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solar eclipse 2009

yangtze eclipse and cruise - 10 days

Yangtze River Gorge Tour Information
Starts/ ends in: Shanghai
Departs: Sunday 19th July 2009
Prices and Departure info: Click here
Breakfast: Daily, Lunch: 2, Dinner: 4
Hotel rating: 3 - 4
Local Payment Required: No
Tour leader Escorted: Yes (for groups of 6 or more)
ECLIPSE: 22nd July, totality 09:16am *

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 which is estimated to start at 08.08 when the moon starts to creep across the sun. 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 of orange and red. Then at approximately 09.16am the sun will blacken over and the sky will fall into complete darkness. The brilliance will last between 4 - 5 minutes.

08.08am - Sunrise & the moon first touches the sun - start of the eclipse
09.16am - Start of totality. 09.21am - End of totality. Duration 4-5 mins
10.36am - Moon is no longer visible on the sun - end of the eclipse
* please note: the above timings are estimated, based upon the eclipse statistics for Chongqing & Wuhan, which are the closest destinations recorded. We'll be ready and waiting for the eclipse, well ahead of time!

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.

On the go is a specialist operator of cultural and adventure tours in China. Fun and informative group tours of China offering frequent departures at realistic prices starting in Beijing or Shanghai include highlights such as the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, Yangtze River Three Gorges cruising, Suzhou, Guilin and Yangshuo. Specialist individual China touring itineraries including highlights such as the Silk Road, Yunnan Province, Confucius’ birthplace in Qufu, city stays in Beijing or Shanghai, Christmas tour departures and a range of regional bolt ons are also a hallmark. We can also arrange for you to conclude arrangements at Hong Kong.