BEIJING, July 22 -- The longest total solar eclipse in the 21st century has attracted many foreigners to come to China for a best view of the spectacle.

    Lots of the chasers have rich experiences in eclipse observation, and some of them are professionals in this field. They bring advanced equipment to chase solar eclipse across the globe.

    In Shanghai, a French fan named Ducamp Stephane, who has 10-year experience in eclipse observation, told Xinhua he came to China just for the eclipse.

    Soundbite: Ducamp Stephane, a French eclipse chaser "I hope we will have a clearest case in China, in Shanghai, to see the longest eclipse of the century. It would be 3 times longer than the one I saw in France 10 years ago."

    Bruce Verden, from the Netherlands, comes to Shanghai with professional equipment. He expects to meet old and new "eclipse friends".

    Soundbite: Bruce Verden, an eclipse chaser from the Netherlands "It's my first time in Asia and in China, that's also a reason, but the main reason is for the eclipse."

    A group of foreigners gathered on China's Three Gorges Dam Wednesday morning for a broad view of the eclipse.

    Soundbite: David, a British eclipse chaser (What do you think of seeing the total solar eclipse near the Three Gorge Project?) "It is a wonderful place, it is a very big place. It is the biggest in the world and we are very pleased to be here. It's special." (When did you plan to come here?) "A little bit after our Christmas, January, February time, while you know the eclipse will come and it's all recorded, so every 18 months." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shanghai and Chongqing.