China Eclipse Tours - Yangtze Eclipse & Cruise - 10 day tour

China Tours 2009 Total Solar Eclipse

Day 1 - Shanghai

Welcome to China, futuristic Shanghai and the start of a great holiday! Included airport arrival transfer to our hotel and remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight - Shanghai

Day 2 - Shanghai

Shanghai - Chongqing - Yangtze River cruiser - breakfast. This morning we fly to to Chongqing, the start point for our exciting Yangtze River cruise. Before boarding the cruise, it's the ideal time to explore and sightsee the city. A favourite is Chongqing’s People’s Square, in the heart city always buzzing with kite flyers, trinket sellers, street vendors and locals going about their day. Dinner and overnight – Yangtze River Cruiser

Days 3 - Yangtze River Cruise

Yangtze River cruise - breakfast. Good morning from the River Yangtze! At 6340km in length, the Yangtze is the 3rd longest river in the world, neatly dividing China into north and south, and wending its way through eight very different provinces. The Upper reaches incorporating the Three Gorges are possibly the most spectacular and it is this part of the Yangtze we’ll see. The Gorges are a breathtaking sight. The first gorge we pass through is the shortest and narrowest of the three; Qutangxia Gorge. Here, the dramatic 1200m limestone peaks are often shrouded in mist and the river shoots through the narrow entrance with great haste. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Yangtze River Cruiser

Days 4 - ECLIPSE on the Yangtze

Yangtze River cruise - breakfast. TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2009. This morning we gather on the top deck poised in readiness to witness eclipse scheduled to pass over at approximatey 08:21am. With impressive limestone peaks setting a frame either side, and the Yangtze River falling directly beneath the eclipse centre line, we could expect the eclipse to take place directly above the Gorge.

As the event unfolds the sky will change to a deep purple as the horizon falls into shades or orange and red. Then at the precise moment the sun will blacken over and the sky will fall into darkness. The brilliance will last for near 5 minutes and 32 seconds.

After the performance our River boat will cruise onward to Wuxia Gorge. The Gorge straddles Sichuan and Hubei Provinces, lined by twelve sheer peaks, Wuxia offers an awesome vista for some 45km. Finally is Xiling Gorge, the longest at 75km and which comprises seven smaller gorges. During our cruise, we’ll also sail through the new ship locks of the impressive Three Gorges Dam construction. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Yangtze River Cruiser

Day 5 - Yichang/Wuhan

Yichang/Wuhan - breakfast. Disembarking from our cruiser at Yichang, we travel onward to Wuhan (approx 4 hours drive) and hotel check in. Free time until dinner tonight. Dinner and overnight - Wuhan

Day 6 - Wuhan

Wuhan - breakfast. Today we visit the striking Yellow Crane Pavilion by the river bridge in the Old City. We will also visit the respected Hubei Museum, enjoy a chrome bell performance and attend a fish banquet in one of Wuhan’s restaurants. This evening we board the overnight sleeper train to Nanjing. Overnight – sleeper train

Day 7 - Nanjing

Nanjing – breakfast. The former capital of the Ming Dynasty shows just how fast China is changing with it’s cranes and builders everywhere. We visit the Fuzi Miao (Temple of Confucius) and the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre. A moving experience that charts the atrocities committed at this very site. We visit the Mausoleum of Dr Sun Yatsen – a father of modern China and revered nearly as much as Chairman Mao. Afternoon at leisure, perhaps walk the Ming era city walls, the longest city walls ever built! Overnight - Nanjing

Day 8 - Suzhou

Nanjing - Suzhou - breakfast. A short train journey East is Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. The charming city boasts extensive waterways and canals dotted with traditional bridges, houses and gardens. A cruise on the Grand Canal exposes Suzhou’s beauty, as does our exploration of the Humble Administrator’s House and Garden. Overnight - Suzhou

Day 9 - Shanghai

Shanghai - breakfast. An hour’s journey bring us to bustling Shanghai. The day is free day for you to explore. Perhaps visit the Oriental Pearl TV tower, the Jade Buddha Temple, French Quarter or the Old City. Overnight - Shanghai

Day 10 - Shanghai

Shanghai - breakfast. Our tour ends after breakfast and included onward transfer to airport.

Nature of the Solar Eclipse

• Perfect viewing conditions of the eclipse can not be guaranteed as July marks the height of China’s rainy season. Though there is a 50% - 55% chance of clear skies for the event in the Yangzte River/ Wuhan region.

Tour Highlights

• Three Gorges/ Yangtze River cruise – cruise from Chongqing – Wuhan. Qutangxia Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge
• TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWED FROM THE YANGTZE - 22ND JULY 2009
• Wuhan – Yellow Crane Pavilion, Hubei Museum
• Nanjing – Nanjing Memorial Hall, Fuzi Miao (Temple of Confucius), Mausoleum of Dr Sun Yatsen
• Suzhou – UNESCO-listed gardens, Grand Canal and waterways, Silk factory, Humble Administrator’s Garden
• Shanghai – Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jade Buddha Temple, The Bund and Old Shanghai, Yuyuan Garden and Huang River

Solar Eclipse Tour includes

• Breakfast daily, 3 lunches & Peking Duck Dinner in Beijing
• 5 nights 3 - 4 star hotels
• 2 overnight trains (soft sleeper cabin)
• Chinese acrobatic performance
• Rickshaw ride through Beijings Hutongs and local maket walk
• Xi’an - bike ride on medieval City Wall
• Louguantai Wild Animal Breeding Centre
• Airport arrival and departure transfer on day 1 and day 8
• Touring of Beijing, Badaling and Xi'an
• Tour leader escorted
• English speaking specialist guides at local sights
• All relevant transfers and transportation

Solar Eclipse Tour does not include

• International flights, visa and entrance fees. For entrance fees budget approximately USD45
• Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
• Laundry, drinks, items of a personal nature

For products over £350.00 per person we can take a non refundable deposit balance payable 11 weeks before departure.

This tour is a 'Guaranteed Departure' tour. This means that it will depart regardless of how many people are booked on to it. Have you considered your visa requirements? Tour Dates Departure Dates Year Dates 2009 Sun 19th July         Tour Prices Tour Prices and Single Supplements for dates starting From To Price SS All Travellers All Dates  £999.00   £399.00  4 Additional Options Option Prices and Single Supplement GBP Option SS is Mandantory for single passengers Option Price SS Post Tour Accomm - Shanghai  £30.00   £30.00  Per Person / Night Pre Tour Accomm - Beijing  £29.00   £26.00  Per Person / Night Solar Eclipse - Arrival Car Transfer - Beijing  £49.00   – Solar Eclipse - Departure Car Transfer - Shanghai  £85.00   – Make a Reservation Please use our online booking reservation service where available - if you need any further assistance or to book please feel free to call or email us with your booking. Until you have received a receipted invoice (by post fax or email) your reservation has been recorded but not been confirmed. This is similar to an airline wait-listing. This may only affect you if we have had major changes to the tour. Make a Reservation Tour Date [SELECT]Sun 19th July - 2009   Number of People   Single Supplement? (Check only if you require a single room) Payment Type [SELECT] Credit Card Online Bank Transmission Facsimile Credit Card DetailsDebit Card   Optional Extras Post Tour Accomm - Shanghai 012345678910 Number of Nights / Person Pre Tour Accomm - Beijing 012345678910 Number of Nights / Person Solar Eclipse - Arrival Car Transfer - Beijing Solar Eclipse - Departure Car Transfer - Shanghai When you click continue, you will be redirected to our secure sever at https://sslrelay.com/iah-holidays.co.uk/