China Planetarium Explorer Tour to be Led By Dr. Sky® September 2013

Jan. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- The Chinese culture has been obsessed with Astronomy as much or more than any other culture. Steve Kates, aka Dr. Sky® is leading a tour to China that will include 3 or 4 Planetariums, each with historical significance. The guides will know this is a Astronomy tour and will guide their talks accordingly.

Your host Dr. Sky®,  Steve Kates,  is the host of a regular radio program which launches from Phoenix, Arizona and is heard on News Talk 92.3 KTAR  and many affiliated stations in the nation. Steve regularly gives talks throughout Arizona on Astronomy and is a frequent television guest on the subject of the “sky.” This will be Tropical Sails 4th venture to China. Our suppliers know what Americans expect and will try to meet all our needs. Dr. Sky will give talks as we move along the route. We included the Yunnan area so you will get a taste of the real China and become familiar with many ethnic groups of which the Chinese are very proud.

Even if you have been on the Yangtze before, it will be more interesting now that the dam is closed and the river is full of water.

Two options exist for the tour.   September 7 to 27, 2013.  Beijing-Xian, Kunming, Dali, Shangrila, Lijiang, Chongqing, Yangtze Cruise, Fengdu, Lesser Three Gorges,  Three Gorges Dam, Yichang and Shanghai are featured. Participants will go to 4 Chinese planetariums.

The September 11-27th group will bypass Beijing and Xian. They will overnight in Shanghai on September 12th and meet the rest of the group in Kunming.

The itinerary includes: The Beijing Planetarium, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Great Wall, The Sacred Way, Underground Palace of Dingling, An overnight sleeper train to Xian, The  Xian City Wall, The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Terracotta Warriors Museum and the Provincial History Museum. You will have time for an optional Chinese foot massage or bicycle ride atop the city wall in Xian.

In Kunming we visit the Yunnan Planetarium, Stone Forest and dine on Yiliang Roast Duck followed by a walk in  Green Lake Park. In Dali we visit Three Pagodas and Dali Old Town. We head into the mountains and Shangrila and visit the Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism Monastery. Our hotel, the Songstam Retreat overlooks the monastery and valley. We visit a local Tibetan Family and enjoy the yak tea. In the evening visit Zhongdian Old Town. We take a hike into Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way to Lijiang Old City and tour the Lijiang Planetarium.

Other sites include the Shuhe Old Town and Dr Rock's Residence, Black Dragon Pool, the Dongba Museum and we visit a Baisha Naxi Village. In  Chongqing, we tour the General Joseph W. Stillwell Museum,  Ciqikou Ancient Town and the Chongqing Zoo. We board our ship for a Yangtze Cruise. First stop is Fengdu followed by Lesser Three Gorges and the Three Gorges Dam itself. In Shanghai we have two full days of touring. Sites include: Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old City, a night cruise on Huangpu River, Shanghai Planetarium, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple and the Oriental TV Tower.

The tour dates are September 7-27th for the Beijing to Shanghai option and Sept 11 to 27th for the shorter option.  Most meals, four and five star hotels, Yangtze Cruise and tours, shows are included.  See brochure for detailed itinerary.  The sixteen day tour is $3995 and the 20 day tour is $4495 per person double occupany. The single surcharge is $1229.  Call Tropical Sails Corp, 623-444-8195 or 800-595-1003 for details or visit http://tropicalsails.com/media/China_2013_Planetarium_Tou...

International aifare is not included.http://tropicalsails.com/China_Astronomy_Tour.php