Eclipse 2009, China - Itinerary
Arrival Information: Please plan on arriving in SHANGHAI on TUESDAY, July 14th 2009. For those coming from the USA, you must depart by MONDAY to arrive in Shanghai on TUESDAY July 14th. If you plan to arrive earlier, just let me know if you would like me to make arrangements at the 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 Shanghai and transfer by taxi to your hotel. Most flights will arrive mid afternoon or early evening. We will be there waiting to welcome you, with a special 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, so that we can begin to meet each other. We will answer questions, and then hopefully get a good nights’ sleep. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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 9:00 AM, and we will spend the day exploring parts of Shanghai. We will begin 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. The real highlight of the center is a scale model of all of Shanghai, but I really enjoy the thousands of photos they have displayed. Many of them are from 20, 30, 40, even 50 years ago, and then, right next to it is a more recent photo taken from the exact same spot. You can really see how the city has changed. There is also a short movie shown in 360 degree surround sound. We will then visit THE OLD TOWN and YU YUAN GARDEN, for a bit of shopping and relaxation in the beautiful and tranquil gardens. Then, a SHANGHAI DIM SUM LUNCH at a local restaurant, and followed by a visit to the famous SHANGHAI MUSEUM. We will return to the hotel for a short rest before our WELCOME WESTERN DINNER at the hotel. All meals are included on this day.
Shanghai City Plan Model
Click picture for bigger view
THURSDAY, JULY 16th... After a full breakfast, we will board our bus, and travel for about one 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, which has a similar resemblance to Venice. You will see one of the oldest Post Offices in the world, and have the opportunity to walk around and shop. We will then take a SAMPAN ride on one of the canals, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. We should arrive back to the HOTEL with some time to relax before going out on your own for dinner and some exploring. A MASSAGE is certainly in order by now!!!! We leave Shanghai in the morning.
FRIDAY, JULY 17th...Breakfast at the hotel and a noon departure by bus to the airport in order to catch our flight to YICHANG. After we arrive in Yichang, if time permits, we will have a short city tour. We will enjoy a great Buffet Dinner at one of the local hotels, prior to boarding 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... These three days will be spent aboard the ship, which includes daily excursions. 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.
- Xiling Gorge… this is the longest of the threeGorges.
- Three Gorges Dam…an engineering masterpiece originally conceivedby Sun Yat Sen almost 90 years ago, and has now changed the face of China.
- Shennong Stream, or Lesser Three Gorges, Wu Gorge, Qutang Gorge.
- White King Town
- Fengdu or Shibaozhai Pagoda
- Eating, drinking, and relaxing
- All meals are included on the ship, as well as evening entertainment.
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. We will dine at a local restaurant for lunch, and then travel to the airport for our flight to WUHAN. Upon arrival, we will board a bus to the hotel. A buffet dinner for all will be held at the hotel, and then we will all sit for an ECLIPSE SEMINAR. We are very lucky to have some Eclipse EXPERTS joining us, who will be sharing their knowledge on eclipse science, eclipse viewing, and other related topics. It is very important for all to attend this seminar, especially those who are ‘Total Eclipse Virgins’. Everyone will receive their “Rainbow Symphony” Eclipse glasses, which will be used to view the partial phases of the eclipse. Additional glasses will also be available at $1.00 each. Rainbow Symphony is the maker of the finest, safest eclipse shades in the world. Unpack only what you need, as we are in Wuhan for just this 1 night.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22nd IS ECLIPSE DAY ... A VERY EARLY WAKE UP!!!!!! ...and have your bags packed for hotel departure. The buses will be ready at 4:30 AM so you can place your personal items onboard, and the buses will DEPART FOR THE ECLIPSE AREA starting at 5:00 AM. We will arrive well before the start of the eclipse (C1). Totality at our spot will last for 5 min. 29.1 seconds. Our viewing spot is on the campus of a University. If necessary, due to local weather, we need to move, we have open roads to the NE, the North, and the West... all together, over 100 miles of road that keeps us within the path of totality.
There are restrooms within walking distance, and the busses will be right there for us to unload our equipment and relax. There will be drinks for us, as well as chairs. This viewing area will be for our exclusive use, and a few extra invited guests. A special area will be roped off, so those with special equipment can set up. We will load back onto the buses, ASAP, following the conclusion of this very special eclipse (C4). We will have lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the airport to fly to the city of XIAN (SHEan). After checking in at our hotel, and getting settled, you will be free to relax, and have dinner on your own tonight.
Learn more about Xian (click here for tourism video) If video gets stuck, hit pause and let it load, then hit play. |
THURSDAY, JULY 23rd... After breakfast, we will bus to the Terra Cotta Museum, and spend a few hours at this fascinating Museum. We will have lunch in the museum restaurant, and view a NOODLE-making Demo. You will even get to eat the noodles, as part of lunch that will be served!!! The afternoon will be spent visiting the ancient CITY WALL, and the Wild Goose Pagoda, as well as one of the palaces. We will the return to the hotel, and prepare for a fun evening, with Dinner and the TANG DYNASTY SHOW at a Famous dinner-theater.
FRIDAY, JULY 24th...Breakfast, and then transfer to the airport for our flight to BEIJING, China's modern day Capital. We will board the buses, and head to the hotel for check in. Then it’s off for 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 its 700 year old arched bridges and courtyard-styled homes known as SIHEYUAN. We will tour one of the area homes, and enjoy a short visit 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. Another MASSAGE is in order!!!
SATURDAY, JULY 25th... After breakfast, we will visit Tian'anmen Square, the center of Beijing, and The Forbidden City. The history here dates back to over 1000 years BC. You will be amazed at the size of this area. The square holds over ONE MILLION PEOPLE, and the Forbidden City has over 800 buildings, with 9,999 rooms that make up this amazing place. We will have lunch at a local restaurant, and in the afternoon, we go to visit the Summer Palace. This is a 700 acre area with complex gardens, and beautiful buildings. Used by the Imperial Court, it is a peaceful place that they used to escape the busy city. We will have a short boat ride on Kunming Lake, and then return to the hotel. Dinner will be on your own.
SUNDAY, JULY 26th... Breakfast, followed 1 hour ride to the GREAT WALL. We will enter from the Badaling Gate, which is one of the best preserved areas of the Wall. 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 FAREWELL DINNER at the famous QUANJUDE RESTAURANT.
MONDAY, JULY 27th... Breakfast, check-out and depart. The tour is complete. It is not too soon to collect information and sign up for next eclipse tour...