Connected Cosmopoleis: The Art and Architecture of The Caucasus

About Our Tour

Friends of Hong Kong Museum of Art is very delighted to announce our next tour titled “Connected Cosmopoleis: The Art and Architecture of the Caucasus’ has now been scheduled between 19 September – 1 October 2024. We will visit the three countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.

The Region

Lying between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountain is a natural boundary between Europe and Asia. Impressively compact with cultural diversity, the residents come from disparate ethnic, religious, and linguistic backgrounds.

This tour will take you to discover fabulous cuisine and a wealth of ancient cathedrals, monasteries and cave cities of proud millennia-old civilizations. All the major UNESCO sights have been included. The Caucasus is also home to the world-famous black caviars and the birth of wine-making civilization.

Our Accompanying Lecturer

We are honoured that Professor P.P. Ho will be our accompanying professor for this tour. Professor Ho has been most involved in the planning & implementation of our tour.

Overseas Tours are open to current members only. Full tour itineraries will be sent to members by email. You are welcome to join membership at any time during the year. Please proceed to the Membership page.

Schedule for our day trip

09:30 hrs. – Pick up from Central, Hong Kong (location to be advised)

09:45 hrs. – Pick up from Kowloon Tong (location to be advised)

11:00 hrs. – Visit Nanshan Museum

12:45 hrs. – Lunch at a local restaurant

14:30 hrs. – Tour of Nantou

16:30 hrs. – Return to Hong Kong (the return journey to Hong Kong should take                                about an hour, depending on traffic) 

Language
The tour will be conducted in Cantonese and English.  Exhibits at the Nanshan Museum are clearly marked with Chinese and English explanations.

Overseas Tours are open to current members only. Full tour itineraries will be sent to members by email. You are welcome to join membership at any time during the year. Please proceed to the Membership page.

Friends of Hong Kong Museum of Art is delighted to announce a unique tour of ‘Romancing the virtual and the physical: Multilayers of art and architecture of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan’ in Central Asia during October 12-24, 2023.

We are honoured to have Ho Puay Peng to be our accompanying professor. It will be an excellent opportunity to experience Uzbekistan & Tajikistan with extensive and comprehensive knowledge from our esteemed professor.

In the words of Professor Ho Puay Peng….

The large territories of the land-locked countries of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are located to the west of the Tianshan and Pamir mountain ranges, bordering Xinjiang province. The territories were subjected to the rule of many kingdoms and empires since the Bronze age. These civilizations left enduring marks on the societal fabrics and expressed in their art and architecture. The cultural forms of these societies had expressed in their art and architecture. The cultural forms of these societies had also influenced the surrounding countries, including China, over the millennia of contacts through the trade routes connecting the various civilizations. Many objects seen in museums in China are from the regions and influenced by Scythian, Bactrian, Soghdian, Tokharian, Persian, Greek, Kushan, Sassanian, Islamic, Shamani and Timurid cultures. Most of the sites before the Turkic States of the 10th century have disappeared and the glory of these cities can only be constructed virtually through artefacts. However, equally attractive are the Islamic cities from the Uzbek period in early 16th century that are monumental and decorative. This tour will weave the virtual representation of Persian cultures as found in museum objects and Timurid architecture seen in the ancient cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, and other smaller sites. Through the visit, the multilayer of the rich cultural tapestry of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will be unveiled.

Professor Ho Puay Peng is currently Professor of Architecture at the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore, and formerly Director of the School of Architecture and University Dean of Students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He holds a Ph.D. from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and a MA and Dip. Arch. from Edinburgh University with First Class Honours. An architect, conservation architect, and architectural historian, Ho Puay Peng has a wide research interest and publication in Buddhist art and architecture, vernacular architecture in China, architectural history of Tang and Song dynasties, architectural history of colonial Hong Kong and architecture conservation.

Central Asia used to be the heart of the Silk Road. It has a rich history, diverse culture, and stunning architecture that will leave you mesmerized. The itinerary of the tour will include visits to all major UNESCO attractions, covering the best preserved and spectacular cities of Taskhent, Dushanbe, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara, Penjikent, sarazm, and Khiva.

Our journey will dive into the heart and heritage of this ancient trade route, covering two of the Five Stans in Central Asia. Under the stewardship of Professor P.P. Ho, It provides an excellent opportunity of experiencing Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in an outstanding and distinguished journey that will be remembered for a long time.

The tour, together with the costings, will be sent out to members of Friends of Hong Kong Museum of Art before mid-August, 2023. Applications will be considered on first come first served basis. It will prove to be an adventure of a lifetime! The people in Central Asia awaits you. Look out for it!

Overseas Tours are open to current members only. Full tour itineraries will be sent to members by email. You are welcome to join membership at any time during the year. Please proceed to the Membership page.