Itinerary

Day 1: DEPART USA

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Depart the USA for Beijing.

Day 2: ARRIVE BEIJING, CHINA

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Arrive in Beijing and proceed to our hotel. Gather this evening for a welcome orientation.

Accommodation: NOVOTEL PEACE HOTEL (view website)

Day 3: FORBIDDEN CITY

Friday, July 17, 2009

This morning we visit historic Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world located in the heart of Beijing. Continue to the incomparable Forbidden City, the former imperial palace that was the home to twenty-four Chinese emperors over 491 years between 1420 and 1911. After lunch, continue to the 15th century Temple of Heaven, with its careful architectural design symbolizing the relationship of Earth and Heaven. Gather this evening for a festive welcome dinner. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: NOVOTEL PEACE HOTEL

Day 4: GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Transfer to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty, and remains the best-preserved section of the Wall. After lunch, we continue to the Sacred Way and the Ming Tombs, housing the mausoleums of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors. Return to Beijing for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Accommodation: NOVOTEL PEACE HOTEL

Day 5: BEIJING – XIAN

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Xian. Upon arrival, visit the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter, with time to browse the eclectic market, followed by a dumpling lunch. This afternoon, we visit the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, one of the finest in China. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: KING DYNASTY HOTEL

Day 6: XIAN (TERRACOTTA WARRIORS)

Monday, July 20, 2009

Today we spend time visiting the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors, considered the greatest “find” of the 20th century, and dating back to the 3rd-century B.C. Qin Dynasty. After lunch, continue to the elegant Big Wild Goose Pagoda, an ancient holy place for Buddhists. This evening, gather for a special dinner and Tang Dynasty show. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: KING DYNASTY HOTEL

Day 7: XIAN – SHANGHAI – NANHUI

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

This morning, fly to Shanghai and travel to our hotel near our eclipse site, approximately an hour drive southeast of the city. En route, have lunch and visit the ancient water town of Xinchang. We will take a walking tour of its Ming and Qing Dynasty-style streets and stone bridges, and learn about the area at its local cultural and history museum. This evening, a lecture at the hotel prepares us for tomorrow’s events. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: DONGHU LINGANG HOTEL

Day 8: ECLIPSE DAY! NANHUI – SHANGHAI

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Following breakfast, transfer a short distance to our eclipse site at Dishui Lake, near the shores of the East China Sea. Dishui is a large circular man-made lake with a wide promenade surrounding it, offering unobstructed views of the sky. The solar eclipse is scheduled to reach totality at approximately 9:30 am. Later today, travel back to Shanghai and visit Yuyuan Garden, a Ming Dynasty classical garden. See the Old Town’s rich display of Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture contrasted against the bustling Shanghai street scene. This evening, gather for dinner at the hotel to discuss the days exciting events. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: VISTA HOLIDAY INN HOTEL (view website)

Day 9: SHANGHAI

Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Shanghai tour this morning includes the Shanghai Museum, containing a large collection of ancient Chinese art, and to the Bund, the riverfront setting of the colonial era city center. This symbol of Shanghai is a “museum of modern world architecture.” Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. This evening, we gather for a festive farewell dinner. (B,D)

Accommodation: VISTA HOLIDAY INN HOTEL

Day 10: SHANGHAI – U.S.A. or OPTIONAL YANGTZE CRUISE EXTENSION

Friday, July 24, 2009

Proceed to Shanghai’s Pudong International airport for flights back to the USA. Or, continue on our optional post-extension Yangtze River cruise. (B)

OPTIONAL EXTENSION – YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Proceed to Pudong International airport for a flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, continue to the city center to visit the Panda Zoo and the Painting Gallery of Chongqing Academy. Following dinner in town, go to the pier to embark our vessel for the Yangtze River cruise. Depart at 9:00 p.m. this evening. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: VICTORIA EMPRESS (view website)

Day 11: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Cruise about 110 miles downstream to the mystical city of Fengdu. During the Han Dynasty two imperial officials moved here to practice Taoist teaching. When combined, their surnames Yin and Wang sound like the Chinese expression “King of Hell.” Thus Fengdu became associated with death and has long since been referred to as a “ghost town.” Temples on Mt. Minshan vividly depict the punishing instruments and wild demon images that reflect the Chinese people’s perception of hell. This evening enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Reception, followed by dinner onboard. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: VICTORIA EMPRESS

Day 12: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Sunday, July 26, 2009

One of nature’s most extraordinary sculptures has been carved by the Yangtze River. Three spectacular gorges epitomize Chinese landscape paintings. First we cruise between two mountains, Chijia Shan and Baiyan Shan, that guard the entrance of Qutang Gorge like giant castle gates. Qutang is the shortest, just five miles long, and narrowest, only 500 feet wide, making it the most dramatic of these three masterpieces. We stop for a shore excursion visiting the Lesser Gorges of “Daning River.” For about 20 miles the narrow river cuts through rock walls as close together as about 40 feet. Monkeys can sometimes be seen along the cliffs that rise as high as 3,000 feet. This breathtakingly beautiful place was home to the Ba people a few thousand years ago and rock cuts that supported an ancient plank walkway can still be seen. Back on board we cruise 25 miles through Wu Xia, or Witches Gorge, with cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. This middle gorge is best known for twelve unique peaks. Often hidden in swirls of mist, six line the north side of the river and six staggered peaks stand to the south. The most famous, Shennu Feng (Goddess Peak), resembles a kneeling maiden. This evening we enter the third gorge, Xiling, the longest at 41 miles, and the deepest, with cliff walls rising 4,000 feet. It is actually comprised of seven smaller gorges, whose varied names - Military Books and Precious Sword, Rice Granary, Ox Liver and Horse Lungs, Yellow Ox, Bright Moon, Lantern Shadow, and Yellow Cat - are all based upon ancient legends. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: VICTORIA EMPRESS

Day 13: ARRIVE YICHANG – SHANGHAI

Monday, July 27, 2009

This morning, we stop in the middle of Xiling Gorge to tour the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken, for the purpose of flood control, irrigation and generating electricity. One and a half million people have been displaced by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. After our final lunch onboard, we disembark at Yichang and proceed to the airport for a short flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, we continue to our hotel. Enjoy the evening and dinner on your own. (B,L)

Accommodation: HOTEL EQUATORIAL SHANGHAI (view website)

Day 14: SHANGHAI – RETURN TO USA

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Return to Pudong International Airport for flights back to the USA. (B)