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Day 1 - July 14
Depart from your home city. |
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| Day 2 - July 15
Today you will arrive in Beijing’s Capital International
Airport (PEK) and will be transferred to our hotel for the
night. This will give you time to catch up from your long
flight and adjust to the time difference. Tonight we will
stay at the hotel Tianlun Dynasty Hotel. (D) (If you have
a late arrival today you might miss tonight’s dinner).
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| Day 3 - July 16 The
entire day will feature sightseeing in Beijing. In the morning
we visit the Palace Museum, known as Forbidden City. We will
also enjoy a walk around Tiananmen Square. After lunch, we
visit the China National Planetarium and Ancient Astronomy
Observatory. Tonight after dinner we will enjoy a Beijing
Opera Show (acrobatic show). Tonight’s accommodations
will be at the Tianlun Dynasty Hotel (B.L.D) |
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| Day 4 - July 17 Today
we visit the Great Wall of China. Everyone will have the chance
to walk on one of the greatest sites in China. Following lunch
near the Great Wall we will visit the Ming Tombs where there
are 13 emperors’ Mausoleums. Afterwards we drive back
to downtown Beijing where we will visit Liulichang Street
which has lots of antique and handcraft shops. This evening
our dinner will be in the famous Peking Duck Restaurant. Tonight
we stay again at the Tianlun Dynasty Hotel (B.L.D) |
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| Day 5 - July 18 Today
after a morning visit to the Temple of Heaven, we will have
an early lunch before boarding our flight from Beijing to
Shanghai. After arriving in Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA)
we will take a 1 ½ hour drive to Suzhou which is a
famous ancient town with more than 2,000 years of history.
Tonight’s dinner will feature a delicious meal in the
Huaiyang style. Tonight’s accommodations will be at
the Suzhou Sheraton Hotel. (B.L.D) |
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| Day 6 - July 19 Today
will be another busy day of sightseeing. We will visit Huqiu
Hill Pagoda, Ancient City Wall, Wangshi Garden (one of the
most famous Chinese gardens), and the Silk Museum. Tonight
we will stay again at the Suzhou Sheraton Hotel. (B.L.D) |
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| Day 7 - July 20
After breakfast, we will leave Suzhou and drive about 1 ½
hours to Hangzhou. This afternoon we will enjoy a sightseeing
cruise on Xihu Lake (Western Lake). Tonight’s accommodations
will be in either the Victoria Hotel or Lake View Hotel. (B.L.D) |
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| Day 8 - July 21 Our
morning begins with visits to Linying Temple and Tea at Dragon
Well. (Dragon Well Tea is the best tea in China). Following
lunch we will drive 2 hours to Haiyan which is a small town
by the sea and will be our site for the upcoming total solar
eclipse. We will be staying right in the eclipse path, so
you won’t have to transport you’re eclipse gear
on eclipse day! After our dinner, Fred Espenak's
keynote presentation will focus on what to expect at tomorrows
total eclipse! This is always a highlight of our tours!
You won't want to miss tonight! We will stay in a
Haiyan hotel for this night (B.L.D) |
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| Day 9 - July 22 - ECLIPSE DAY! Today
will be completely devoted to the total eclipse of the Sun.
The roof of the hotel will serve as our preferred private
eclipse viewing site. Following the eclipse, we will relax
during a 2-hour drive back to Shanghai. Tonight we will stay
in either the Jinjiang Hotel or New Jinjiang Hotel (B.L.D)
Local Times for Eclipse Phases (Approximate)
Partial Eclipse Begins: 08:22:30
Total Eclipse Begins: 09:35:27
Total Eclipse Ends: 09:41:17
Partial Eclipse Ends: 11:00:56
Duration of Totality: 5 min 50 sec (= 350
seconds)
Sun’s Altitude: 56°
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| Day 10 - July 23 Today
will feature sightseeing in Shanghai. Included on our itinerary
are visits to Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Chenghuangmiao
Bazaar and the Bond. Tonight we will gather for a farewell
dinner and talk over our great adventure in China. Hotel Jinjiang
Hotel or New Jinjiang Hotel (B,L,D) |
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| Day 11- July 24 Today
we depart from Shanghai as we say good-bye to old and new
friends and start thinking about the next total eclipse in
2010. Transfers to the airport included. (B) |
