Solar Eclipse in China
|
|
Despite centuries of scientific understanding of astronomy, a solar eclipse remains one of the most profoundly thrilling mysteries of the natural world. According to ancient Chinese lore, a great dragon devours the sun, plunging the world into darkness unless drums are banged and great noise made to frighten the dragon away.
As the moon moves over the sun, as the dragon approaches from the west, the world darkens and cools suddenly, the birds are hushed, the stars glitter in the suddenly unnatural sky until a silver glow reappears as light and life returns to the world. Not only is totalility awesome, but just before and after there are other phenomena to be seen, such as the sun’s corona or luminous atmosphere, and sometimes solar flares, as well as ‘Baily’s beads’ - spots of light around the edge of the sun caused by mountains on the moon and which lead to the ‘diamond ring effect’ in the instants immediately before and after totality.
At around 9.30am on the 22nd July 2009 the longest total eclipse of the sun expected in the 21st century, up to six minutes, will sweep across Asia, and one of the best places to see this exhilarating event will be from eastern China. Most of our escorted group tours include a departure timed to feature this exciting occasion, and we have specially selected Hangzhou, Shanghai and Wuzhen West as bases for witnessing this phenomenon as they lie very close to the narrow central track of the eclipse yet are also very special destinations in their own right. Viewing of the eclipse could last up to five minutes and 40 seconds here, depending on weather conditions.
Millions of people in a great arc from India to Polynesia will see the total eclipse, whilst many millions more can see a partial one – few will be unmoved. |
Qiantang River Tidal Bore
In Hangzhou after the eclipse, we arrange to see another natural spectacle, that of the Tidal Bore at Qiantang River. This great tidal wave, the world's largest at up to 30ft high, and travelling at up to 25 miles an hour, occurs at the beginning and middle of every lunar month, and is caused by three factors, the gravitational pull on the tide exerted by the movements of the sun and the moon - greatly enhanced during the eclipse, by the rotation of the earth and by the formation of the river itself, forced into a narrow valley like a funnel. All these combine to form a turbulent tidal wave when the sea meets the river current, and at around 12.30 on the 22nd July, the sight should be magnificent. Traditionally, the days around the high tide are festival days, and ever since the 1st century, people have come here to watch and celebrate the ‘Silver Dragon’, the hallmark of the Mid-Autumn festival. |
Tours featuring the 2009 Solar Eclipse |
| Eclipse viewing in Shanghai
Beyond the Clouds, pages 22-23
Departs 15 July 2009, £2695 per person
China Interlude, page 19
Departs 16 July 2009, £1695 per person
Imperial Triangle, page 26
Departs 17 July 2009, £1395 per person
The Very Best of the Middle Kingdom,
pages 38-39
Departs 19 July 2009, £2575 per person
Luxury Grand Tour of China, pages 40-41
Departs 19 July 2009, £3395 per person
Through the Yangtze Gorges, page 45
Departs 20 July 2009, £2295 per person
|
Eclipse viewing in Wuzhen West
Golden China, pages 16-17
Departs 10 July 2009, £2175 per person
Beijing, Xian, Shanghai & 1000 Miles down the Yangtze,
page 42
Departs 20 July 2009, £2395 per person
1000 Miles down the Yangtze, page 43
Departs 20 July 2009, £1695 per person
Poetry of Wuzhen West, pages 54-55
Departs 18 July 2009, £1395 per person
Eclipse viewing in Hangzhou
China Panorama, page 18
Departs 3 July 2009, £2765 per person
Waterways & Gardens, page 20
Departs 16 July 2009, £1395 per person |
|
|
