| Solar Eclipse Trip to China 2009 with Houston Museum of Natural Science Beijing • Xi’an • Chongqing • Yangtze River Cruise • Wuhan • Shanghai July 10 - 23, 2009 A total solar eclipse is one of nature’s most awe-inspiring events—as the moon covers the sun and plunges the land below into darkness. Dr. Carolyn Sumners, HMNS curator of astronomy, is accompanying groups traveling with HMNS to see the 2009 solar eclipse in China. This two-week trip is designed to explore the ancient and modern wonders of China, and includes a Yangtze River Cruise. ITINERARY Day 1 (July 10): Houston – Beijing (by air) Day 2 (July 11): Arrival in Beijing Our guide picks you up at the Beijing Airport for transfer to the hotel to rest after the long flight. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city. Evening features a welcome dinner. (D) Day 3 (July 12): Beijing Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the ancient Beijing Observatory and the modern Beijing Planetarium. A Beijing Duck Dinner is served at the original century-old Quan Ju De restaurant, followed by a lively Peking Opera performance at the Liyuan Theatre. (B/L/D) Day 4 (July 13): Beijing The day begins with a visit to the Badaling Great Wall. We will have Sichuan food at a local popular restaurant to avoid crowds at the Great Wall. In the afternoon, we visit the Sacred Way and the Ming Tomb. (B/L/D) Day 5 (July 14): Beijing – Xi’an (by air) Our morning begins with a visit to the Summer Palace, a very famous royal garden of over 700 acres with over 3,000 buildings, courtyards, bridges and a large lake. In the afternoon we take a flight to Xi’an and transfer to the hotel. Afterward we make a quick visit to the City Wall and enjoy the numerous gardens and other classical Chinese structures. (B/D) Day 6 (July 15): Xi’an Morning begins with the Terra-Cotta Warriors & Horses Museum. Here you’ll see three vaults with over 8,000 terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of Qin Dynasty, about 2,200 years ago. After lunch, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque. In the evening, enjoy the local speciality, a Dumpling Banquet, followed by a Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show. (B/L/D) Day 7 (July 16): Xi’an – Chongqing Morning begins with the Provincial History Museum. After lunch at a local famous restaurant, we take a flight to Chongqing and then pay a short visit to the Panda House at the Chongqing Zoo. After a rich buffet dinner at a 4-star hotel, we board a deluxe German-made cruise ship to stay for 4 nights. (B/L/D) Day 8 (July 17): Chongqing – Fengdu (by ship) In the morning, your memorable Yangtze River tour begins. In the afternoon we explore the Ghost City of Fengdu. Completion of the Three Gorges Dam will submerge part of China’s only ghost city, leaving only the areas above the “Door of Hell” above water. (B/L/D) Day 9 (July 18): Badong–Xiling Gorge–Sandouping (by ship) Visit the ancient city of Badong and take a small Chinese junk to enjoy the marvelous spectacles of nature in the deep gorges of the Shennong Stream. Then we continue traveling into the western section of Xiling Gorge, and then journey through five locks in order to pass the tall Three Gorges Dam. (B/L/D) Day 10 (July 19): Sandouping Visit the site of the Three Gorges Dam Project, a new major tourist attraction, being completed in 2009 after 12 years of construction. This dam controls flooding on the Yangtze River and provides power generation. (B/L/D) Day 11 (July 20): Wuhan – Shanghai (by air) At noon, we will arrive in Wuhan and visit the Hubei Provincial Museum. After lunch at a local famous restaurant, we take a flight to Shanghai and transfer to the hotel. A memorable dinner will be followed by the Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theatre. (B/L/D) Day 12 (July 21): Shanghai After a visit to the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden, and the Bund, we will travel to the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. The afternoon is free for testing of telescopes and cameras for the upcoming eclipse. Dinner is on your own with choices of Chinese and Western cuisine. (Travelers with astronomical equipment can ship it directly to Shanghai, instead of carrying it on the entire trip.) (B/L) Day 13 (July 22): Shanghai Very early morning departure for the eclipse viewing site in ShaoXing or at an alternative location if weather reports dictate. Some travelers may choose to remain at the hotel to see the eclipse in the vibrant urban setting of Shanghai. We will be at our observing site at least one hour before first contact to give people time to set up telescopes and camera equipment. The group will gather to share eclipse images in the afternoon with dinner on your own in Shanghai. Each participant will receive a set of eclipse images on DVD after we return to the US. (B/L) Day 14 (July 23): Departure from Shanghai Free morning for shopping prior to taking international flite back to Houston. (B) HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: • Beijing Tiantan Hotel (4 stars) • Xi’an Gloria Plaza (4 stars) • China Regal Cruise (5 stars) or Victoria Cruise (5 stars) • Shanghai River Bund Hotel (4 stars) TOUR PACKAGE FEE: "Land Only" Package Cost: $3,897.00 double occupancy; $875.00 single supplement. Combined Air and Land Package Cost: $4,927.00 double occupancy; $875.00 single supplement. Includes the Land Package plus Round Trip international airfare between Houston and China. Tour Package includes: • Round trip economic class international air tickets between Houston and China (only if purchasing ground and international air package) • China domestic air tickets • 4- or 5-star Hotel accommodations • Venue admissions to attractions listed in Itinerary • Breakfast every day while in China
• DVD of eclipse footage and photographs of trip highlights, and eclipse-viewing glasses NOTE: A Chinese Visa is required for travel to China. Travelers may obtain the Chinese Visa on their own through the Chinese Consulate in Houston. TO SECURE YOUR RESERVATION: Your Deposit of $750.00 to secure your Reservation is due on or by September 1, 2008. The remaining Balance of your applicable Tour Package Fee is due in full on or by April 1, 2009. Persons reserving after due date for Reservations Deposits of September 1, 2008, must pay full amount of their applicable Tour Package Fee in order to secure their reservation. Reservations close: April 1, 2009 NOTE: This Itinerary is subject to change without further notice due to the weather, flight or other local reasons which are beyond our control. TRAVEL PROTECTION INSURANCE (OPTIONAL): Travel protection insurance coverage is highly recommended. Snobby Tours®, Inc. is licensed to provide Speciality Insurance - Travel if you desire this optional coverage for any of our custom tours. Snobby Tours®, Inc. Tour and Event General Policies apply to all reservations. |
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