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Solar Eclipse 2009 tour a sucess, despite the weather! |
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Many total solar eclipses last less than two or three minutes, but the eclipse of 22 July 2009 was heralded as the Eclipse of the Century, lasting over six minutes in places. The track of totality went right across Shanghai, an extended city with a population of 20 million, giving more people than ever a chance to view the spectacular event. Oriental Travel took 300 lucky people from all accross the world to both first time eclispe viewers and eclipse enthusiasts to a special viewing site at Haining Dam.
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Our viewers catch a glimpse of the Eclipse!
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The view through the clouds of the partial eclipse.
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The onset of totality was marked by a great darkness over the land, and despite the heat it was almost possible to shiver. These days, everyone knows what will happen but it is still impressive. Across the river, fireworks lit up the dark sky. After nearly six minutes the light started to return.
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| Extensive research beforehand located an ideal eclipse viewing site in an area usually lacking in wide open spaces. The Haining Dam, about 125 km from Shanghai, has ornamental gardens, air-conditioned rooms and a frontage to the Qiantang River, famous for the largest tidal bore in the world. While many other eclipse tours arranged to be at the Qiantang River, Oriental managed to secure exclusive use of the gardens and rooms, allowing unprecedented facilities. |
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"A short note to thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable 5 day eclipse tour – I now regret not opting for a longer stay in China. The organisation, accommodation and our tour manager Kelly were all first class. Well done. I would certainly use Oriental Travel again and have no hesitation in recommending you." Richard Hutchings (5 Day Eclipse Tour)
"Having now returned from our holiday, this is just a note of thanks to say that we found it a great experience and uniformly excellent throughout. Certainly, for our group, it all went like clockwork and what didn’t was largely beyond your control (e.g. the weather!). Taken across all the different groups, it must represent a superb feat of organisation, but you were still able to provide us with a degree of personal service, which is much appreciated. We were particularly impressed by the trouble you had taken with the eclipse viewing site – even down to the police escort!" David Cotton & Sylvia Holland (13 Day Solar Eclipse Tour)
I just wanted to write to you to let you know how impressed we were with the tour. We don't usually use organised tours preferring to arrange our own travel and itinerary, but realised that China would be best toured through an experienced travel operator, and I have to say our expectations were exceeded. From the moment we arrived, Nui our Tour Manager made everything happen smoothly and efficiently, he was absolutely fantastic. In particular the organisation of the eclipse day was superb from start to finish, only the weather was a slight letdown! The whole tour itinerary was cleverly arranged in terms of the various forms of transport and diversity of places and activities. We would certainly consider using Oriental Travel again. Lesley Taylor (19 Day Eclipse Tour)
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| Such is the fickleness of the weather that just a few minutes after the end of totality, the thin crescent of the Sun was again visible. But as often happens, the latter stages of the eclipse were a but of an anticlimax. People packed up, and gathered to watch the tidal bore which roared up the river some 90 minutes following the eclipse. |
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Did you attend the 2009 Solar Eclipse in China with Oriental Travel? If so we want to hear from you. Submit your comments.
Did you attend the 2009 Solar Eclipse in China with Oriental Travel? If so we want to hear from you. 'Submit your comments':
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