijiang airport where the driver proceeded to shave himself during the trip and flying on a plane where the safety demonstration was still playing as the wheels lifted Read more…

Day: 2 Current Location: Lijiang (丽江) Miles traveled: 1318 (approximately) When we travel, we sometimes form strong relationships with the people of our host country. So when the opportunity came for me to return to the Nan Yao village (南尧村), where I stayed in a homestay two years ago, I Read more…

Day: 1 Current Location: Lijiang (丽江) Miles traveled: 1318 (approximately) Hello from the Mama’s Naxi Guesthouse in Lijiang’s Old Town! The real journey began today, as I left the comfort of and excellent city view from my Beijing apartment for my home on the road for the next week. After Read more…

Day: T-1 Current Location: Beijing (北京) Hello friends! It’s been 30 days since I arrived in Beijing and I have written 0 blog posts. My days have been filled with work, learning and exploration. With the Beijing part of the trip behind me, I now turn to the second part: Read more…