Rick Brown Presents...
Eclipse 2009, China!

Last update: Apr 21 2008

On July 22nd, 2009, the shadow of the moon will reach the Earth's surface. Much of the path will sweep across China, and it is here that we will view the longest Total Solar Eclipse since July of 1991. For those lucky people that join our China Eclipse Group, you will be rewarded with a fantastic tour of China, a great vacation, and the chance to witness about 5 and a half minutes of totality. As usual, I have visited the areas we will travel to, and I can promise another value packed, complete holiday. This will be the 9th Total Eclipse Tour that I have put together, and it is sure to be another success. The itinerary, which will of course be fine tuned as time gets closer, is listed below. Please keep in mind the following...

  • At this time, prices are now guaranteed!
  • Again, as the eclipse is over 12 months away, there may be revisions to the internal flight times and River sailing itineraries.

    • Thanks for looking - Rick Brown

    Currently Planned Itinerary


    Plan on arriving in SHANGHAI on TUESDAY, July 14th 2009. For those coming from the USA, you will be departing by MONDAY for your tour on TUESDAY July 14th. If you would like to arrive earlier, just let me know, and I will arrange for your hotel based on your arrival date, at an additional cost for extra nights (approx. $130.00 pp double per night inclusive of breakfast). TUESDAY, JULY 14th... Arrive to Shanghai and transfer by taxi to your hotel. Most flights will arrive mid afternoon or early evening. We will be there with a desk set up for the group to check in. At 7PM, those of us that have arrived and settled in will meet in the lobby of the hotel, and we will start to introduce each other. We will answer questions, and then hopefully get a good nights sleep. Dinner this evening will be on you own.

    Yes, they have Starbucks. And a mall.

    WEDNESDAY, July 15th... Wake up, and get ready for a full day, starting with a full breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast, we will have a short briefing in the hotel. The luxury buses and English speaking guides will pick us up at 9:00am, and we will spend the day exploring part of Shanghai. We will start with a visit to the SHANGHAI URBAN PLANNING EXHIBITION CENTER showing old and new Shanghai, as well as what the future holds for this very dynamic city. We will then visit THE OLD TOWN and YU YUAN GARDEN. We will then enjoy a SHANGHAI DIM SUM LUNCH at a local restaurant, and then visit the famous SHANGHAI MUSEUM. From there, we will go back to the hotel, and have a short rest before our WELCOME WESTERN DINNER at the hotel. All meals are included on this day.

    THURSDAY, JULY 16th... After a full breakfast, we will board our bus, and travel about 1 hour to the OLD TOWN of ZHUJAIJIAO, a wonderful little community where the feel of Old China still exists. It is known as the Water Town, and you will probably be reminded of Venice. You will see one of the oldest Post Offices in the world, and you will be able to walk around and shop, we will take a SAMPAN ride on one of the canals, and then have lunch at a local restaurant. We should arrive back to the HOTEL and have a short time to relax before you go out on your own for dinner and do some exploring. We leave Shanghai in the morning.

    FRIDAY, JULY 17th... Breakfast at the hotel, and a noon departure by bus to the airport to catch our flight to YICHANG. After we arrive in Yichang, if time permits, we will have a short city tour, and we be treated to a great Buffet Dinner at one of the local hotels. From there, we will board our 5 STAR PRESIDENT #1 cruise ship to begin our 4 night cruise on the YANGTZE RIVER.

    SATURDAY, JULY 18th
    SUNDAY, JULY 19th
    MONDAY, JULY 20th    ... All of these days will be aboard the ship, with excursions daily. The activities will vary in time, duration, and order depending on the water level of the river, the weather, and other factors. Rest assured, we will be on one of the nicest cruise ships on the river. Our days will include most or all of the following...

    1. Xiling Gorge
    2. Three Gorges Dam
    3. Shennong Stream, or Lesser Three Gorges, Wu Gorge, Qutang Gorge
    4. White King Town
    5. Fengdu or Shibaozhai Pagoda
    6. Eating, drinking, and relaxing
    7. All meals are included on the ship

    TUESDAY, JULY 21st... We arrive in CHONGQING, and say farewell to the ship crew, and if time permits, we will have a short city tour. Then we will dine at a local restaurant for lunch, and travel to the airport for our flight to WUHAN. Upon arrival, we will bus it to the hotel. A buffet dinner for all will be done at the hotel, and then we will all sit for an ECLIPSE SEMINAR. A few EXPERTS on eclipse science, eclipse viewing, and other related topics will be speaking, and it is very important for all to be there, especially those that have not seen a Total Eclipse. Everyone will also be given their “Rainbow Symphony” Eclipse glasses, to be used during the partial phases of the eclipse. Additional glasses will also be available at $1.00 each. Rainbow Symphony is the maker of the finest eclipse shades in the world.

    WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND 2009 IS ECLIPSE DAY ... A VERY EARLY WAKE UP!!!!!! ...and pack your bags for hotel departure. The buses will be ready at 4:30am for personal items, and the buses will DEPART FOR THE ECLIPSE AREA at 5:30am. We will arrive well before the start of the eclipse (C1) and we will be departing on the buses ASAP after the end of the eclipse (C4). We will have lunch at a local restaurant, and the go to the airport to fly to the city of XIAN. After checking in, and getting settled, you will be free to relax, and have dinner, which will be on your own tonight.

    Amazing collection of army men.

    THURSDAY, JULY 23rd... After breakfast, we will bus to the Terra Cotta Museum, and spend a few hours. We will have lunch in the museum restaurant, and also view a NOODLE-making Demo. You will even get to eat the noodles!!! Then, in the afternoon, we will visit the ancient CITY WALL, and the Wild Goose Pagoda. We will the return to the hotel, and prepare for the great evening... a Dinner and Show where will enjoy the TANG DYNASTY SHOW at the Famous theater.

    FRIDAY, JULY 24th... Breakfast, and then transfer to the airport for our flight to BEIJING, China's modern day Capital. Then we will transfer to the hotel. We will check in, and then go on an afternoon tour of the HUTONG AREA (the narrow lane area) We will visit the DRUM TOWER, and view a traditional drum performance. We will even take an old fashioned PEDICAB to the CHICHAHAI LAKE area with it's 700 year old arched bridges and courtyard-styled homes known as SIHEYUAN. We will tour on of the area homes, and even visit quickly with a local family. We will also be able to do a bit of shopping at a HUTONG KINDERGARDEN if school is open, and visit a local veggie market. Tonight, dinner will be on your own, with suggestions if you ask.

    SATURDAY, JULY 25th... After breakfast, we will visit Tian'anmen Square, and The Forbidden City. We will the have lunch at a local restaurant, and in the afternoon, we go to visit the Summer Palace with a short boat ride on Kunming Lake. Dinner will be on your own.

    It is indeed a great wall. The Sacred Way.

    SUNDAY, JULY 26th... Breakfast, and the 1 hour ride to the GREAT WALL, Badaling Gate. We will spend some time here, and then have lunch (at a local restaurant... how did you know????) In the afternoon, we will visit The Sacred Way, and Ming's Tomb, with the Underground Palace. Then, back to the hotel, and a GRANDE PEKING DUCK DINNER at the famous QUANJUDE RESTAURANT.

    MONDAY, JULY 27th... Breakfast, check-out and depart. The tour is done. Collect information and sign up for next eclipse...

    HOTELS.....The following hotels will be used for our trip. Please notice that from start to finish, the hotels, cruise ship, and tour buses ARE ALL 5 STAR QUALITY.

  • Shanghai... Huating Hotel and Towers (3 nights)
  • Cruise Ship... President #1 (4 nights)
  • Wuhan... Holiday Inn Riverside (1night)
  • Xian... Shangri-La Hotel Xian (2 nights)
  • Beijing... Peninsula Hotel (3 nights)

    • What is included is as follows...

  • All hotels, all 5 star, throughout the itinerary. All hotels have INTERNET, which may or may not be included…I’m workin’ on it
  • Admission to all venues that are listed are included.
  • Luxury busses will be used throughout the tour, and bottled water will be provided on the busses.
  • A full buffet breakfast is included daily.
  • Lunches are included on the days that we are out on tours.
  • Dinners are included as specified. All lunches and dinners will include a soft drink or water. Extra drinks will be charged for but are only about a buck.
  • All China Internal flights are included.
  • All internal transfers are included.
  • While on the cruise ship, all meals are included.
  • Everyone will get their very own pair of Eclipse Shades, to safely view the partial phases of the eclipse.
  • ALL TIPPING IS INCLUDED FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE BELL HOP TIP UPON YOUR ARRIVAL AT THE HOTEL IN SHANGHAI, AND YOUR DEPARTURE IN BEIJING.

    • Now, the short list of what is NOT included

  • Your International flight to China, or your onward travel from Beijing at the end of the tour.
  • Your Chinese Visa. You will need to get this in advance. The cost at the moment is $130.00US for US passport holders, plus the cost of the service to get the visa. China is now issuing only multiple entry visas, good for one year, to US Passport holders. I have negotiated a service charge of $30.00US. plus postage with a company. More info will follow as we get a bit closer. YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST 6 MONTHS REMAINING ON YOUR PASSPORT UPON ENTERING CHINA. IF YOUR PASSPORT IS SOON TO EXPIRE, RENEW IT BEFORE YOU GET YOUR VISA.
  • Items of a personal nature.
  • Shopping.
  • Additional drinks

    • ...AND FINALLY, THE COST OF THE TOUR....a bit less than originally quoted. Total price is US$3295.00 pp. That is about $300 less than planned originally, as the cost is down a bit, and all tipping is now included, as are MOST MEALS.

    Questions or comments, email kidinvs@aol.com for more information.