China Total Solar Eclipse
July, 2009
On July 22, 2009 the sun's shadow will be racing from India across China, and continue out into the Pacific Ocean. This will be a 6 min 38 sec. total solar eclipse at it's maximum, the longest of the 21st century and at our viewing location the totality should last about 5 min 50 sec.
We will be near Hangzhou for the event and about 1 1/2 hrs after the eclipse the largest ever tidal bore will occur on the river at our location and we hope to see this also.
Of course July is the start of the rainy season (normally) and statisically there is a 50% chance of clouds. We are hoping for the other 50%!
Following the excitement of this eclipse will be difficult, but we think our
is up to the task. You'll fly to Kunming, and
from there you will visit the Stone Forest, the amazing steep rice terraces at Yuanyang and fly to Shangri-La near the Tibetan border. After visiting ancient Tibetan monasterires amidst spectacular mountain scenery, you'll drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge, believed to be the deepest gorge in the world, then
continue on to Lijiang, A UNESCO World Culture Heritage site. You'll stroll the fascinating streets of Lijiang's Ancient Town and sample the tasty local cuisine. Taking the "old road" to Dali will allow you to see China as few tourists have an oppurtunity. In Dali, you'll visit the famous Three Pagodas, built over a thousand years ago, and wander the streets of Dali's own walled Old Town which was the capital of the Nanzhao kingdom 1000 years ago. A morning flight back to Kunming to prepare for departures or continue traveling.
Please visit the
web page for the
details of this part of the tour.
For those with a little more time, we have options to continue your tour to southern Yunnan to tropical Jinghong, then travel by boat
down the Mekong River through the fabled "Golden Triangle" of Thailand, Burma, and Laos and on to Luangprabang, Laos. In this
relaxed riverfront town you'll visit the Pak Ou caves, and Kuang-Si falls, a dramatic waterfall which, after a couple of larger drops cascades over limestone steps through the jungle for several hundred meters. Phu-Si mountain, numerous temples, evening markets, spas, restaurants and local villages will fill your time here. Several major international airports are served from Luangprabang including Bangkok and Hanoi.
email: mtnadv@netshel.net
15 day tour