Solar Eclipse Coronal Detail - Jeff Buell
Solar Eclipse Coronal Detail - Jeff Buell
Ni hao (Hello)!
I know you will have many questions about the tour, so I have put together a list of some of the most commonly-asked questions about traveling to China along with some specific information about the eclipse provided by my friend and expert "eclipse-chasing" consultant, Bill Sorrells. The questions are listed below; each one is a link, so you can jump directly to the information you need. If you have a question that isn't covered here, please don't hesitate to contact me to ask me directly. And if it's a question that might be of interest to everyone, I'll post the answer here, too.
(To navigate directly to the information you want, please click on the question you're interested in.)
Booking and Payment
• How do I book the tour?
• Why do you ask for personal information such as my passport
number and date of birth?
• When are the tour payments due?
• May I pay with a credit card?
• May I pay for my tour with non-U.S. currencies?
• What if I need to cancel the tour?
• Does the tour price include tips? Who should I tip?
• Are children welcome on the tour?
Group Size and Tour Activities
• How many people will be in the group?
• Even with a larger group, will we still be able to visit
local families’ homes and eat at real local restaurants?
• Will we be taken to go shopping?
Travel Formalities: Passports and Visas
• What paperwork do I need to go to China?
• Do you get the visa for me or do I need to get it myself?
• How do I get the Chinese tourist visa?
• Is any special documentation required to apply for the
Chinese tourist visa?
• When should I apply for my visa?
• How long does it take to get the visa?
• How long can I stay in China with the tourist visa?
• What if I want to have a longer stay in China?
• What if I have questions about the visa application process?
Arranging Travel to and from China
• Do you arrange international air tickets to China?
• Can I arrange extra hotel nights if my travel plans require
me to arrive before, or leave after, the rest of the group?
• How can I find a good price on a ticket to China?
Arriving in China
• How do I get from the airport to the hotel when I arrive
in China?
• What if I can’t find you or your representative
right away?
Medical and Dietary Issues
• Can I drink the water?
• What shots do I need for China?
• Will I need to take malaria prophylactics for this tour?
• Can I find my prescription medications in China?
• I have special dietary needs or food allergies. Can you
accommodate them?
• I’m a vegetarian. Is that a problem?
• I have a physical disability. Should I take this tour?
• How physically fit do I have to be to take this tour?
• I have health issues involving high-elevation places.
Should I take this tour?
Climate and Weather
• What will the weather be like along our tour route?
Packing and Clothing
• What are the checked baggage limits on international
flights?
• What are the checked baggage limits on Chinese domestic
flights?
• What if I want to bring heavy or oversized equipment for
viewing the eclipse?
• What sort of clothing should I bring? And how much?
• Can I wash clothes along the way?
• Can I use small electrical devices such as battery chargers
and hairdryers in China?
• Are there any other useful items I should bring?
• Can I get film and batteries for my camera?
Dealing With Money on the Tour
• How much money will I need to bring with me?
• Should I bring cash or traveler’s checks? And how
can I change money?
• Can I use ATMs in China?
• Can I use credit cards in China?
Keeping in Touch With Home
• Will I be able to call home from China?
• Is it possible to use my calling card in China?
• Will my family or friends be able to call me in China?
• Is Internet/E-mail access available? Can I use my own
computer?
• Will my cell phone work in China?
Accommodations and Meals
• What are the hotels like?
• What is the food like?
Eclipse-Viewing --Provided by Bill Sorrells of the Peninsula Astronomical Society
• Where is the viewing site located?
• How are the weather prospects for eclipse day?
• Do you have a backup plan if the primary eclipse-viewing
site has bad weather?
• Will you have a pre-eclipse briefing to give us information
about viewing?
• Is it safe to look at a solar eclipse?
• How long will the eclipse last?
• How dark will it get?
• Which planets will be visible?
• Can I take pictures?
• How often do eclipses happen?
• When will one of these things happen in the U.S.?
Booking and Payment
How do I book the tour?
When you are ready to reserve a place on the tour, go to the 2009 eclipse tour
page on my web site and click the link for “terms and conditions”.
Please review the terms carefully, because they contain important information
regarding payment due dates, cancellation policies, what the price does and
does not include, and other important things. If you have any questions about
the terms, please feel free to e-mail or call me. After you have read the terms,
please click the link for the “reservation form”, then print and
fill out the form and return it to me with your deposit of $300 USD per person.
If you are booking the tour after July 22, 2008, please note that payment of
one-half of the remaining balance of the tour price is also due at the time
of your booking. Once I receive the form and deposit, your space on the tour
is reserved! [top]
Why do you ask for personal information such as my passport number and date of birth?
Chinese government security regulations require this information for domestic flight bookings. Please be assured that I do not use this information for any other purpose. [top]
When are the tour payments due?
You can send a deposit of $300 USD per person any time to reserve your place(s) on the tour. After that, half of the remaining balance is due no later than July 22, 2008, and the remaining balance is due no later than January 22, 2009. We will send you a reminder by e-mail or postal mail approximately one month before each partial payment is due. If you are booking the tour after July 22, 2008, please note that payment of one-half of the remaining balance of the tour price is also due at the time of your booking. [top]
I'm sorry, but I am not able to accept payment by credit card. Please make your payments by personal check. [top]
May I pay for my tour with non-U.S. currencies?
I'm sorry, but I am only able to accept payment in U.S. dollars. If you are going to be making payment from outside the U.S., please arrange to do so by means of a check in dollars drawn on a U.S. bank, or by wire transfer. Please contact me for details. [top]
What if I need to cancel the tour?
If you need to cancel, please let me know as soon as possible by e-mail or telephone. Cancellations and refunds are governed by the terms and conditions for the tour. This is very important: Please note that from July 22, 2008 to January 22, 2009, all cancellations are subject to a $1,000 per person cancellation charge, and from January 23, 2009 onwards, all payments are non-refundable. This policy will be strictly applied, so we strongly advise you to consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance. [top]
Does the tour price include tips? Who should I tip?
Tips for our local guides and drivers are included in the price of the tour. Many of my customers have asked about adding something of their own to the tip-if you would like to do this, it’s fine, just let me know before we leave each destination, but please do not feel that it is required! And please, do not tip me (Jasmine)! Tipping is not customary at restaurants. If you would like to have a hotel bellman handle your baggage on arrival or departure, the customary tip is 6 Chinese yuan (about $1 USD) per bag. [top]
Are children welcome on the tour?
I don’t have an age limit for the tour, so children are welcome as long as they are able to handle the conditions comfortably, such as long hours of road travel, “strange” food, etc. Of course, parents are entirely responsible for supervising their children and ensuring that their behavior does not interfere with others’ enjoyment of the tour. For couples traveling with a single child, I can arrange for a third, rollaway type bed to be moved into your room so all three of you can stay together. [top]
Group Size and Tour Activities
How many people will be in the group?
Because of the expected strong demand for this tour, the group will be larger than my normal tour groups. We expect that the group size will vary since people are signing up for different options, but the largest we expect the group to get is about 40 people, for the eclipse viewing. [top]
Even with a larger group, will we still be able to visit local families’ homes and eat at real local restaurants?
Absolutely. I am going to divide us into smaller groups for many of our sightseeing activities where smaller groups work better, such as visiting rural villages and family homes. Each smaller group will have its own experienced English-speaking guide, all under my overall direction, and all the groups will have the chance to experience the same close-up look at the real life of China. And all of our restaurants can accommodate the entire group. This was the way I did it for the 2008 eclipse tour, and I think everyone in the group agreed that it was very successful. [top]
Will we be taken to go shopping?
My tours don't include any shopping stops as part of the scheduled activities. At the same time, I understand that many of my customers enjoy some shopping and do like to buy some things to take home. So there will be some free time available if you want to go shopping. If you’re interested in looking for particular types of things, please let me know and I can tell you where to look for them. But, please be aware that there are many “fake” famous-brand goods, or poor quality imitations of famous-brand goods, for sale in China. The general rule is: “Caveat emptor!”-“Let the buyer beware!” If you do decide to buy larger items, it is possible to arrange to have them shipped home. [top]
Travel Formalities: Passports and Visas
What paperwork do I need to go to China?
You need a valid passport that will not expire within 6 months of the last date of the tour, and a Chinese tourist visa. [top]
Do you get the visa for me or do I need to get it myself?
You will need to get the visa yourself. [top]
How do I get the Chinese tourist visa?
The “L” class tourist visa is issued by the Chinese consulate
that handles applications from your home area. There are several consulates
in the United States-please click
here to find a map of the consular districts so you can see where you need
to apply.
Chinese consulates do not handle visa applications by mail. If you live within
easy reach of a city with a consulate, you can go there in person.
Otherwise, there are two ways to get the visa. One is to find a travel service in or near your hometown that has a visa application service. Many of the travel services that regularly arrange air tickets to China can provide this service. (This is how I get my own visa.)
Another is to use a so-called visa application service, which entails mailing your passport and the visa application to the service and having them take it to the proper consulate and then return the passport to you with the visa. It is very easy to find such services by doing a web search for “visa service”. (Please note that I cannot personally recommend or vouch for any particular services.)
No matter how you do it, you will have to fill out a visa application form, provide at least one passport-sized photo, pay a fee and submit your current passport.
The application forms are available on-line on the Chinese consulate web sites and also on the sites of visa application services. Travel services that can get visas should have the forms on hand.
The fee for the visa if you get it directly from the consulate is $130 USD as of September, 2008. (Please look at the rules for the consulate you are using to see how you need to pay it. Normally, the consulates will not accept personal checks, but will accept credit cards.) Additional service fees charged by travel services and visa application services vary. The travel service I use in Sacramento charges $80. [top]
Is any special documentation required to apply for the Chinese tourist visa?
In the summer of 2008, Chinese consulates were requiring tourist visa applicants
to submit invitation letters from tour companies and proof of pre-booked hotel
accommodations at the time of their visa applications. These new requirements
were imposed as part of the special security rules put in place for the 2008
Summer Olympics. At the time this FAQ page is being written, those rules are
still in effect and we don’t know whether or not they will continue to
be in effect during 2009. Thus, we will provide all tour participants with an
invitation letter and a hotel list to submit with their visa applications. [top]
When should I apply for my visa?
The “L” tourist visa is valid for 90 days after it is issued. You can enter China anytime up to the end of that 90 days. I recommend that you apply for your visa approximately two months before the start date of the tour, that is, sometime in May, 2009. [top]
How long does it take to get the visa?
No matter which method you use, it should take somewhere between one and two weeks to get your visa. [top]
How long can I stay in China with the tourist visa?
The standard tourist visa permits you to stay in China for up to 30 days. This is long enough to cover any of the tour options. [top]
What if I want to have a longer stay in China?
It may be possible for you to apply for a 60-day or a 90-day visa, which is available at a higher cost. If you get the regular 30-day visa and then decide to stay longer, you will have to go to a police station in China to apply for an extension. This can be an inconvenient and time-consuming process. [top]
What if I have questions about the visa application process?
Please e-mail or call me and I will be glad to answer any questions. [top]
Arranging Travel to and from China
Do you arrange international air tickets to China?
No, you will need to arrange your own air tickets. When you are doing so, please note the correct entry and exit points for your tour option. For Options 1 and 2, the entry and exit point is Beijing. For Options 3, 4 and 5, the entry and exit point is Shanghai (Pudong International Airport). [top]
Can I arrange extra hotel nights if my travel plans require me to arrive before, or leave after, the rest of the group?
Yes, of course. Please contact me for prices and other details on making the necessary bookings. [top]
How can I find a good price on a ticket to China?
In my experience, the on-line ticket agencies often do not have the best prices to China. Instead, the best places to check would be with airline ticket consolidators or with a local travel service that specializes in travel to Asia. Ticket consolidators usually advertise in the Sunday travel sections of major metropolitan newspapers such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, etc. [top]
Arriving in China
How do I get from the airport to the hotel when I arrive in China?
For all those arriving on the first day of the tour, I will arrange for an English-speaking guide and a driver to meet all tour participants when they arrive at the airport. (Those arriving earlier or later may have to make the transfers on their own.) To find the guide, you first need to complete entry formalities by going through the passport control, health inspection control, baggage claim and customs. (The path you will need to follow from the arrival gate is very well-signed in English.) From the customs check, you will exit straight ahead through the doors into the arrival concourse. As soon as you exit the doors, begin looking for someone holding a sign that says “Jasmine’s China Adventure Tours”. This will be your initial contact person. (In some cases, it may be me, although I probably won’t be able to meet every flight.) He or she will collect the arrivals and then take you to the hotel. In some cases, because we may be picking up people from multiple flights arriving close together, you may have to wait for a short while before our bus leaves. We know you will be tired, though, and will keep these waits as short as possible. Our bus (which is reserved for our group alone) will deliver you directly to the hotel, where I or one of my representatives will assist you with check-in. [top]
What if I can’t find you or your representative right away?
If for some reason you don’t see me or my representative right away, please go out into the arrival concourse and wait there with your bags. We’ll find you as soon as we can. Please don’t worry, even if it seems somewhat crowded and chaotic there-we’re very good at locating people, and we've never lost anyone! [top]
Medical and Dietary Issues
Unfortunately, no, at least not directly from the tap. Please don’t drink tap water and be very careful not to take in any tap water when showering or brushing teeth, either. Hotels usually provide a water cooker in your room that you can use to boil water for making tea (the rooms also usually provide teabags) as well as for brushing teeth. I will provide a supply of bottled water for everyone on our vehicles during our daily activities. If you want to buy your own drinks, bottled water and canned soda or beer is widely available and can be purchased at a reasonable cost at hotel shops or from shops or vendors on the street. If you buy your own water, please be careful to check the seal on the bottle before you drink it! If the seal seems at all loose or otherwise unusual, try another bottle. [top]
What shots do I need for China?
Officially, no shots are needed to enter China or to return to the U.S. from China. That said, please see your personal doctor or a travel medicine specialist to find out what they recommend in light of your personal medical history and needs, and to find out about any health related updates from organizations such as the World Health Organization. You should tell your doctor what areas of China you will be visiting based on which option you choose. Please note that I cannot answer specific medical questions or provide any kind of personalized medical advice. [top]
Will I need to take malaria prophylactics for this tour?
Please ask your personal doctor or travel medicine specialist about this. [top]
Can I find my prescription medications in China?
I can’t guarantee that you will be able to, particularly in smaller or more remote cities. If you are taking prescription medication, I recommend that you bring a supply that will be sufficient for the entire trip. It’s best to bring your medicines in their labeled bottles with your name on them just in case there is a customs inspection. [top]
I have special dietary needs or food allergies. Can
you accommodate them?
Normally, yes. But please let me know about them as soon as possible, so I can
make whatever special arrangements are necessary. [top]
I’m a vegetarian. Is that a problem?
Not at all! I have had many vegetarians travel with me over the years, and it’s always possible to get wonderful meatless dishes wherever we go. [top]
I have a physical disability. Should I take this tour?
Unfortunately, travel in China can be very challenging for persons with disabilities. Generally, conditions in China are not as well-developed as they are in Western countries in terms of access to public places for the disabled. Even in larger cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, features such as access ramps, handrails, sidewalk “cutouts”, and accessible restroom facilities are not always found, and as we move out to more distant places such as Yunnan Province they are practically unheard-of. Also, tour buses normally do not have lifts for wheelchairs. If you have a physical disability but are adventurous and used to coping with obstacles, I would be very glad to have you join this tour. Please let me know something about you and I will do everything I can to assist you by trying to minimizing obstacles and trying to get help where possible. [top]
How physically fit do I have to be to take this tour?
Although you probably will do a fair amount of walking on this tour, it will not involve really strenuous physical activity. If you are reasonably fit and active, you should have no difficulty. I do expect the weather in some places to be hot and relatively humid, so I will make sure we pace ourselves. But please see the next question about high elevation places. [top]
I have health issues involving high-elevation places. Should I take this tour?
Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and the Yangtze River Three Gorges are either close to sea level or at a moderate elevation and should pose no issues for anyone of normal fitness. Those who select Options 1 and 3, which visit Yunnan Province, will be going to higher elevation places. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, lies at approximately 5,500 feet; the next stop, Lijiang, lies at approximately 7, 500 feet; and the final stop, Zhongdian, lies at approximately 10,000 feet. At times during our exploration of this area we may pass by elevations exceeding 11,000 feet. We are not planning to do any very strenuous activity at these elevations, and I have structured the tour so that we ascend gradually towards our highest point, to help you acclimate. But if you have had medical difficulties with high-elevation places in the past, unfortunately, I don’t recommend that you take the tour options that include Yunnan. [top]
Climate and Weather
What will the weather be like along our tour route?
Generally, we can expect the weather at the time of our tour to be warm to hot, with highs in the 80s and even 90s at times, and relatively humid. The exception will be Yunnan, where the high elevation means that daytime highs will generally be in the 70s and low 80s and the nights as cool as the 50s. Summer does tend to be a relatively rainy season in all the areas we plan to visit, so you should be prepared for showers. A specific description of the weather prospects for the eclipse site, and our backup plans in case of bad weather, can be found in the FAQ section on “Eclipse Viewing". [top]
Packing and Clothing
What are the checked baggage limits on international flights?
This may depend upon your airline. Generally, most international carriers allow two checked bags not exceeding 70 pounds, although I have heard that some airlines now may be limiting checked baggage to no more than 50 pounds. Please check with your airline. Also, please note that the baggage limit on Chinese domestic flights is less than either of these limits. [top]
What are the checked baggage limits on Chinese domestic flights?
Generally, they allow two checked bags not exceeding 44 pounds. [top]
What if I want to bring heavy or oversized equipment for viewing the eclipse?
You will be responsible for any oversized or overweight baggage charges. Please check with your international carrier for details. If you can tell me the approximate weight and dimensions of items that might be subject to additional charges, I will try to find out for you what the Chinese domestic charges are. On our 2008 eclipse tour, we were able to have our checked baggage weighed as a group in order to “average” the weight, and thus avoid any extra baggage charges. I can’t guarantee we’ll be able to do that in 2009, but we’ll try. [top]
What sort of clothing should I bring? And how much?
Dress comfortably for warm and humid weather. Casual dress is fine everywhere, although for our visits to mosques and Tibetan monasteries I do recommend that we dress somewhat conservatively in order to show our respect. I strongly recommend that you bring a wide-brimmed sun hat (and a good sun block), because we will be out in the sun almost everywhere for at least part of the day, and especially for our visit in the high elevation places of Yunnan where the sun is very strong. Given the season, we may have rain showers from time to time, so a light rain jacket and hat, or a small umbrella, will be useful. A jacket and sweater is advisable for possible cool nights in higher elevation places of Yunnan. Good, sturdy walking shoes with non-slip soles are the best choice for footwear. I do recommend a wheeled suitcase. [top]
Can I wash clothes along the way?
You can probably wash some light items in your bathroom sink and let them dry overnight. But since summer is a relatively humid season, this isn’t always effective. Almost all of our hotels have laundry services that can clean, dry and return clothes to you within about a day for a fee. [top]
Can I use small electrical devices such as battery chargers and hairdryers in China?
Yes, but you will need a set of plug adaptors and a power converter, unless it is built into the cord. My husband has a set called a “Voltage Valet” that he has been using for overseas trips since the 1980s that has worked very well in China. I do recommend that you have a set of plug adaptors because I have seen different plug setups in different hotels. Hotels very often have hair dryers available in the room, or they can be obtained from housekeeping. [top]
Are there any other useful items I should bring?
I recommend that you bring a small day pack to carry bottled water and snacks.
For your luggage, I recommend something with wheels. Another useful thing (but
maybe not essential) is a small flashlight. And something like a Swiss Army
Knife is especially useful, for opening bottles (they don't always have twist-off
caps there!) and peeling fruit. (If you bring a knife or other cutting tool,
please remember that it will have to be placed in checked baggage on all flights
because of the new security rules. This applies to all Chinese domestic flights,
too.) If you are sensitive to noise, it's a good idea to bring a pair of earplugs.
Also, you might want to bring some "Wet Ones". I found these very
useful for times like "snacking" on the top of the Great Wall, eating
fruit in the car, or when you stop at some bathroom along the road with no towels.
Some of the bathrooms you will find, particularly along the road or in the highlands
of Yunnan, are very primitive and do not have running water or toilet paper.
Sundries such as shaving cream and toothpaste are usually available, but some
of my friends told me they couldn't find mouthwash and dental floss, so you
might want to bring some along. [top]
Can I get film and batteries for my camera?
Standard color film for your camera is very easy to buy, except for the new advanced format or panoramic cameras. Standard batteries such as AA are available, too, but more unusual batteries for cameras and video recorders are not always easy to find. I recommend that you bring enough batteries to last for your entire trip, just to be sure. If you use a digital camera, you should bring enough memory cards to last for your entire trip, because it isn't easy to find them in China, or to find places to download pictures conveniently. The situation has improved in recent years, but to avoid disappointment, I still don’t recommend you to rely on being able to find what you need conveniently. [top]
Dealing With Money on the Tour
How much money will I need to bring with me?
The tour price includes virtually everything once you arrive in China, so you only need to bring as much as you think you might want for personal expenses such as shopping, snacks, phone calls, Internet usage, etc., as well as something extra for emergencies just as you would on any trip. So it’s really up to you how much to bring. [top]
Should I bring cash or traveler’s checks? And how can I change money?
I recommend that you bring a small amount in cash, but that you bring most of your money in the form of travelers’ checks. American Express travelers’ checks are the most widely-accepted in China. Most of our hotels will be able to change money at the front desk. You also can change money at many Bank of China branches, but that can be very time-consuming. [top]
It may be possible for you to use some ATMs in larger cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and even Xi’an, although generally I do not recommend that you rely on them for your trip money because in my experience many Chinese bank ATMs do not accept foreign bank cards. If you want to try using an ATM in China, please contact your bank before you leave to get a list of Chinese bank ATMs that are part of your system, and to make sure that your PIN can be used in China (or to have a PIN issued that will work in China). [top]
Can I use credit cards in China?
Some larger stores accept credit cards. Visa seems to be the most widely-accepted card. One very important point: if you intend to use your credit card in China, inform your credit card company before you go, so they will know you will use it there. Also, check with your card issuer to see what fees it will charge for foreign transactions--fees of 3% are not uncommon. The Bank of China can make cash advances on credit cards if you need money but this can be an expensive option--again, check with your card issuer. [top]
Keeping in Touch With Home
Will I be able to call home from China?
Most of our hotels have guest room telephones that are capable of international direct dialing, or a business center with telephones, which you can use to call home if you need to. Please be aware, though, that making an international direct dial call from a hotel room can be very expensive, so this is an option that should probably be used only in an emergency. For your convenience, I can help you buy a Chinese calling card once you are in China that permits you to make international calls at a reasonable rate through an access number. [top]
Is it possible to use my calling card in China?
Yes, some long-distance carriers do have calling cards that you can use from
China, and in some cases this can be much cheaper than dialing direct. Please
check with your carrier to see if such a card is available, and make sure to
find out what cities in China you can make calls from (and the local access
numbers in China), since the cards often work only in a few major cities. [top]
Will my family or friends be able to call me in China?
In most places, yes. I will give all of the tour participants a list of the hotels where we will be staying, along with their telephone and fax numbers. The list will have the phone numbers exactly as you would dial them from home, including the international access code, country code for China and the city code. [top]
Is Internet/E-mail access available? Can I use my own computer?
Yes. Hotels have business centers where you can pay for time on a computer with Internet access. Some of the larger hotels may have data ports where you can plug in your computer, and wireless access either in rooms or common areas is increasingly available, usually for a small fee but sometimes for free. You can use Internet access to send and receive e-mail from home, although from time to time it can be difficult to access certain services. I have always had good success with my Hotmail account, and have heard that others have had good success with services such as gmail. It might be a good idea to set up e-mail accounts with at least two free services such as Hotmail so you have a backup just in case there are problems with access to one service during the tour. [top]
Will my cell phone work in China?
The China Telecom mobile phone network is comprehensive-we saw cell phone towers in the middle of the empty desert and up on the Tibetan grasslands, and I have used my Chinese cell phone all over China, including the highlands of Yunnan. But most foreign cell phones will not work in China unless they are specially set up. If you would like to be able to use your cell phone in China, please check with your service provider to see if that would be possible. (On my 2008 eclipse tour, one of my group actually received a call on his American cell phone while on a train going through a tunnel on the way from Beijing to Datong-it was his carpool partner at home asking if he needed a ride to work the next day!) And be sure to check the rates-international calling on cell phones can be very expensive in China! [top]
Accommodations and Meals
We will be staying in clean, comfortable, well-located tourist hotels that regularly receive foreign guests and rating four or five stars on the Chinese five-star rating system, which is based on hotel facilities and amenities. Rooms will be double occupancy with two beds; a third rollaway type bed can be moved in for couples traveling with a child. Your room will have a private attached bathroom with sink, shower and Western-style toilet. Your room will have air conditioning, except perhaps in Lijiang and Zhongdian, where the high-elevation mountain climate normally makes it unnecessary. [top]
Over the years, my friends have told me again and again that the food in China was one of the highlights of their trip. It may surprise you how different it is from the typical Chinese cooking you have tasted at home. That’s why one of the things I always look forward to on my tours is introducing my guests to the real local flavors of China. Breakfast normally will be in our hotel and will feature a mixture of Chinese and Western-style items, served buffet-style. Most of our lunches and dinners will be at restaurants I have specially chosen for this trip. These are not “tourist restaurants”, but places popular with local people, where you can taste the authentic flavor of the regional specialties. I will order a large variety of Chinese-style meat and vegetarian dishes for each table, so everyone can have the chance to enjoy many different dishes. Meals include one beverage per person, such as beer or a soft drink, and also tea and bottled water. [top]
Eclipse-Viewing --Provided by Bill Sorrells of the Peninsula Astronomical Society
Where is the viewing site located?
Our chosen site is in the coastal town of Jinshanwei, a suburb of Shanghai about 35 miles from the center of the city, and located just north of the centerline. At this spot we can expect 5 minutes and 53 seconds of totality. Jinshanwei offers us the best likelihood of decent viewing (statistically speaking) on land anywhere along the track. Our hotel has a large parking area which we can use for a set-up location, and in addition, there is a vacant field across the street where we can set up as well. [top]
How are the weather prospects for eclipse day?
As shown on the graph, the weather prospects give us about a 50% chance of seeing the eclipse in a clear sky. It doesn’t get much better anywhere along the track, although shipboard viewers will have some ability to move into clear areas, something we will more limited in doing. The weather prospects for the eclipse at this time are based solely on long-term statistics, as compiled by the redoubtable Jay Anderson of Winnipeg. A detailed analysis of the prospects for this site can be found at Jay’s excellent site, http://www.eclipser.ca/. The site is near the sea, but not directly on the beach, where sand and wind can be a negative factor. But there is a tendency to experience onshore flows of air in the morning hours in the summer, somewhat reducing the prospects of smog from Shanghai and inland cloud buildup. [top]
Do you have a backup plan if the primary eclipse-viewing site has bad weather?
We will have some ability to move to an alternate viewing site if the primary viewing site at Jinshanwei is threatened by bad weather, although our ability to run may be somewhat limited in extent. We will monitor the weather reports in the days leading up to the eclipse and make a final recommendation the day before eclipse day. If we have to move, our main path will be westward, which would tend to bring us into areas with greater risk of poor weather, although not drastically so. If we do decide that we need to move, we may have to leave quite early in the morning in order to reach a suitable alternate site in time to set up (totality is at about 9:40 in the morning). [top]
Will you have a pre-eclipse briefing to give us information about viewing?
Yes. A day or two before the eclipse (exact day & time not yet determined) we will hold a pre-eclipse talk for participants about what to expect when the eclipse happens, what to look for during the brief moments of totality, and tips on photo and video of the event. Our experienced eclipse chaser Bill Sorrells will have slides of the appearance of the sky, possibly videos of eclipses past, and most importantly, a final weather update. [top]
Is it safe to look at a solar eclipse?
Yes, provided you follow a few simple rules. It is not safe to look at the
unfiltered surface of the sun at any time. Even when 99% of the sun is covered
by the moon, it is still too bright to safely look at without the right kind
of filter. We will be providing filter “glasses” for those who want
to experience the “naked” eye view of the partial phases of the
eclipse. When the eclipse becomes total, however, it is perfectly safe to look
at, and we strongly encourage everyone to do so!
As totality approaches, experienced eclipse chasers will be ready to call out
when it is safe to look. This is typically about 15 seconds before the last
bit of sun disappears. At this point you will see the “diamond ring”
effect, as the solar corona appears behind the last bright speck of sun. The
corona is safe to look at without a filter, being about as bright as a half-moon.
[top]
How long will the eclipse last?
The entire eclipse will be over two and a half hours from the beginning to the end of the partial phases. Totality, when all the excitement happens, will be 5 minute 53 seconds at our chosen site. This is quite long, as eclipses go, but it will go by very quickly, and it will seem considerably shorter in all the excitement.
Jinshanwei: Latitude +30 deg, 43.3 min. Longitude 121 deg, 18.9 min. E.
Eclipse timings: 1st contact: 8:23:04 a.m. Partial eclipse begins
2nd contact: 9:36:08 Totality begins
3rd contact: 9:42:01 Totality ends
4th contact: 11:01:40 Partial eclipse ends
Sun altitude at mid-eclipse: 57 degrees. Azimuth: 101 degrees
All times are local time in Shanghai. China does not observe “Daylight
Savings.” [top]
Typically, during a total eclipse, the sky assumes a look similar to mid-twilight, with the sky high overhead a deep grey-blue, and the horizon a much brighter orange-yellow. Sometimes the effect resembles a “360-degree sunset.” The brightest planets will be visible, and maybe if you are VERY lucky, one or two of the brightest stars. It will not be getting as dark as full nighttime. Near the beginning and end of totality, the moon’s shadow may be visible, seeming to sweep across the heavens as the lunar shadow passes. This effect is particularly noticeable if the sky is partly cloudy. [top]
Which planets will be visible?
Mercury will be fairly bright, somewhat close below the sun (if you’ve never seen Mercury, this is your big chance!) and Venus will be bright and easy high overhead. Mars will be not far from Venus, but it will be difficult to see because its brightness will be much less. The bright star Sirius will be visible off to the right of the sun, toward the south, and if you are very lucky, the bright stars of Orion may be faintly seen above Sirius. However, keep in mind that even a long eclipse is still fairly short, so you might want to keep the planet viewing to a minimum. [top]
Yes! The great thing about eclipses is that they are not too hard to photograph. The range of brightness of the solar corona is quite large, so almost any exposure will show something. A small video camera on a tripod will work wonders, with proper settings. We plan to have a detailed presentation before the eclipse on what to expect and how to photograph it. Information on filters and film (if you are still using film!) will be sent out to participants before the trip begins. [top]
Solar eclipses occur every year, though they are not always total. Total eclipses can be expected about every year and a half, on the average, but they can only be seen from a narrow path, so if you want to see one, you usually have to travel. The next total eclipse after this one will be on July 11, 2010, in the South Pacific, including Easter Island. After that, the next eclipse is November 13, 2012, also in the South Pacific (and northern Australia). Next comes Nov. 3, 2013, in West Africa. [top]
When will one of these things happen in the U.S.?
You will have wait until August 21, 2017, when the path will cross the US diagonally
from near Portland, Ore. to Charleston, SC. Also inside the path will be St.
Louis, Nashville, and Grand Teton National Park. After that, the US gets totality
in 2024, 2033 (Alaska only), 2044, 2045, 2052, 2078, 2079, 2097 (Alaska only,
again) and 2099. [top]
C.S.T. Number 2034611-40
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