I have posted information about Shanghai, Beijing, China and much more, on my blog (left side). More will be coming. If you have some good sites, please email me.
I've been on 7 eclipse trips (1972, 1973, 1979, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2001), helped/presented 3 other eclipse company/trips.
This time will be on Rick Brown's eclipse trip for in July. I am looking forward to meeting him and the others.
I already have my airlines transportation to Los Angeles and then on to Shanghai and back after the trip. This is the itinerary. I will use this guide to :
(1) place photos and videoclips (links to youtube later)
(2) eclipse trip accounts and additional information before, maybe, during and most certainly after the eclipse.
(3) Feedback about the Food and restaurants will be noted later on my food blog Kansas City Traveling Gourmet as well is in the account for this trip
(4) linking to my Black Sun eclipse, which I hope to resurrect and port to a new server soon.
I will be using this itinerary as a guide to not information for the trip and related information.
TUESDAY, Jul14 (or earlier) Arrive Shanghai
Arrive Shanghai, and clear customs. Have your passports ready with THE VISA INSIDE THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN BEFORE YOU LEFT FOR CHINA. Then collect your baggage, and go through customs.
ONCE I HAVE GOTTEN YOUR ARRIVAL INFORMATION, I WILL TRY TO PUT TOGETHER GROUP TRANSPORTATION, AT YOUR EXPENSE, PAID TO THE GUIDE AT THE AIRPORT TO TAKE YOU TO THE HOTEL, or you may take taxis. Either way, you will need to change some money at the airport to pay a taxi, or the van. You can do this at the airport after you claim your bags. You will always need to show a passport to exchange money.
If you are using prearranged transport by me, look for your name on a poster that the guide will have to meet you as you exit from customs. If you are taking a cab, go directly outside to the taxiline.
Hotel Accommodation: Huating Hotel & Towers
Address: 1200 Cao Xi Bei Lu, Shanghai, 200030
Tel: 011-86-21-64391000
Fax: 011-86-21-64397853
TAXI INSTRUCTIONS.... Generall y, the small compact cabs will hold 4 small adults. The taxi will more than likely only hold 2 or maybe 3 people with your bags. The METER will end up to be less than $50.00 to the hotel=(about 300 RMB) There are about 6.8 RMB to $1.00
CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION... There is a line of LICENSED, METERED CABS outside the exit of the terminal. Unless I have sent a driver for you, DO NOT NOT NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ACCEPT A RIDE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL THAT APPROACHES YOU NO MATTER WHAT. DO NOT FOLLOW THEM TO ANY WAITING TAXI. IF THEY HARRASS YOU, SIMPLY SAY "PU YA" WHICH MEANS POLITLY, I DONT WANT IT. PLEASE OBEY THIS. IF YOU TAKE ONE OF THESE OTHER CABS, YOU WILL END UP AT THE HOTEL, FOR 3X THE PRICE, AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT BUT SCREAM WHEN YOU GET TO THE HOTEL AND MAKE A SCENE. THESE UNLICENSED CABS LOOK LIKE REGULAR ONES, AND HAVE METERS THAT RUN AT 4 TIMES THE USUAL RATE. PLEEEEEZE USE THE TAXIS FROM THE TAXI LINE WITH THE DISPACHER AT THE FRONT.
We will be waiting at the hotel for all the arriving people to assist you in checking in, welcoming you, answering questions, and introducing everyone as they arrive.
The rest of the day is at your leisure. We will have a little gathering in the lobby at about 8pm for those still awake. The time change in all of China is EST + 12 hours... or GMT +8.
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Wednesday, Jul15 Shanghai
Buffet BREAKFAST STARTS AT 6AM
BRIEFING AT 8AM SHARP DEPART FOR DAY AT 9AM
Trip Briefing in a hotel function room in the morning
Morning visit to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showing the old, new and future Shanghai, then visit the Yu Yuan Garden & Old Town.
Shanghai Dim Sum Lunch at a local restaurant including one glass of soft drink or local beer.
Afternoon visit the famous Shanghai Museum
Welcome Western Buffet Dinner in the hotel incl. one glass of soft drink or local beer, coffee & tea. followed by a trip orientation .
(B/L/BD)
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Thursday, Jul16 Shanghai
Breakfast
9AM DEPARTURE
Morning excursion to the water town of Zhujiajiao including a sampan ride on the small canals.
Chinese lunch in a local restaurant including one glass of soft drink or local beer.
After lunch return to Shanghai WITH A STOP AT A LOCAL QUALITY SHANGHAI SILK CARPET SHOP. Then, back to hotel for your own shopping, resting etc.
Dinner is on your own with suggestions from the guides
Optional acrobatic show or Bund river tour (recommended)
(B/L)
Friday, Jul 17 Shanghai/Yichang
Morning free at leisure - Please enjoy a big breakfast., as only a small lunch will be served on the flight.
HOTEL DEPARTURE AT 11:30 FOR OUR FLIGHT TO YICHANG
Transfer to the airport for SHANGHAI AIRLINES FM9365 (1340/1535)Flying to Yichang.
Arrive Yichang, city tour.
THEN TRANSFER TO OUR CRUISE SHIP WHERE WE WILL SETTLE IN, AND ENJOY A BUFFET DINNER AT OUR LEISU RE.
After dinner, WE WILL HAVE SOME GUEST LECTURERS SPEAK ABOUT INTERESTING TOPICS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THEN, YOU CAN EXPLORE THE SHIP ON YOUR OWN, PERHAPS TREAT YOURSELF TO A MASSAGE, AND GET A GOOD NIGHTS REST. The boat leaves the dock at midnight.
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Saturday, Jul18 Yangtze River Cruise
7:00am – 8:30am Xiling Gorge
8:30am – 10:30am Shore Excursion to the Three Gorges Dam
All meals on board
*The schedule is subject to change according to the weather & water level condition
(B/L/D)
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SUNDAY, Jul 19 Yangtze River Cruise
8:00am – 12:30pm Boat excursion to the Shennong Stream or Lesser Three Gorges
1:00pm – 3:30pm Wu Gorge
4:00pm – 4:30pm Qutang Gorge
5:00pm – 7:00pm Optional shore excursion to the White King Town
*The schedule is subject to change according to the weather & water level condition
(B/L/D)
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MONDAY, Jul 20 Yangtze River Cruise
8:30am - 10:30am Shore excursion to Fengdu or Shibaozhai Pagoda
(B/L/D)
This is our last full day on the ship. About an hour before dinner, we will hold our "ECLIPSE SEMINAR" where we will get a few short lectures on eclipses, and also, most important for the "eclipse virgins" a talk on eclipse timing, and all the things to expect on eclipse day. We will also hand out your ECLIPSE VIEWERS that you will use to safely watch the partial phases of the eclipse. Then, we all move to the dining room for our farewell dinner, and then enjoy our "Farewell Revieu Theater Show".
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TUESDAY, Jul21 Chongqing/Wuhan
Arrive Chongqing by dawn, HAVE OUR FINAL BREAKFAST ON THE SHIP. AND WE DISEMBARKE. THEN, A SHORT CITY TOUR AND A VISIT TO SEE THE FAMOUS LOVABLE CHINESE PANDA BEARS AT THE CHONGQING PANDA ZOO. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR CAMERA READY. THEN Transfer to airport for your flight flying to Wuhan – CHINA SOUTHERN FLIGHT #3427 DEPARTS CHONGQING AT 4:40, AND ARRIVE TO WUHAN A 5:50. THEN TRANSFER TO HO LIDAY INN RIVERSIDE IN WUHAN.
Hotel Accommodation: Holiday Inn Riverside
Address: 88 Xi Ma Chang Jie., Hanyang, Wuhan 430050
Tel: 011-86-27-84716688
Fax: 011-86-27-84716181
DINNER AT THE HOTEL WILL BE A RIVERSIDE OUTDOOR Western style buffet Dinner OVERLOOKING THE RIVER.
(B/BD)
TUESDAY IN FULL....
Good morning... THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ECLIPSE PLANNING DAY!!!! We will have a nice buffet breakfast, pack, and be off the ship by noon today. PLEASE DONT FORGET to tip all the caring people that took care of us for the last 4 days!!!! Breakfast will be available until about 11am, then we will get on the bus, see a bit of Chingqing on a short city tour, and then go to the Panda Zoo for a visit. We then head for the airport for our flight to Wuhan. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU PACK CORRECTLY WHILE ON THE SHIP FOR THE NEXT 2 DAYS. PLEASE, IN A SEPERATE SORT OF OVERNIGHT BAG, OR PERHAPS IN A SINGLE SUITCASE FOR 2 PEOPLE, PACK THE THINGS YOU WILL NEED IN WUHAN FOR THE OVERNIGHT THERE, AS WELL AS FOR ECLIPSE DAY TOMORROW. TOMORROW, WE WILL BE LEAVING THE HOTEL BETWEEN 3AM AND 5AM FOR THE ECLIPSE VIEWING AREA, AND THEN WE WILL HEAD DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT WITHOUT RETURNING TO THE HOTEL. THERE IS NO NEED FOR ALL YOUR BAGS TO BE MOVED INTO THE HOTEL AND THEN REMOVED SUCH A SHORT TIME LATER. THE BAGS THAT DO NOT GO INTO THE HOTEL ROOMS WILL REMAIN ON THE BUSSES UNTIL WE ARRIVE TO THE AIRPORT AFTER THE ECLIPSE. IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEM AT ALL TIMES, BUT THE DRIVERS WILL HAVE TO DIG THEM OUT FROM THE BUSSES. YOU WILL ONLY NEED YOUR CLOTHING FOR AN INFORMAL OUTDOOR DINNER, SLEEP, TOILET ITEMS (MOST OF THEM PROVIDED IN YOUR ROOM) AND CLOTHES FOR ECLIPSE DAY.
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WEDNESDAY, Jul22 Wuhan/Xian
ECLIPSE DAY - Early morning depart hotel for the the venue to view the eclipse.
Transfer to airport for your flight to Xian - Flight Numbers CHINA SOUTHERN FLIGHT 6940 DEPARTS WUHAN AT 14:40 AND ARRIVES IN XIAN AT 17:10 .
Arrive Xian, met and transferred to your hotel
Hotel Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel Xian (5*)
Address: 38B Keji Road, Xian 710075
Tel: 011-86-29-88758888
Fax: 011-96-10-88759999
DINNER AT DEFACHANG’S FAMOUS TRADITIONAL DUMPLING REST.
THE DAY WE HAVE ALL WAITED FOR. EARLY, EARLY WAKE UP, (or perhaps, not, for those that have not yet gone to sleep...) As we will have 3 busses for the group, we will have departures at 3am, 4am, and 5am. Take all you stuff, AS WE WILL NOT BE RETURNING BACK TO THE HOTEL.
We will be viewing the eclipse from the Wuhan University of BioEngineering campus, at an exclusive area just for us, and some invited guests. We will have the busses a few steps away from us at all times, so you can use the busses to keep your things there, rest, get a cool drink... whatever. It will be very easy to move any and all equipment from the busses to the actual viewing area. The actual area is a concrete campus quad area that will be roped off, with seating available. Security will also be present.
After the eclipse, we will be treated to a wonderful lunch on campus, have time to pack up, relax a bit by the lake on campus if you like, and then we will head to the airport for our flight to Xian.
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Thursday, Jul23 Xian
Buffet breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit the Terra Cotta Museum including the Pit#1, 2 & 3, the Bronze Chariot & Circle Vision Movie.
A FUN LUNCH IS IN STORE.
Afternoon visit the ancient City Wall & Wild Goose Pogoda. THEN, BACK TO THE HOTEL FOR A SHORT REST, AND FRESHEN UP FOR DINNER AT
the Tang Dy nasty Dinner & Show at the Tang Dynaty Theatre.
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Friday, Jul24 Xian/Beijing
A QUICK 6AM EARLY BREAKFAST IN THE HOTEL, AND Transfer to morning flight flying to Beijing – HAINAN AIR #7238 DEPARTS AT 9:20 ARRIVES IN BEIJING AT 10:45. met and transferred to your hotel. SETTLE IN AND GET READY FOR THE AFTERNOON TOUR…
0A
Hotel Accommodation: The Peninsula Beijing (5*)
Address: 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing, Dong Cheng district, Beijing 100006
Tel: 011-86-10-65106000
Fax: 011-86-10-65129050
Chinese lunch at THE HISTORIC BAMBOO GARDEN.restaurant incl. one glass of soft drink or local beer.
Afternoon Hutong Tour - Visit the Beijing's old Hutong ("narrow lanes") area. At the Drum Tower, see a traditional drum performance. Then take an old-fashioned pedicab to the Chichahai Lake area with its 700-year-old arched bridges and courtyard-style homes know as Siheyuan. Tour one of the area's homes and visit with a local family. Stop at a Hutong kindergarten (if school is open) and a vegetable market.
Dinner is on pax's own tonight, WHERE YOU CAN RELAX, OR GET A MASSAGE. WE WILL HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU.
(B/L)
SATURDAY, Jul25 Beijing
Morning visit the Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City
Chinese lunch at a local restaurant incl. one glass of soft drink or local beer.
Afternoon visit the Summer Palace with a boat ride on the Kunming Lake if weather permits.
Dinner is THE BEIJING NIGHT DINNER AND SHOW AT THE BEIJING NIGHT THEATER.
SUNDAY, Jul26 Beijing
8:30 DEPARTURE Morning visit the Great Wall at Badaling
Chinese lunch at local restaurant incl. one glass of soft drink or local beer.
Afternoon visit the Sacred Way & Ming Tombs at Ding Tomb with the underground palace.
Farewell Peking Duck Dinner at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant.
(B/L/DP)
Monday, Jul27 Beijing/USA
BREAKFAST, HOTEL CHECK OUT, AND FAREWELL HUGS AND KISSES
Your own transfer from the hotel to Beijing airport for your homeward flight.
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