From July 8 to 15, "Customs YES" organised an eight-day Silk Road summer cultural study tour. Led by the Honorary Founding Executive Director of the Executive Committee of "Customs YES", Mr Edgar Kwan, the Group Head of the Intellectual Property Investigation (Administration and Support) Group of Customs, Ms Michelle Lee, and a number of executive committees, 50 "Customs YES" members visited Xian and Dunhuang to learn about the role of the Silk Road in the country's development of external transport, trade, and culture, and experience the civilisation, development, and achievements of the country.
The study tour on the first day arrived at the starting point of the Silk Road - Xian. Through exploring the historical sites and street culture of the city, including the Xi'an City Wall, the Daci'en Temple and Qujiangchi Relic Site Park, and the Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square, the tour gained an understanding about the transitions and inheritances of ancient and modern Xian.
On July 10, the study tour was led by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho; the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Administrator of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, Mr Li Qun; and the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Intelligence and Investigation), Mr Mark Woo, to visit the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum. Ms Ho, Mr Li and the participants took part in a Qin terracotta figures restoration workshop during which they experienced the complex process of restoring cultural heritage. The group realised the spirit of cultural heritage conservation and inheritance of the country, and were deeply impressed by the long-standing and profound Chinese civilisation. Ms Ho also encouraged the participants to make the most of this rare learning opportunity to understand the rich history and culture of the country, and to meaningfully participate in various activities of the tour by listening and asking more.
Later, the study tour headed to Dunhuang along the Hexi Corridor and visited Mount Mingshashan and Crescent Moon-shaped Spring, the Mogao Caves, the Jiayu Pass Gatetowers, the Danxia National Geopark, etc. The participants not only appreciated the Dunhuang murals at close range, but also enjoyed the magnificent desert scenery on the backs of camels. All these allowed them to understand the broad and profound Chinese culture and history.
The study tour later returned to Xian and visited the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum led by the Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Control and Enforcement), Mr Chan Tsz-tat. The various valuable artefacts there offered an unforgettable history lesson to the participants. Lastly, the tour visited Xi'an Jiaotong University, where group members interacted with members of the university's robot team, who shared their experiences in different international competitions and encouraged tour members to fully equip themselves to meet the challenges ahead.
In the future, "Customs YES" will organise more exchange activities in order to broaden the horizons of young people, deepen their understanding of the latest development and opportunities of the country, and strengthen their sense of national identity and national pride.
Ends/Saturday, July 15, 2023
