Rong Ling You and Andrew Connor (both '04) were both studying abroad during the spring semester of 2003. You, an economics major, was studying at Pembroke College at Oxford University through Hamilton College's selective program. Connor, a Chinese major, was also studying in London during the spring semester. The two clearly have interest in England; however, England is not where their true passion lies. The two were awarded a joint Freeman Grant for student-faculty short-term travel research during the summer in China.
Their project, titled "The Silk Road and the Spread of Islam in China," will be advised by Professor Hong Gang Jin. The project will be an intense investigation of Islam and the Chinese Silk Road, as the spread of Islam has been prominent in much of West China for centuries and its spread has often been attributed to the Silk Road, which was China's first link to Eastern countries and eventually Europe. The two were granted the opportunity to travel to China together to conduct research in April. They crossed the length of China by train (Beijing to Kashgar) and through interviews and casual conversation, as well photographs, collected material for their project. They conducted formal research in Beijing, Xi'An, Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Urumqi, and Kashgar. They investigated the history of the Silk Road in China, and also saw first-hand the Silk Road of today, located in Kashgar. The language barrier was no obstacle for the two Hamilton rising seniors; Rong Ling was raised in a Chinese home, and Andrew, as a Chinese major, is fluent in the language.
Posted June 19, 2003
