China 2009 — Eclipse-City — Tours #1 & Prices

Eclipse Tour #1 : Shanghai & East China Sea

Watch the 21^st century’s longest total solar eclipse on the most easternly part of the central line in China.

Join us on Yangshan Island, south of Shanghai, or on board our Eclipse-City cruiser.

Itinerary 1A : 1-day tour from Shanghai (China) Wednesday July 22^nd 2009 189 € p.p. (no single supplement)	Itinerary 1E : 10-day add-on tour in Tibet (China) Friday July 10^th - Sunday July 19^th 2009 2,990 € p.p. (single supplement of 500€)	Cooperation agreement [328 KB]
Itinerary 1B : 2-day tour from Shanghai (China) Tuesday July 21^st - Wednesday July 22^nd 2009 399 € p.p. (single supplement of 75€)	Itinerary 1F : 11-day add-on tour in Tibet (China) Wednesday July 22^th - Saturday August 1^st 2009 3,290 € p.p. (single supplement of 575€)
Itinerary 1C : 3-day tour from Shanghai (China) Tuesday July 21^st - Thursday July 23^rd 2009 499 € p.p. (single supplement of 150€)	Itinerary 1G : 5-day cruise from Shanghai (China) Sunday July 19^th - Thursday July 23^rd 2009 1,299 € p.p. (single supplement of xxx€)
Itinerary 1D : 4-day tour from Shanghai (China) Sunday July 19^th - Wednesday July 22^nd 2009 899 € p.p. (single supplement of 225€)

Itinerary 1A : E-day tour from Shanghai (China)
Wednesday July 22^nd 2009
189 € p.p. (no single supplement)

Day 1: Wednesday, July 22^nd 2009 - E-Day with 5 min. 57 sec. of totality [L]
Transfer from downtown Shanghai to Yangshan Island with chartered busses to our Eclipse-City viewing site.
Access to this island is restricted by the local authorities. However, Eclipse-City has secured itself a number of permits for its customers. Busses will be leaving downtown Shanghai at 03:30 am from our partner hotel, arriving on Yangshan Island at around 05:30 am. After passing all required control checkpoints, enjoy sunrise at 05:04 am when crossing Yangshan bridge.
Start of the partial eclipse is at 08:24 am, totality between 09:37 am and 09:43 am (altitude = 57°, azimuth = 100°, i.e. facing East). The partial eclipse will end at 11:03 am. You will have the opportunity to observe the eclipse either from sea level or from any of the 2,300 steps leading to the observing platforms on Yangshan’s rock walk (up to 150 meters above sea level). Provided we have clear skies (50% probability), this hilltop site has an unobstructed view of the entire sky down to the horizon.
Transfer back to Shanghai at noon, arriving around 2 pm.

Included services: air-conditioned bus transportation, English, German and Chinese speaking local guides, eclipse eyeshades, breakfast package, entrance fees and all required permits. This tour does not include any hotel accomodation.

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Itinerary 1B : 2-day tour from Shanghai (China)
Tuesday July 21^st - Wednesday July 22^nd 2009
399 € p.p. (single supplement of 75€)

Day 1: Tuesday, July 21^st 2009 - Arrival in Shanghai [L, D]
Arrival at the Shangri-La Pudong in Shanghai on your own. Overnight in our 5-star hotel centrally located and close to Shanghai’s Bund and shopping district.
Enjoy InterSoles 2 between 10 am and 4 pm right at your hotel. InterSoles offers a wide varitety of edutainment activities and an astronomy exhibition. This is fun and entertaining for novices and experienced eclipse observers altogether. Check out our program on a regular basis.
After InterSoles is over, you may want to stroll around Shanghai’s shopping district before you meet us again on top of one of Shanghai’s art deco buildings. We shall enjoy a sundowner with the magnificent views of the Bund and Huangpu river. Back to the hotel, you will take an early dinner. It is now time to go to bed: we will wake you up at 2:30 am!

Day 2: Wednesday, July 22^nd 2009 - E-Day with 5 min. 57 sec. of totality [B, L]
Transfer from downtown Shanghai to Yangshan Island with chartered busses to our Eclipse-City viewing site.
Access to this island is restricted by the local authorities. However, Eclipse-City has secured itself a number of permits for its customers. Busses will be leaving downtown Shanghai at 03:30 am from our partner hotel, arriving on Yangshan Island at around 05:30 am. After passing all required control checkpoints, enjoy sunrise at 05:04 am when crossing Yangshan bridge.
Start of the partial eclipse is at 08:24 am, totality between 09:37 am and 09:43 am (altitude = 57°, azimuth = 100°, i.e. facing East). The partial eclipse will end at 11:03 am. You will have the opportunity to observe the eclipse either from sea level or from any of the 2,300 steps leading to the observing platforms on Yangshan’s rock walk (up to 150 meters above sea level). Provided we have clear skies (50% probability), this hilltop site has an unobstructed view of the entire sky down to the horizon.
Transfer back to Shanghai or Pudong international airport at noon, arriving around 2 pm.

Included services: 1 5-star hotel night, air-conditioned bus transportation on July 22, English, German and Chinese speaking local guides, eclipse eyeshades, breakfast package, entrance fees and all required permits.

Optional itinerary: tours 1E or 1F in Tibet.

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Itinerary 1C : 3-day tour from Shanghai (China)
Tuesday July 21^st - Thursday July 23^rd 2009
499 € p.p. (single supplement of 150€)

Day 2: Wednesday, July 22^nd 2009 - E-Day with 5 min. 57 sec. of totality [B, L, D]
Transfer from downtown Shanghai to Yangshan Island with chartered busses to our Eclipse-City viewing site.
Access to this island is restricted by the local authorities. However, Eclipse-City has secured itself a number of permits for its customers. Busses will be leaving downtown Shanghai at 03:30 am from our partner hotel, arriving on Yangshan Island at around 05:30 am. After passing all required control checkpoints, enjoy sunrise at 05:04 am when crossing Yangshan bridge.
Start of the partial eclipse is at 08:24 am, totality between 09:37 am and 09:43 am (altitude = 57°, azimuth = 100°, i.e. facing East). The partial eclipse will end at 11:03 am. You will have the opportunity to observe the eclipse either from sea level or from any of the 2,300 steps leading to the observing platforms on Yangshan’s rock walk (up to 150 meters above sea level). Provided we have clear skies (50% probability), this hilltop site has an unobstructed view of the entire sky down to the horizon.
Transfer back to Shanghai and your hotel at noon, arriving around 2 pm. Free afternoon and overnight.

Day 3: Thursday, July 23^rd 2009 - Farewell [B]
Checkout latest by noon. End of program.

Included services: 2 5-star hotel nights, free acces to InterSoles 2, air-conditioned bus transportation on July 22, English, German and Chinese speaking local guides, eclipse eyeshades, breakfast package, entrance fees and all required permits.

Optional itinerary: tours 1E or 1F in Tibet.

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Itinerary 1D : 4-day tour from Shanghai (China)
Sunday July 19^th - Wednesday July 22^nd 2009
899 € p.p. (single supplement of 225€)

Day 1: Sunday, July 19^th 2009 - Arrival in Shanghai [D]
Arrival at the Shangri-La Pudong in Shanghai on your own. Overnight in our 5-star hotel centrally located and close to Shanghai’s Bund and shopping district.
Welcome drink and dinner at 07:30 pm.

Day 2: Monday, July 20^th 2009 - City Tour of Zhujiajiao and Shanghai [B, L, D]
Early in the morning bus drive to Zhujiajiao, a scenic water village. Located on the banks of Dianshan Lake, Zhujiajiao covers a total of 138 km², including the ancient town area of 2.7 km². It was formed about 1,700 years ago, and prospered through clothing and rice businesses; till today old historical buildings such as rice and oil shops, spice stores, Qing dinasty post office and ancient bridges can still be found. There are numerous rivers criss-crossing the town, nine long streets run along the river, thousands of ancient buildings stand on the banks of the rivers with more than thirty old bridges adding to the beauty of the town and every bridge is unique and has its own story to tell.
After lunch we will head back to Shanghai, one of the most populous and dynamic cities in China. Afternoon is on your own. You may want to visit the markets and/or shopping district. Early evening hours, we will meet at the rooftop of one of the Art Nouveau houses at the Bund and enjoy the fantastic view of the skyline with a Sun down drink.
Dinner and later return to the hotel.

Day 3: Tuesday, July 21^st 2009 - InterSoles 2 & Yangshan Island [B, L, D]
From 10 am to 4 pm, enjoy InterSoles 2 right at your hotel. InterSoles offers a wide varitety of edutainment activities and an astronomy exhibition. This is fun and entertaining for novices and experienced eclipse observers altogether. Check out our program on a regular basis.
Eclipse-City customers booking this tour will -in addition- overnight at our especially booked 3-star hotel on Yangshan Island and have the opportunity to do some sky-grazing. Broadband Internet connectivity is provided. Diner at the hotel.

Day 4: Wednesday, July 22^nd 2009 - E-Day with 5 min. 57 sec. of totality [B, L]
Start of the partial eclipse is at 08:24 am, totality between 09:37 am and 09:43 am (altitude = 57°, azimuth = 100°, i.e. facing East). The partial eclipse will end at 11:03 am. You will have the opportunity to observe the eclipse either from sea level or from any of the 2,300 steps leading to the observing platforms on Yangshan’s rock walk (up to 150 meters above sea level). Provided we have clear skies (50% probability), this hilltop site has an unobstructed view of the entire sky down to the horizon.
Hotel checkout is at 1 pm. After lunch, we will drive you to Pudong international airport or alternatively Shanghai downtown. End of program.

Included services: 3 hotel nights, all meals as indicated (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner), air-conditioned bus transportation, English, German and Chinese speaking local guides, "Eclipse-City Survival Kit" including eclipse eyeshades, entrance fees and all required permits.

Optional itinerary: tours 1E or 1F in Tibet.

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Itinerary 1E : 10-day add-on tour in Tibet (China)
Friday July 10^th - Sunday July 19^th 2009
2,990 € p.p. (single supplement of 500€)

Day 1: Friday, July 10^th 2009 - Arrival in Shanghai [D]
Arrival at the Shangri-La Pudong in Shanghai on your own. Overnight in our 5-star hotel, centrally located, close to Shanghai’s Bund and shopping district.
Welcome drink and dinner at 7 pm.
Contrary to our regular travel groups, this Tibet add-on tour is limited to a few travellers to allow for higher comfort and better communication between all travellers and our designated Eclipse-City and local tour guides.

Day 2: Saturday, July 11^th 2009 - Departure to Lhasa [B, L, D]
Morning flight from Shanghai to Lhasa. Afternoon at leisure to acclimatize and get ready for the trip to "the Roof of the World". For nicer views, better experience and easier acclimatization Eclipse-City will offer an air conditioned and pressurized train transfer into Lhasa via Xining provided tickets are available (can not be guaranteed at this time).
For those feeling good enough visits of:

Jokhang Temple: oldest Buddhist temple in Tibet (1300 years). It contains Tibet’s most precious religious relic -a golden Sakyamuni Buddha-, a gift of the Chinese Wen Cheng. This relic is displayed in the Great Hall and is still sought out by the religious pilgrims.
Barkhor Street: encircling the circular street of the Jokhang Temple, at a distance of 500 meters, is the flourishing Barkhor Street taken completion with the Jokhang Temple. Barkhor Street serves as a circumambulation circuit and a shopping center as well.

Day 3: Sunday, July 12^th 2009 - Lhasa and surroundings [B, L, D]
Today’s excursion features:

Potala Palace: rises majestically from the face of the sacred Putuo Hill during the seventh century and over the years became the primary center of Buddhism in Tibet from a 13-floor, 1000-room citadel.
Norbulinka Palace: was the summer Palace of Tibetan Kings, the name means "Jeweled Garden", a fitting title for this 200 years old park stretching 360,000 m². The 370 rooms Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama is located inside the park.
Sera Monastery: located at the foot of Sera Utse mountain to the north of Lhasa city, the Sera is one of the three largest monasteries in Lhasa as well as one of the six biggest monasteries of the Tibetan Buddhism Geluk school.

Day 4: Monday, July 13^th 2009 - Samye Monastery [B, L, D]
Day excursion to Samye Monastery. Called the "Solid Mandala", Samye’s buildings are arranged in the shape of a Mandala representing Buddhist cosmology. Inside the main temple are Tibetan, Chinese and Indian artworks depicting legends and events from Tibet’s history. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 5: Tuesday, July 14^th 2009 - Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake / Gyantse / Shigatse (Xigaze - 3,800m) [B, L, D]
Overland 4-hour drive to Shigatse. On the way we stop shortly at lake Yamdrok, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, where stargazing and astrophotography will be done later on for two nights. Xigaze, a 500-year-old cultural city 3,800 meters above sea level, is another headquarters of the Pancen Erdeni, and is located to the north of the world-renowned Qomolangma (Mt Everest).
Visit Tashilumpo Monastery, one of the four main monasteries of the Ge-lug-pa Tibetan Buddhism school. It covers nearly 300,000 ² and was built in 1447 by the Tsongkhapa’s disciple Gedun Truppa, who later became the first Dalai. The monastery enshrines the gilded-bronze Buddha of Qiangba, the largest of its kind in the world, and the Maitreya Buddha statue made from 514 pounds of pure gold. Overnight in Xigaze Hotel.

Day 6: Wednesday, July 15^th 2009 - Shigatse / Tingri (Shegar - 4,340m) [B, L, D]
Today we will be driving about 8 hours to Tingri. On the way you will have good views of the Shishapangma (8,013m - 14^th highest), Makalu (5^th highest) and Cho Oyu (6^th highest) peaks. You might also have a viewing of Mt. Everest while in Tingri.
Overnight at Everest Hotel.

Day 7: Thursday, July 16^th 2009 - Tingri / Rongbuk Monastery (4,980m) [B, L, D]
4-hour drive to the Rongbuk Monastery, the world’s highest. Mount Everest dominates the southern view at the end of the valley.
Visit to the Everest northern base camp (5,200m) for those feeling good enough, provided the weather is nice. Overnight in the small Rongbuk Guest House. This location provides terrific sunsets and sunrises on Mount Everest.

Day 8: Friday, July 17^th 2009 - Rongbuk Monastery / Tingri / Shigatse / Gyantse / Yamdrok Lake [B, L, D]
Long drive back to Yamdrok Lake where you will be camping for 2 nights doing stargazing and astrophotography.
Lake Yamdrok is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. It covers an area of 638 km² and is 4,400 meters above sea level. The lake area is a scenic spot with snow-capped mountains, islands, pastureland, hot spring, wild animals and plants, and monasteries.
Upon arrival in Gyantse you will visit the Pelkhor Chode (Bahu) Monastery, known for its Kumbum (literally 100,000 images) Stupa. It was built by Yaodan Gongsangpa and Tsongkhahp’s disciple Xhedrub Je in 1418. Its unique feature is that three Tibetan Buddhism schools, the Sa-kya-pa, Ka-tam-pa, and Ge-lug-pa, had their headquarters in it - a rare phenomenon in Tibet.
Overnight in tents at Yamdrok Lake. Stargazing and astrophotography.

Day 9: Saturday, July 18^th 2009 - Yamdrok Lake [B, L, D]
Overnight in tents at Yamdrok Lake. Stargazing and astrophotography.

Day 10: Sunday, July 19^th 2009 - Transfer back to Shanghai [B, L, D]
Taking a shower before going back to Shanghai will be possible.
Flight back to Shanghai in the afternoon.
End of add-on tour. Possibility to connect with eclipse tours 1B, 1C or 1D.

Included services: accommodations, transportation including air-fare from/to Shanghai/Lhasa or air-fare from/to Shanghai/Xining and Lhasa/Shanghai plus train Xining/Lhasa, all meals as indicated (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner), English, French and Chinese speaking local guides, all required permits. I will be personally leading this tour.

Eclipse packages: tours 1B, 1C or 1D. If connecting to 1B, 1C or 1D, a 10% discount is applied to the total price and two additional nights can be provided from July 19 to 21 (already included in 1D).

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Itinerary 1F : 11-day add-on tour in Tibet (China)
Wednesday July 22^th - Saturday August 1^st 2009
3,290 € p.p. (single supplement of 575€)

Day 1: Wednesday, July 22^nd 2009 - E-Day and preparation for Tibet (after tours 1A, 1B, 1C or 1D) [B, L, D]
If you book this add-on tour and you have also booked 1A, 1B, 1C or 1D with us, you will overnight at our Eclipse-City InterSoles hotel on July 22 and meet your Eclipse-City tour guide and your fellow travellers by 7 pm for a welcome drink.
Contrary to our regular travel groups, this Tibet add-on tour is limited to a few travellers to allow for higher comfort and better communication between all travellers and our designated Eclipse-City and local tour guides.

Day 2: Thursday, July 23^rd 2009 - Departure to Lhasa [B, L, D]
Flight from Shanghai to Lhasa. Day at leisure to acclimatize and get ready for the trip to "the Roof of the World". For nicer views, better experience and easier acclimatization Eclipse-City will offer an air conditioned and pressurized train transfer into Lhasa via Xining provided tickets are available (can not be guaranteed at this time).

Day 3: Friday, July 24^th 2009 - Lhasa and surroundings [B, L, D]
Today’s excursion features:

Potala Palace: rises majestically from the face of the sacred Putuo Hill during the seventh century and over the years became the primary center of Buddhism in Tibet from a 13-floor, 1000-room citadel.
Norbulinka Palace: was the summer Palace of Tibetan Kings, the name means "Jeweled Garden", a fitting title for this 200 years old park stretching 360,000 m². The 370 rooms Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama is located inside the park.
Sera Monastery: located at the foot of Sera Utse mountain to the north of Lhasa city, the Sera is one of the three largest monasteries in Lhasa as well as one of the six biggest monasteries of the Tibetan Buddhism Geluk school.

Day 4: Saturday, July 25^th 2009 - Lhasa and surroundings [B, L, D]
Three more locations will be visited today:

Drepung Monastery: located 5 km on the slope of Mt Ganpoi Utse to the northwest of Lhasa, the Drepung monastery was built in 1416, and belongs to be the biggest monastery among the six monasteries of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Jokhang Temple: oldest Buddhist temple in Tibet (1300 years). It contains Tibet’s most precious religious relic -a golden Sakyamuni Buddha-, a gift of the Chinese Wen Cheng. This relic is displayed in the Great Hall and is still sought out by the religious pilgrims.
Barkhor Street: encircling the circular street of the Jokhang Temple, at a distance of 500 meters, is the flourishing Barkhor Street taken completion with the Jokhang Temple. Barkhor Street serves as a circumambulation circuit and a shopping center as well.

Day 5: Sunday, July 26^th 2009 - Lhasa / Ganden / Lhasa [B, L, D]
Enjoy a full day excursion to Ganden Monastery, original monastery of the Geluk order. Built in the 15^th century by Tsongkhapa, founder of Gelukpa, Ganden is an important pilgrimage site. Its large temples and many buildings are spread out over slopes leading to two peaks.

Day 6: Monday, July 27^th 2009 - Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake / Gyantse [B, L, D]
Today you are going to Lake Yamdrok, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. It has an area of 638 km² and is 4,400 meters above sea level. The lake area is a scenic spot with snow-capped mountains, islands, pastureland, hot spring, wild animals and plants, and monasteries. Then we drive to Gyantse.
Gyantse, another ancient culture city in Tibet. Upon arrival in Gyantse you will visit the Pelkhor Chode (Bahu) Monastery, known for its Kumbum (literally 100,000 images) Stupa. It was built by Yaodan Gongsangpa and Tsongkhahp’s disciple Xhedrub Je in 1418. Its unique feature is that three Tibetan Buddhism schools, the Sa-kya-pa, Ka-tam-pa, and Ge-lug-pa, had their headquarters in it - a rare phenomenon in Tibet. Overnight at Gyantse hotel.

Day 7: Tuesday, July 28^th 2009 - Gyantse / Shigatse / Tashilunpu Monastery [B, L, D]
Overland transfer from Gyantse to Xigaze, a 500-year-old cultural city 3,800 meters above sea level, is another headquarters of the Pancen Erdeni, and is located to the north of the world-renowned Qomolangma (Mt Everest). Visit Tashilumpo Monastery, one of the four main monasteries of the Ge-lug-pa Tibetan Buddhism school. It covers nearly 300,000 ² and was built in 1447 by the Tsongkhapa’s disciple Gedun Truppa, who later became the first Dalai. The monastery enshrines the gilded-bronze Buddha of Qiangba, the largest of its kind in the world, and the Maitreya Buddha statue made from 514 pounds of pure gold. Overnight in Xigaze Hotel.

Day 8: Wednesday, July 29^th 2009 - Shigatse / Tsedang [B, L, D]
After breakfast we will head for Tsedang. The drive will take nearly 8 hours. Tsedang town is the local administrative seat of Lhoka, which has 12 counties under its jurisdiction.

Day 9: Thursday, July 30^th 2009 - Sightseeing in Tsedang [B, L, D]
The Yumbu Lagang Palace was the first palace, built by Nyatri Tsenpo, the first Tibetan King at the beginning of the 2^nd century B.C. according to the legend.
We will also visit Tradruk Monastery located beside the road on the east bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Nedong County, the Tradruk Monastery was fist built in the 7^th century, undergoing renovation during all dynasties.
Another highlight shall be the visit of the Tibetan Kings tombs. Situated on the Muchong Hill, opposite to Chong-gye County, it is the only one of the Tibetan Kings’s tomb complex as well as the 29^th and the 40^th Tsenpo’s tombs stretching a history of 1300 years.

Day 10: Friday, July 31^st 2009 - Samye Monastery [B, L, D]
Transfer from Tsetang to Lhasa with a stop at Samye Monastery enroute. Called the "Solid Mandala", Samye’s buildings are arranged in the shape of a Mandala representing Buddhist cosmology. Inside the main temple are Tibetan, Chinese and Indian artworks depicting legends and events from Tibet’s history. Continue to and overnight in Lhasa.

Day 11: Saturday, August 1^st 2009 - Transfer back to Shanghai [B]
Flight back to Shanghai.
End of add-on tour. Possibility to connect with eclipse tours 1B, 1C or 1D.

Included services: accommodations, transportation including air-fare from/to Shanghai/Lhasa or air-fare from/to Shanghai/Xining and Lhasa/Shanghai plus train Xining/Lhasa, all meals as indicated (Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner), English, French and Chinese speaking local guides, all required permits.

Eclipse packages: tours 1A, 1B, 1C or 1D. If connecting from 1A, 1B, 1C or 1D, a 10% discount is applied to the total price and an additional night is provided from July 22 to 23 (already included in 1C).

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Last update on November 10, 2008.