China Highlights - Discovery Your Way! (Since 1959)

"Dear Elaine, I would like to say that our trip would not have been as wonderful if it weren't for Annabella (Xiang Fengli) our tour guide. She was amazing and I have recommended her name to other friends that are thinking of traveling to China through China Highlights. We were..."

 

8 Day Total Solar Eclipse Tour

picture of 8 Day Total Solar Eclipse Tour

    Experience a once-in-a-lifetime Total Solar Eclipse from an exceptional vantage point—Yiwu city. This tour combines some of the most enchanting scenery in Xinjiang with the astronomical magic of the 2008 Total Solar Eclipse. To My Highlights

Tour Code: XJ-11a
Destination:   Urumqi → Turpan → Hami/Kumul → Dunhuang
Tour Price: $1866 USD   Price Details
Our Promises: Unbeatable Value for Money!
Departure Dates: This tour starts at Urumqi on 28th,Jul,2008
Tour Type: Land tour + well selected hotel + Private Guided with your own English speaking guide (otherwise specified), your own driver at your own pace and schedule.

Day by Day Itinerary: - top -

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Urumqi, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Urumqi)
Detailed Itinerary: Upon your arrival in Urumqi, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore by you.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Urumqi
Today's Activities: Heavenly Lake, The Erdaoqiao Bazaar, , Boat for Cruise on the Heavenly Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to the Heavenly Lake, which is a beautiful mountain lake formed more than million years ago and boat for cruise on the Heavenly Lake will give a lot of fun to you. Lunch is at local restaurant. In the afternoon, our tour will continue to The Erdaoqiao Bazaar- a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Urumqi to Turpan
Today's Activities: Tuyoq Village and Tuyugou Canyon, Karez Well, Suleiman's Minaret
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, you will set off for the Tuyoq Village and Tuyugou Canyon. The Tuyugou Great Canyon is the canyon with the longest culture and the most mighty and majestic natural landscapes. Tuyoq village is a traditional village of vineyards, orchards, narrow streets and irrigation channels tumbling between ancient mud brick houses and shady trees. After lunch we will visit Karez Well, which is considered to be one of the three great ancient projects in China. And then we will take several minutes to Suleiman's Minaret which is the biggest ancient pagoda existing in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient pagoda in the country.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Turpan to Hami/Kumul
Today's Activities: Jiaohe Ruin, Pass through the Flaming Mountain, Visit a local Hami Family, Hami Islamic King Tombs
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Before go to Hami, we will visit the Jiaohe Ruin which is the biggest, oldest and best preserved construction city in the world. As you walk the streets of this incredible ruined city, it’s easy to imagine the hustle and bustle of a once busy city, now deserted. Drive to the Hami we will pass through the Flaming Mountain and visit a local Hami Family. After have a break arrived in Hami, we will continue our tour to Hami Islamic King Tombs-the mausoleum architectural complex as burial sites for Islamic Kings and their wives.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Hami/Kumul
Today's Activities: The city of Yiwu Solar Eclipse
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: This is an exciting day! In the morning we'll set out from Hami to Yiwu to prepare for Total Solar Eclipse. The city of Yiwu Solar Eclipse with the best weather prospects is the only area in China this year. Totality will be nearly 2 minutes duration, with eclipsed sun at approx. 20 degrees over horizon. Following the eclipse we will return to the Hami for the night and relax as you reflect on the day’s rich experience.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Hami/Kumul to Dunhuang
Today's Activities: Balikun Grassland
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: We will visit the Balikun grasslands today. The Balikun grasslands have abundant water and green grass all year round. The Kazak nomads herd their animals on the rich grass. With an elevation of 1650 meters, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dotted with verdant pine trees, the scenery in the Balikun grasslands will fascinate you.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Dunhuang
Today's Activities: Yadan Landform Park/The Evil City, Yumenguan Pass, Great Wall of the Han Dynasty
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, we will start our tour to Yumenguan Pass as one of the west gates out of the country of the Han Dynasty (206 B. C. -220 A. D.), it is quite ruined by the shifting sands but still shows the ever splendor. And walked several minutes, you will come to the Great wall of the Han dynasty which was build for defending the nomadic Xiongnu during the Han Dynasty (206 BC--220 AD).

Day 8

Place & Transport: Depart Dunhuang, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Dunhuang), he Crescent Lake and Echoing-Sand Mountain, Mogao Grottoes
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: In morning, we will visit the Crescent Lake and Echoing-Sand Mountain. The Crescent Moon Spring is quite literally an oasis in the desert. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn't dry up as one might expect. You could ride the camel by pay certain cost there. After dinner, we will continue to the Mogao Grottoes, which constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries. The caves hold the world's richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures. But it is not allowed to take photos. And then you will be transferred to the airport for you departure.

 

Tailor-made toursCustom Tailoring: Design your own tour with our help to meet your unique interests, You don't have to compromise, do exactly what you want to do! Let us assist you to tailor-make your own China Experience. Tell us what you need now!

 

Featured Hotels for this tour: - top -

City Deluxe Class
Urumqi XinJiang Grand Hotel
Turpan TU HA PETROLEUM HOTEL TURPAN
Hami/Kumul Diqu Hotel
Dunhuang Dunhuang Hotel

 

Tour Price: - top -

Tour ClassYour Group Size 1 person 2-5 persons 6-9 persons Single room supplement
Deluxe Class* 3491* * 1866 1417 475

Our Promises: Unbeatable Value for Money!

 

* Price are in US dollars, for one person. Price are for references only, may vary according to your travel time (Touring Beijing during the Olympic period will require higher spendings. Please inquire for more details). Click here to change prices to your Currency

* Better discount is available when travel in low season from Nov to March or when travel in a large group. Please Contact Us for more details.

 

Price Inclusions:

  • Entrance Fees:
    To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
  • Meals:
    All meals as specified in the itinerary.
    If the restaurant indicated is not available on the day, your guide will arrange another restaurant from our list of approved restaurants. Breakfast is usually a western style buffet. We endeavor to ensure that a choice of western and Chinese breakfasts is supplied, however there may be occasions when only a Chinese breakfast is available in some remote locations.
  • Private Transfers:
    Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in Urumqi, Turpan, Hami/Kumul, Dunhuang by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver and English-speaking guide (as listed above).
    Your comfort is our priority! Click here to get a description of the vehicles that we use for our tours.
  • Guide:
    As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available.
  • Hotels:
    Hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with twin beds.
    All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
  • Service Charge & Government Taxes:
  • Insurance
    The insurance is China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance.
    Click here to learn more about the insurance coverage and the sum insured.
  • Luggage Transfers:
    Between airports and hotels.
  • Arrangements:
    The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Price Exclusions:

  • International Airfare or Train Tickets to enter or leave China.
    USA-CHINA/CHINA-USA: China Highlights has negotiated special discount fares (restrictions apply) for selected flights operated by Air China from major US and China gateways. We are able to offer these special deals to confirmed customers. Discount US to China Flights
  • China Entry Visa Fees.
  • Excess Baggage Charges.
    Passengers holding an adult fare or half fare ticket are entitled to a free baggage allowance of 20kg, for economy class. Total weight of carryon baggage for each passenger may not exceed 5kg. The size may not exceed 20x40x 55cm. More
  • Personal Expenses:
    Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary.
  • Meals:
    Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary.
  • Single Room Supplement.

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