Knife China

Total Solar Eclipse Tour in Xinjiang of China

The best place for watching the total Solar Eclipse in China is Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region . The unique astronomical phenomenon will occur on the 1st August 2008 in China. There will not be a longer total solar eclipse until 2009 in China, so don’t miss the opportunity to watch the total solar eclipse in China.On August 1, 2008, a total solar eclipse will occur as the new moon moves directly between the sun and the earth. The moon’s umbral shadow will fall on China.

For planning the total solar eclipse trip including transportation,hotel booking, car rental ect. just email us and we will help you with your xinjiang tour for viewing the total solar eclipse in China.

Our total solar eclipse tour begins and ends in Beijing, China .  It has been reported to us that 1.5 million domestic Chinese travellers and 750,000 foreigns are expected during the Olympic period. Hence we have put our most popular optional tour ahead of the eclipse package. However, the basic and post tour are nevertheless impacted by the peak Olympic pricing period.

July 28 (Monday): ARRIVAL IN BEIJING

Arrive in Beijing on your own. After completion of customs formalities, you will be greeted by our professional tour guide holding a sign reading “total solar eclipse”. You will then be transferred to your accommodations provided at the Dongjiaominxiang Hotel.

Dongjiaominxiang Hotel Beijing is a four-star hotel located in the center of the Beijing City. It is in the former embassy area. You may walk to Tiananmen Square and the Qianmen Commerical area in ten minutes. Wangfujing Commerical Street is also ten minutes walking distance. The Dongjiaominxiang Hotel in Beijing has 218 guestrooms and all rooms are equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, cable TV, IDD, DDD and internet access. Overnight Beijing.

Of all the tourist sites of potential great interest to eclipse observers might be the Gate of Dispelling Clouds. It is located a the Summer Palace (part of the post eclipse tour). However, if you are superstitious, it might not be a bad idea to make a small pilgrimage there before Eclipse Day. Twelve Taihu rocks depicting the twelve Chinese zodiac animals and a pair of bronze lions are in front of the gate. The lions are auspicious animals and in Chinese culture are believed to ward off evil spirits. The twelve rocks are shaped like the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and the pig.

July 29 (Tuesday): BEIJING

Beginning today, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included daily. After breakfast, there will be a welcome briefing in the hotel.This morning you will be among the privileged few to enjoy a behind-the-scenes view of Hutong, the old city of Beijing. Setting out with your guide on traditional three-wheel cycles, you will visit the 15th century Drum Tower for an overview of the intricate labyrinth comprising the district. Then, walk along its ancient alleyways and visit both typical quadrangle’s where ordinary citizens live and gracious old estates once owned by the capital’s aristocracy. You will enjoy lunch with a local family and an afternoon of shopping at the Silk Alley and Rainbow Market.

Overnight at the Dongjiaominxiang Hotel, Beijing (B,L,D).

July 30 (Wednesday): DUN HUANG

Transfer to the Beijing airport for your flight to Dunhuang (Gansu Province) in western China. Upon arrival you will be met and taken on a tour of the Mogao Grottoes and the Museum. The Grottoes are one of the most important ancient sites of Buddhist culture, preserving nearly a thousand years of cave-temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts dating from the 5th to 14th centuries. They are carved into desert cliffs overlooking a river valley. There are a series of 500 caves, 2400 painted sculptures and 45000 square meters of frescoes. Following your tour you will be transferred to your hotel (either Don Huang Guest House or Dun Huang International Hotel depending on which group you are in). Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight Dunhuang (B,L,D).

July 31 (Thursday): DUNHUANG TO HAMI

After breakfast, travel by motor coach from Dunhuang to Hami (Xinjiang Province) approximately 420km (250 miles) which is about a 5-hour drive. The town of Hami is a small oasis at the remotest end of China. Known in the past as Kumul it was once an important caravan stop on the northern route of the Silk Road. Accommodations provided at the Hami Hotel. Dinner and overnight in Hami (B, L, D).

August 1 (Friday): ECLIPSE DAY!

Your choice of observation of the eclipse from one of three areas. For those who want to observe totality only, there will be two centerline sites to be announced later. At both locations from 1m50 to 2m00s may be visible. The sun will be situated about 20 degrees above the western horizon for this rare alignment of the moon and sun.

The third area is very near our base site of Hami and is defined by the southern limit of the eclipse. About 30 seconds of totality is visible at the Hami city site, but Baily’s Beads should be very prolonged and the purpose there will be to videorecord the Beads as part of an ongoing study of changes in the solar radius! Overnight in Hami. (B, L, D)

August 2 (Saturday): HAMI TO DUNHUANG

After breakfast depart by motorcoach to Dunhuang. Check into your hotel (Grand Sun Hotel or Dun Huang International Hotel). Afternoon tour of Mingsha (Singing Sand Dunes) Mountain which is celebrated for the sounds of the moving sand. Named Sha Jiao Moutain in the early East Han Dynasty, it is 800 square km in size with ridges and mpeaks known to be as sharp as a knife. Stepping on the sand may change its shape temporarily but the sand always returns to its original shape the next day. Walking on the sand, one can also hear a sound that could be as light as a bamboo instrument or as heavy as thunderous drums. Also visit the Crescent Spring (Yueyaquan) that is so named because of its large crescent shape. The spring has a depth of 3 meters with sweet, crystal clear water. The sand never gets into the spring and the water is never muddy or dried up. There are three treasures to be seen here: the iron back fish, the seven star grass and the five color sand. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Dunhuang (B,L,D).

August 3 (Sunday):

After breakfast depart for the Dunhuang airport for your flight to Beijing. End of land tour (B).

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

• accommodations in double/twin bedded rooms in 3 – 4 star hotels or similar category
• bus transfers to/from solar eclipse site
• solar eclipse briefing
• round trip transfers from Beijing airport to hotel in Beijing provided you arrive and depart with the tour group.
• round trip flights between Beijing and Dunhuang, China
• all road and other transport as indicated in the itinerary
• airconditioned bus transport
• entrance fees
• sightseeing per the itinerary
• baggage handling at all hotels
• meals as shown where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
• beverages with lunches and dinners
• local English speaking guides
• bottled water on the buses
• Hotel V.A.T (Value Added Tax), city tax, and service charges

 

TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• International airfare
• Any additional charge(s) and/or special documentations to be filled for importing/exporting telescopes (if even required)
• cost of visa to China
• cost of required vaccinations
• travel insurance (highly recommended)
• roundtrip Beijing airport to your hotel transfers IF YOU DO NOT ARRIVE/DEPART WITH THE GROUP
• beverages
• departure tax from China at end of tour
• optional excursions
• tips and gratuities
• personal expenses and anything else not included in the ‘tour includes’ features list

from  http://english.51766.com  by lisa

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