Growing a Tourism Culture in China

“Ni Hao” (hello in Chinese), and welcome to Hong Kong in your world travel exploration. Your local guide will meet you in the arrival hall of the airport and oversee your transfer to the hotel. The day is yours to recover from your long journey, or to explore the city.  

If you elect for free time to explore the city, you might want to check out the Star Ferry which sails between Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon) and Hong Kong Island. This trip is especially spectacular in the evening when the Symphony of Lights begins and illuminates the Hong Kong skyline.

Following breakfast, you will embark on a half-day exploration of Hong Kong. You will start by climbing to the highest point of Hong Kong, Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram, one of the world’s oldest functioning railways. Take time to walk through the verdant woods and explore old hidden buildings from centuries ago. You can also ascend to the observation deck for sweeping views of the Hong Kong skyline and harbor below.

You will visit the Aberdeen Fishing Village for insights into the old traditional fishing villages and to see rows of old junks and sampans. From here, you will visit Stanley Market, where you can browse, bargain, and buy trinkets, or enjoy a cup of coffee or a beer at a seaside cafe.

The rest of the day is on your own to relax or explore. In the evening you might want to walk on the Avenue of Stars.

This morning, you will take a short ferry ride to Macau to see several World Heritage sites, including old city walls, Na Tcha Temple, the ruins of St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church and the Mount Fortress. While here you will also visit the temple of A-Ma, built over 400 years ago in homage to a girl who saved seamen’s lives. 

In the afternoon you can visit the Macau Tower for impressive views of the entire city or explore some of the Vegas-style casinos that made Macau famous.

In the evening you will return to Hong Kong.

After breakfast, you will go to the train station to ride the historic Kowloon/Canton Railway on a 2.5-hour journey to Guangzhou. The train crosses the Chinese border at Shenzhen, travels through the Pearl River Delta, and into Guangzhou. 

The afternoon is free to explore the city of Guangzhou.

In the evening, the Pearl River dinner tour is highly recommended. It includes a buffet-style meal with spectacular nighttime views of Guangzhou.

Following your delicious breakfast, you will check out the highlights of Guangzhou. Visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall, Five Ram Statue and Zhenhai Tower (located in Yuexiu Park), the Guangzhou Museum and the Arts and Craft Center. 

In the afternoon, you will have free time for additional exploration or relaxation. You might visit the Chen Clan Academy, which was built at the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Hualin Buddhist Temple, or Shamian Island, home to the British and French following the opium wars of the 1850s.

Today you will travel to the capital of China, Beijing.

This morning you will begin to explore the historical sites of Beijing with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest city plaza in the world. Here you will find one of the world’s five most important palaces – the Forbidden City, a huge palace complex with more than 9,000 rooms where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties lived. 

In the afternoon, you will drive to the outskirts of Beijing to spend a pleasant afternoon at the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Relax and enjoy ancient pavilions, mansions, temples, bridges and corridors. Be amazed by the huge lotus in Kunming Lake. Check out the colorful paintings in the Long Corridor.

If you are up for more activities, in the evening you can catch a Kungfu Show in the Red Theater or enjoy a classical performance of Beijing Opera at Liyuan Theater.

Following breakfast, you will drive about 70 km to witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Great Wall of China. You will visit a well-preserved section called the Mutianyu. This section is less crowded than other segments.  You can take a cable car to ascend the Great Wall and then hike this beautiful section of the wall. You can also ascend the steps if you prefer; it takes about 45 minutes to climb.

After enjoying the views along the Great Wall, you will continue your trip to Sacred Way, a 7-kilometer-long passage leading to the Imperial Tombs of 13 Emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Check out the magnificent stone guard of 12 sets of mythical animals and 12 officials.

On the drive back to Beijing, you will have a short stop at the Beijing Olympic Village to view its famous Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from the outside.

After breakfast, you will drive to the imperial site of the Temple of Heaven. Originally, it was a site used to pay homage to heaven and pray for good harvests, but now it is a bustling local community center where locals take part in traditional activities such as Tai Chi, dancing, kite flying, water calligraphy, and more.

Hop on a rickshaw to experience the Beijing Hutongs, small alleys made by neighboring quadrangle dwellings, and to get back to Beijing.

The afternoon is free for any final shopping or exploration you want to do around Beijing.

This morning you be transported to the Beijing airport for your return flight home. We hope you have enjoyed your travels through China and return soon.