WINCO ECLIPSE TOURS, INC. Since 1959.

SILK ROAD CHINA  -  ECLIPSE EXPEDITION 2008

JULY 19 – AUGUST 5, 2008

17 DAYS & 16 NIGHTS IN CHINA

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – AUGUST 1, 2008


SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008 – or sooner

Depart USA for Shanghai.  Flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment.

SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008 – ARRIVE SHANGHAI – D

Clear customs and transfer to Shanghai Hotel (3 nights).  Welcome Dinner.  Brief  Orientation.

MONDAY, JULY 21, 2008 – SHANGHAI – B, L, D

Early Breakfast at Hotel. All day introduction to Shanghai, including the Bund, Pudong Special Economic Zone, upper level of Oriental Pearl TV Tower.  After lunch, visit to Museum or Gallery of Chinese Art.  Special Peking Duck Banquet.

TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008 – SHANGHAI – B, L, D

Early Breakfast at Hotel.  Travel by coach to the garden city of Suzhou.  En route, visit ancient water towns of Zhouzhuang or Tongli, picturesque and culturally fascinating. After Lunch, visit Wumen Qiay and Pan Men, an arched bridge and gate in old city wall. Visit to one of Suzhou’s famous and gorgeous private gardens.  Return to Shanghai for Special Dinner.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008 – SHANGHAI TO XI’AN – B, L, D

Early Breakfast at Hotel.  Morning flight to Xi’an.  Lunch on flight or in Xi’an.  Afternoon excursion to view Xi’an from atop city wall.  Sheraton Hotel (2 nights).  Special Dinner.  Evening at leisure.

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2009 – XI’AN – BANPO & TERRA COTTA WARRIORS – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  Morning visit to Banpo Museum (early example of an excavated Yangshao village).
After Lunch – Tour of the 2000 year old Army of Terra-Cotta Warriors.  Discovered in 1974, in an underground vault of earth and timber, here are more than 6000 amazingly well-preserved life-sized warriors and horses, in a battlefield formation.  Each figure has its own facial expression and features; no two are alike. One of the great archeological “finds” of the 20th century.  A highlight of our Tour!

FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2008 – XI’AN TO LANZHOU – LINZIA & XIAHE – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  Morning flight to Lanzhou.  By private coach, travel to Linxia, an important town on the Ancient Silk Road and now a regional center for Hui and Dongxiang minorities. (2 – 3 hour drive).  After Lunch, we will visit the town’s markets, mosques, and people.  Then, continue our drive to Xiahe.  Labulang Hotel, Xiahe (1 night).

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008 – LABRANG – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  Morning visit to the Labrang Monastery, one of the most important monasteries in Eastern Tibet.  Visit and walk through the Tibetan village of Ley-de.  After Lunch, we will climb the hill to the giant thangka (religious paintings mounted on fabric) wall to get aerial photos of the Labrang Monastery complex.  Continue on to Lanzhou.  Legend Hotel (2 nights).

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2008 – BINGLING SI – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  All-day excursion by coach and boat, on the Yellow River, to view the Buddhist caves at Bingling Si, in a setting reminiscent of the Grand Canyon.  183 caves carved in a cliff face approximately 200 feet high and 600+ feet wide, containing fabulous ancient Buddhist statues, sculptures and murals.  After Lunch, return to Lanzhou by late afternoon.  Dinner in Lanzhou.

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008 – LANZHOU TO JIAYUGUAN & DUNHUANG – B, L, D
Early Breakfast.  Morning flight Lanzhou to Jiayuguan.  Visit the Jiayuguan Fort, the last Chinese stronghold of the ancient Chinese empire in the west.  After Lunch, we board train to Dunhuang.  Dunhuang Hotel (2 nights).  Special Dinner.

TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008 – DUNHUANG – BUDDHIST CAVES – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  All-day visit to the Mogao Caves, with their vast array of Buddhist treasures.   The caves  were begun by a monk in 366 AD and added to over the centuries.  We will visit a variety of caves to ensure an excellent look at the evolution of art over the centuries in China.  After Lunch we return to visit additional caves – for a very unusual Day.  Following Dinner, we will enjoy an evening visit to the Singing Sands, immense sand dunes edging the Dunhuang oasis.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008 – DUNHUANG TO HAMI – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  Early morning Departure for Liuyuan.  Continue by coach or train to Hami.  After Lunch, visit to the Islamic King’s Tombs and Gess Tomb, an Arab missionary who came to China during the Tang Dynasty.  We will visit the home of a Uighur family.  Late afternoon departure for Balikun (3 – 4 hour drive).  Early evening arrival at Balikun Hotel (2 nights).  Dinner at Hotel.

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008 – BALIKUN – B, L, D

Breakfast at Hotel.  Leisurely exploration of Balikun area, surrounded by beautiful scenery, including distant mountains.  Meet some of the local Kazarkh population.  We will drive to Yiwu to check on our eclipse viewing site.  Lunch along the route.  Dinner at our Hotel.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2008 – YIWU – TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – B, L, D

Early Breakfast at hotel.  Drive to Yiwu (50 km., 1 hour) to prepare for late-day Total Solar Eclipse.  Lunch.   Our Eclipse viewing site is approximately 15 km from Yiwu – the Yizigou Pasture.  Totality  will be nearly 2 minutes duration, with eclipsed sun at approx. 20 degrees over horizon.  Early dinner in the field.  Return to Hami after eclipse ends (3 – 4 hour drive).  Jiageda Hotel in Hami (1 night).

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2008 – HAMI TO URUMQI – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  Early Departure via train for Urumqi.  Box Lunch on train.  Late afternoon arrival Urumqi.    Enjoy a short city tour, including a walk in one of the traditional Uyghur neighborhoods.
Hoi-Tak Hotel (2 nights).  Special Dinner.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2008 – URUMQI – TIAN CHI (HEAVEN LAKE) – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  All-day tour, via private coach, to Tian Chi (Heaven Lake).  Gondola ride to the upper valley and Heaven Lake.  Enjoy the mountains and forests of “dragon spruce,” typical of the eastern Tian Shan mountains.  Leisurely boat ride on lake, 6000 feet high, amongst  beautiful scenery.  We will walk along the lakeshore on smooth boardwalk.  If clear weather, we will have good views of Bogeda Feng, a 17,800 foot high peak, and its surroundings glaciers.  Picnic lunch lakeside.  Return drive to Urumqi will take us past the southern border of the vast Jungar Basin steppe.  Special Dinner.

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008 – URUMQI TO SHANGHAI – B, L, D

Early Breakfast.  Morning visit to the excellent Xinjiang Museum, to view examples of the ancient cultures of Xinjiang, including mummies with Caucasian features.  Noon Lunch.  Afternoon flight to Shanghai.  Hotel (1 night).  Gala Farewell dinner.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2008 – SHANGHAI DEPARTURE – B, MEALS ALOFT

Early Breakfast.  Transfer to airport for departure flight home or onward.

Note: This Daily Itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change in the best interests of all group members should circumstances dictate.  Schedule will be announced daily.  

Price – $ 4,465 per person plus airfare of approximately $1,250 + fuel surcharge + tax Los Angeles to Shanghai, round trip, and in-tour flights $800 per person. In case of currency fluctuation of more than 3% or amendments in local government taxes, we will adjust pricing accordingly up until final payment.

No Smoking.  Group limited to 20 participants.

Please include $1,000.00, non-refundable, per person deposit for each reservation.
Trip cancellation insurance is available and is strongly recommended.
Members may participate in scientific experiments.  Previous experience not required.

Price includes: all transfers, transport, touring, meals, entry fees to sites mentioned above, deluxe air conditioned motor coach with the services of a licensed English speaking tour escort; American experts in Xinjiang culture, history, and languages, and solar eclipses, climate, weather and agronomy; special eclipse viewing filters, comprehensive China Eclipse Expedition preparation and planning.

Not included: International airfare and in-tour flights (quoted separately), China visa fees, gratuities to expedition leaders, personal items such as laundry, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, sodas, snacks, personal insurance, or foreign airport departure taxes.

International airfare quoted is based on a group fare with Cathay Pacific Airways Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Shanghai, round trip. In-tour flights are on Chinese airlines.

Please see “Terms and Conditions” for further details.

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Winco Eclipse Tours, Inc.
35 Haynes Road     
Tel:  617-630-0280
Newton Centre, MA USA 02459-2716
Fax: 617-969-7930