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Program Itinerary | |
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featuring Xi’an, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Hami (eclipse), Turpan and Urumqi | |
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Our first Silk Road
Eclipse 2008 itinerary – Xi’an to Urumqi, July 25-Aug 5 – is sold out. | |
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We are pleased to offer a reverse itinerary, with all the same inclusions,
Urumqi to Xi’an, July 27-Aug 7. Detailed itinerary will be provided with
confirmation materials. | |
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| | | Itinerary Overview: |
July 27-Aug 7
Itinerary | | |
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Day 1 |
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Fri,
Jul 25 | |
Arrive Xi’an | |
Day 2 |
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Sat,
Jul 26 | |
Xi’an |
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Day 3 |
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Sun, Jul 27 | |
Xi’an |
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Day 4 |
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Mon, Jul 28 | |
Xi’an • board the
China Orient Express |
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Day 5 |
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Tue, Jul 29 | |
Jiayuguan | |
Day 6 |
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Wed, Jul 30 | |
Onboard the
China
Orient Express • Dunhuang |
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Day 7 |
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Thu, Jul 31 | |
Onboard the
China
Orient Express • Hami |
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Day 8 |
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Fri, Aug 1 | |
Eclipse
Day near Hami | |
Day 9 |
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Sat, Aug 2 |
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Motorcoach to Turpan | |
Day
10 |
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Sun, Aug 3 |
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Motorcoach to Urumqi |
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Day
11 |
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Mon, Aug 4 |
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Urumqi |
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Day
12 |
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Tue, Aug 5 | |
Depart
Urumqi |
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Day
1 |
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Sun, Jul 27 | |
Arrive Urumqi |
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Day
2 |
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Mon, Jul 28 | |
Urumqi |
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Day
3 |
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Tue, Jul 29 | |
Urumqi |
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Day
4 |
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Wed, Jul 30 |
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Motorcoach
to Turpan |
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Day
5 |
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Thu, Jul 31 | |
Motorcoach
to
Hami |
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Day
6 |
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Fri, Aug 1 | |
Eclipse
Day near Hami | |
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Day
7 |
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Sat, Aug 2 | |
Board the China Orient
Express
• Dunhuang |
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Day
8 |
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Sun, Aug 3 | |
Onboard the China Orient
Express
• Jiayuguan |
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Day
9 |
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Mon, Aug 4 | |
Overnight onboard the
China Orient Express
• Xi’an |
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Day
10 |
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Tue, Aug 5 | |
Xi’an |
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Day
11 |
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Wed, Aug
6 |
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Xi’an |
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Day
12 |
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Thu, Aug
7 | |
Depart Xi’an |
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| | Day 1 Friday, July 25, 2008
Meals Aloft
Beijing -
Xi’an | |
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Upon
arrival at Beijing’s Capital International Airport (PEK), you will be
greeted and escorted to your connecting flight (included) to Xi’an, the
eastern terminus for the caravans of the Silk Road and China’s capital
through 11 dynasties. Upon arrival in Xi’an you will be met and transferred
to our hotel. The balance of the day will be free to relax and explore on
your own. | |
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Overnight: Xi’an Sheraton Hotel
(3 nights) | | | | | Day 2 Sat, July 26 B/L/D
Xi’an - Big Goose Pagoda | | |
After a leisurely
morning, join the group for lunch before departing for the Big Wild
Goose Pagoda, a masterpiece of Buddhist construction built in AD 652.
Climbing the stairs past seven stories of exquisite carvings and
calligraphy, we will be treated to panoramic views of the | |
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city. This evening we’ll
attend a traditional multi-course dumpling
banquet, followed by an impressive performance of Tang Dynasty
dance and music. | |
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| | Day 3 Sun, July 27 B/L/D
Xi’an - Terracotta Warriors | |
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After breakfast this morning
we’ll travel to see the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, which was
designated by UNESCO in 1987 as a World Cultural Heritage Site, and is
certainly one of the most exciting archeological finds
in recent history. Later, we’ll tour the well-preserved walls of ancient Xi’an.
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| | Day 4 Mon, July 28 B/L/D
Xi’an - China Orient
Express Train | |
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After checkout from the
hotel this morning, we will board the famed
China Orient Express to begin
our adventure by rail as city sprawl gives way to the terraced fields of
the countryside, then yielding to the desert. Each sleeping carriage has
eight private cabins decorated with mahogany and brass. Silk-lined walls and
rich carpet embellish the hallways. Between every two cabins is a
compartment with a sink, and there is a toilet at each end of the sleeping
carriage. |
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Overnight: Onboard the
China Oriental Express | |
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| | Day 5 Tue, July 29 B/L/D
Jiayuguan | |
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Take time this
morning to pack an overnight bag to take with you for tonight’s hotel stay.
The remainder of your luggage will be left secured in your train compartment. | |
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Upon arrival in Jiayuguan, we will check in to our hotel and have lunch. This afternoon, we will
tour the well-known Jiayuguan Pass, the western end of the Great Wall of China.
This was the last fortress for traders heading west, and a welcome sight for
those coming from the east out of the desert. We will return to Jiayuguan this
evening for dinner at the hotel. | |
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Overnight: Jiayuguan Hotel | |
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| | Day 6 Wed, July 30 B/L/D
Jiayuguan
- Dunhuang | |
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After breakfast, we will
continue our train journey to Dunhuang, founded in 111 B.C. as an important
crossroad for caravans traveling south. We will enjoy lunch on the train as
it skirts the southern edge of the Gobi Desert. Upon arrival in Dunhuang in
the early afternoon, we will visit the famed Mogao Grottoes, one of the
greatest repositories of Buddhist art in the world. Many visitors find
themselves deeply touched by the hundreds of statues, paintings and reliefs. | |
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After our tour, we will check in
to our hotel and relax during the hottest part of the day. In the late afternoon
we will take a tour of Min Sha Hill and the Crescent Moon Pool, where we will
have the opportunity to ride Bactrian camels over the sand dunes. This evening,
we will enjoy dinner and a
cultural show at the hotel. | |
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Overnight: Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel | |
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| | Day 7 Thu, July 31 B/L/D
Dunhuang - Hami | |
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After late breakfast this
morning, we’ll board the train for Hami, rolling through desert landscapes
enjoying lunch along the way. Upon arrival in Hami in the afternoon, we will
end our journey by train and transfer to our hotel to relax and prepare for
tomorrow’s big event. Join
us this evening for dinner and an eclipse day orientation. | |
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Overnight: Hami Hotel (2 nights) | |
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| | Day 8 Fri, August 1 B/L/boxed-D
Eclipse Day in Yiwu | |
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Today will be
devoted to the eclipse. We’ll meet this morning for a final eclipse
briefing. Departing
by motorcoach for our centerline viewing site located near the town of Yiwu,
our 4.5-hour drive will take us past part of the beautiful Ba Li Kun
Grassland.
After fourth contact, we’ll drive back to Hami,
arriving at the hotel well after midnight. | |
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| | | Local eclipse contact times (approx.) | | |
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| | | | | | | First contact (eclipse begins): 18:09 | | | | Second contact (totality begins): 19:08 | | | | Third contact (totality ends): 19:10 | | | | Fourth contact (eclipse ends):
20:05 | | | | Duration of totality
1m54s | | | | | | |
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Hami
Eclipse Day Weather
| | | | by Eclipse Meteorologist Jay Anderson | | | | | | | |
The very best weather prospects
for the eclipse are found in a small area of northwest China close to the city
of Hami – exactly where TravelQuest has chosen to go. The site lies on the edge
of a small range of hills, with the vast extent of the Gobi Desert to the east
side and the Talikmakan Desert (second only to the Sahara in size) to the west.
Its location in the northern part of China spares it from the monsoon flows that
plague the larger part of Southeast Asia at this time of year. | | | | | | | |
In spite of its proximity to these two great deserts, the incidence of
sandstorms and blowing dust is very low, especially in the summer months.
China’s dust storms tend to come with northerly winds and Hami’s location on the
north side of the deserts puts it on the upwind side of the source region for
the dust. Because of its desert environment, cloud cover is very low and
precipitation is rare, totaling only 7 mm on average for the month. The
estimated probability of seeing the eclipse is nearly 80 percent. | | | | | |
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| | Day 9 Sat, August 2 B/L/D
Hami -
Turpan | |
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After a late breakfast, we'll depart by
private motorcoach for Turpan, the second lowest depression in the
world at 154 meters/505 feet below sea level. Passing by the picturesque
Flaming Mountains, we will arrive in Turpan in the evening. After dinner,
we’ll be treated to a performance of traditional song and dance. | |
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Overnight: Turpan Hotel | |
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| | Day 10 Sun, August 3 B/L/D
Turpan -
Urumqi | |
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After breakfast and
check-out, our morning excursion will take us to the Karez
Well, where we will see and learn about this ingenious ancient underground
irrigation system. Continuing on to the Grape Valley we will enjoy the
famous grapes harvested in this scenic area and meet some of the local
Uyghur people. After lunch, we’ll continue our bus ride to Urumqi, the
capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region - the largest province in
China. Upon arrival in this city of almost 3 million people, we will
check-in to our hotel and have some time to freshen up.
Later, we will explore the city, including a visit to a bustling local bazaar and enjoy
a walk through the city’s
downtown nightlife. | |
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Overnight: Sheraton Urumqi Hotel (2 nights) | |
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| | Day 11 Mon, August 4 B/L/D
Urumqi | |
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Today’s excursion will take
us to the beautiful Lake of Heaven (Tianchi Lake). We’ll enjoy a leisurely
boat ride on this alpine drift lake. The stunning scenery here is a sharp
contrast to the arid lands
we’ve left behind. Returning to the city, we will visit the Regional Museum,
which has an extensive collection of Silk Road artifacts and houses the
famous mummies of Indo-European ancestry. Join us this evening for a special
roast lamb farewell dinner. | |
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| | Day 12 Tue, August 5 B
Urumqi -
Beijing | |
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Today we will
transfer from the hotel to the airport for our flight to Beijing for
connecting onward flights. | |
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