| | |
| | |
 | | | | | | | |
 | |
| | | | | | |
| |
Program Itinerary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| | | | | | Itinerary Overview: | | | |
| | | |
|
9-Day Overview, July 15-23, 2009 |
|
6-Day
Overview, July 18-23 |
|
Day
1 | |
Wed, |
July
15 |
Arrive
Beijing |
|
|
|
| |
Day
2 | |
Thu, |
July 16 |
Beijing |
|
|
|
Day
3 | |
Fri,
|
July 17 |
Beijing |
|
|
|
| |
Day
4 | |
Sat,
|
July 18 |
Beijing |
|
Day
1 |
|
Arrive
Shanghai |
|
Day
5 | |
Sun,
|
July 19 |
Shanghai |
|
Day
2 |
|
Shanghai | |
Day
6 | |
Mon, |
July 20 |
Suzhou |
|
Day
3 |
|
Suzhou |
|
Day 7 |
|
Tue, |
July 21 |
Shanghai |
|
Day
4 |
|
Shanghai |
|
Day
8 |
|
Wed, |
July 22 |
Eclipse
Day outside Shanghai |
|
Day
5 |
|
Eclipse
Day
outside Shanghai |
|
Day
9 |
|
Thu, |
July 23 |
Shanghai Onward |
|
Day
6 |
|
Shanghai
Onward |
| | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Day 1
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
No Meals
Arrive
Beijing | |
 | |
Upon arrival at Beijing’s
Capital International Airport (PEK), you will be met and transferred to our
hotel. The balance of the day will be free to relax and explore on your own. | |
Overnight:
OrientalBay International Hotel
or similar (4 nights) |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Day 2
Thu, July 16
B/L/D
Temple of Heaven - Peking
Duck Dinner |
|
| |
After breakfast at the
hotel, we will board our private motorcoach for today’s sightseeing. We will
tour the delicately crafted Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
where the emperors used to pray for good harvest. After lunch, we will tour
the network of alleyways and courtyards called Hutongs. Riding aboard a
pedicab through the narrow lanes of the old residential quarters, we will
have the opportunity to glimpse the local residents’ daily life. This
evening, we will be treated to the famous Peking Duck Dinner. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Day 3
Fri,
July 17
B/L/D
Great Wall of China - Ming Tombs |
|
| |
 |
|
The highlight today will
be the astonishing Juyongguan Pass Great Wall of China, to walk on that
picturesque stretch of wall winding its way up the mountain ridge. We will
then tour the Ming Tombs, the extensive burial complex for thirteen of the
Ming emperors, which is approached by the Sacred Way - a wide, elegant path
lined with symbolic stone statues. |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Day
4
Sat, July 18
B/L/D
Tiananmen Square - Forbidden City - Ancient
Observatory - Summer Palace |
|
| |
Our
excursion today will include a visit to historic Tiananmen Square, the
‘front door’ to the Forbidden City. The largest and most intact
conglomeration of ancient structures of the imperial palace, the Forbidden
City was the palace for 24 Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors who ruled China
for over 500 years. Following lunch, we will visit
the Ancient Observatory,
situated at the Southeast corner of Beijing's Jianguomen Bridge. Initially
built in 1442, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), its rich history spans
more than 500 years, making it one of the most historically interesting
observatories in the world. Later we’ll visit the
Summer Palace. With its
classical Chinese gardens and over 3,000 structures including pavilions,
towers, bridges and corridors, the Summer Palace is listed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Day
5
Sun, July 19
B/L/D
Shanghai: Children’s Palace - Oriental Pearl
Tower - Evening River Cruise |
|
| |
After breakfast, we will
transfer to the airport for a flight to Shanghai, China’s largest city (home
to 16 million people), which is also China’s principal port on the Yangtze
River. Upon our arrival in Shanghai, we will make a few stops en route to
the hotel – including the Children’s Palace (a pre-revolution mansion turned
school of arts) and the Oriental Pearl Tower (the third tallest tower in the
world) to have a bird’s-eye view of Shanghai. After dinner, we will cruise
on Huangpu River to enjoy a fascinating night view of Shanghai. |
|
| |
Overnight: Skyway Landis Hotel or similar (4 nights) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Day
6
Mon, July 20
B/L/D
Suzhou | |
| |
Today’s excursion will
take us to the historic city of Suzhou, noted for its canals, incredible
silk tapestries, and landscaped classical gardens. While we cruise the
ancient Grand Canal with a history of more than 2400 years, we will
experience the unique cultures and glimpse the daily life of the local
residents. We will tour the Lingering Garden, one of the most famous gardens
in China, also known for the exquisite beauty of its magnificent halls and
buildings. Afterwards, our visit to the silk embroidery factory will show us
the complexity of creating these extraordinary textiles. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Day
7
Tue,
July 21
B/L/D
Shanghai: Yu Garden - The
Bund - Nanjing Road | |
| |
Today we will visit the
five-acre Yu Garden highlighted by its Exquisite Jade Rock, which is
over 10 feet in height and has 72 holes. What is intriguing about this
rock is that smoke from a joss stick placed just below the rock will
float out from all of the holes, while water poured into the top will
flow out from each hole, creating a magical sight.
Other highlights today
include the Bund, the historic waterfront road rich in diverse
colonial-era architecture; bustling Nanjing Road, the city’s main
shopping district that must be experienced even if you aren’t shopping;
and the renowned Shanghai Museum of Art and History, which ranks among
the great museums of the world. After dinner, don’t miss the briefing
for tomorrow’s eclipse day activities. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Day
8
Wed,
July 22
B/L/D
Eclipse Day outside Shanghai |
|
| |
Early this morning we
will leave Shanghai for our pre-selected eclipse viewing site. Join us
this evening for a celebration dinner. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
Local contact times from our approximate viewing site: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1st
contact: |
|
08:23.03 |
|
altitude
40 degrees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Totality
Begins: |
|
09:36.07 |
|
altitude
57 degrees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Mid
eclipse: |
|
09:39.03 |
|
altitude
57 degrees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Totality
Ends: |
|
09:42.01 |
|
altitude
57 degrees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
4th
contact: |
|
11:02.40 |
|
altitude
73 degrees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Duration of totality: 5
minutes and 53.5 seconds |
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Eclipse
Weather in Shanghai |
|
| |
by Jay
Anderson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Monsoon
conditions over China during July offer unencouraging cloud
prospects for the 2009 eclipse everywhere along the track –
except on the coast of the South China Sea near Shanghai.
The cooler temperatures flowing off of the ocean suppress
the formation of convective clouds when winds blow onshore,
bringing a sunnier climate and relief from the high humidity
typical of inland regions. Climate data for Shanghai’s
Pudong Airport, situated on the coast, reveals that the
average cloud cover is 4 to 15 percent lower than at
Shanghai city and Hongqiao Airport, both of which lie well
inland. The coast of China has some of the best cloud
prospects anywhere along the eclipse track, and comes with
the added benefit of an extended eclipse duration. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Falling
temperatures during an eclipse typically subdue the growth
of small convective clouds and a further reduction of 5 or
even 10% in cloud cover on eclipse day is a possibility. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
Day
9
Thu,
July 23
B
Shanghai -
Onward |
|
| |
After breakfast and check-out,
you will be transferred to the airport for your flight onward, or you may wish
to join one of our optional add-on tours. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| | | |
CLICK HERE to go to the Pricing Page | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Back to Top | | | |
 | | | | | | | | |
| Copyright 2007 TravelQuest International. All rights reserved. 800-830-1998
Revised:
January 19, 2009.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders. | | | | | | | | |
|
