Sightseeing & Eating in "Asia’s World City" and "China’s Most Liveable City"
There’s a pretty good chance you haven’t heard of Guangzhou, but I’d say you’ve heard the name Canton before. They are one and the same, the third largest city in China and the home to Cantonese cuisine, located on the might Pearl River about 136 kilometers away from Hong Kong with 1 hour’s transfer.
Forming the perfect blend of traditional and modern culture, you get the best of both worlds in Hong Kong that never sleeps. While, Guangzhou is a great destination with leafy streets conceal temples, pockets of colonial-era heritage, traditional dim-sum eateries, exquisite Lǐngnán architecture and distinctive qílóu shophouses. Traveling to Hong Kong with a combination of Guangzhou in one trip, you can see "Asia’s World City" and a part of mainland China with profound history, delicious food, amazing sightseeing, impressive architecture and fast development speed! In 4 days, it will be definitely worth your time and effort for your exploration.
Alternative Plan: In China’s Greater Bay Area, you can choose Macau and Shenzhen for a further exploration. If you like, you can extend your trip longer to take our 8 Days Amazing Greater Bay Area Tour. Have your own ideas and likes? Feel free to tell us your plan and we are glad to customize a tour for you!
Ni Hao! Welcome to Hong Kong! If you need a transfer from Hong Kong International Airport to downtown, you can tell us your needs ahead. Our local guide is ready to pick you up at the arrival hall of the airport, and transfer you to hotel. The rest of today is to recover from long flight, or explore this vibrant and bustling metropolis on your own.
Evening Ideas: In this evening, take a walk through Temple Street Night Market which is the livest night market in Hong Kong. Whether you’re a fan of shopping or not, Temple Street is one place you’ll find everything from souvenirs to tiny trinkets and from clothes to footwear, bags and more. Browse different kinds of commodities and if you like, stop to sit and enjoy some delicious snacks. After the tour, get back to your hotel by yourselves.
In this morning, the local guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel or assigned place (like airport, railway station or metro station). Your amazing Hong Kong tour starts. Firstly, you’ll experience the quickest and most scenic way to reach up the highest point on Hong Kong Island (552 meters) - Victoria Peak by the legendary Peak Tram which has been operating for more than 130 years as one of the world’s oldest funicular railways. Ascend the Sky Terrace 428 observation deck to enjoy 360-degree spectacular panoramic views of the vibrant city - from the stunning skyline and Victoria Harbor to the tranquility of greenery landscape. If you like, enjoy a walk around and shoot some gorgeous photos.
Later, be driven far away from the bustling and hustling downtown area to “Hawaii of the Orient” - Repulse Bay. This crescent-shaped stretch of sand is Hong Kong’s most famous beach with long coastline, soft sand, clean water and appropriate temperature and it is also home to some of its richest residents. Appreciate beautiful sea view and visit the Tin Hau Temple situated facing the sea. Continue your visit to Aberdeen Fishing Village where you will get an impressive insight of an old traditional fishing village to view the rows of old junks, sampans and private yachts. (Optional experience: if you like, try the sampan tour sailing on the peaceful harbor which would be a fun way to see parts of the floating village and their way of living.)
After the tour, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in downtown area. This afternoon and evening is free on your own. If you have time to continue exploring, you can take our suggested itinerary for further visit.
Suggested Afternoon & Evening Itinerary:
In this afternoon, pay a visit to Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple. This Taoist temple is dedicated to a deified healer named Wong Tai Sin and it is said that when he was 15 an immortal taught Wong how to make a herbal potion that could cure all illness. This temple is famed for the many prayers answered “What you request is what you get” via a practice called kau chim. Enjoy the sincere atmosphere of praying and kau chim for good fortune. Later, move your steps to Nan Lian Garden, an elegant Tang-style garden featuring a golden pagoda, a koi pond and a collection of bizarre rocks sourced from all over China. Enjoy your time in the beautiful Chi Lin Nunnery located close to the garden. Built in the style of Tang Dynasty, this Buddhist complex is a serene place with lotus ponds, bonsai tea plants, bougainvillea and silent nuns delivering offerings fruit and rice to Buddha or chanting behind intricately carved screens.
In the late evening, enjoy a light walk along Avenue of Stars situated on the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade right on the waterfront of Victoria Harbor. Admire stunning views of the Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island with its numerous skyscrapers. If time allows, catch the chance to watch “A Symphony of Lights” that is held every night at 20:00.
In this morning, you’ll be transferred to Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station for your high speed train to Guangzhou (about 1 hour). At this station, you need to be checked your documents (valid passport and China visa) to go to Guangzhou.
Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station Procedures for Boarding your Train:
(a) Departing passengers enter the station at level B1, pass ticket checks and take an escalator or lift to B3. (b) Once at the Hong Kong immigration clearing area, passengers pass through the control point. (c) They follow the arrows and enter the mainland jurisdiction area for passport clearance. (d) Once cleared for entry into mainland China passengers may enter the waiting area or take escalators or lifts to level B4 to board high trains.
Upon arrival at Guangzhou South Railway Station, the local guide will meet you at the train station and escort you for today’s sightseeing. Start to explore the old and new Guangzhou City from Yuexiu Park, the largest city park in Guangzhou. Stroll leisurely in the verdant park to see the Five Rams Statue from which you will savor the interesting legendary story of the five rams and know why Guangzhou is called the “City of Rams”. Then, continue to appreciate a five-storey ancient structure in red - Zhenhai Tower which was changed as Guangzhou Museum. Have a brief learning about Guangzhou’s over 2000 years’ history and if you like, climb up the tower to get a bird’s-eye view of Guangzhou city. After the morning stretching with fresh air, move your steps to the nearby Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall which was built in memory of the great revolutionist Sun Yat-sen. Enjoy the Chinese and Western combining styled octagon-shaped main building in bright red and blue from outside. Enter the hall to know Dr. Sun deeper with excellent exhibitions of his biography and contribution to the country and people, and get a simple learning about the contemporary history of China in the 18th - 19th centuries. Before leaving, admire the 5.5-meter tall bronze statue of Dr. Sun outside in the yard and show your respect to this world famous great Father of the Nation in China.
Later, pay a visit to Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King which was built at the real tomb site of Zhao Mo, the second King of Western Han Dynasty 2000 years ago. The tomb is the largest and the best preserved color-painted stone chamber found to date in the Lingnan region in South China. Discover the burial chamber and appreciate the precious historical relics found there in the exhibition halls to learn the culture, history, economy, etc. of Lingnan area. Among all the 1,000 pieces of cultural artifacts, you won’t miss the spotlight “Jade Burial Garment” which is made up of 2291 pieces of jade, and also a collection of over 400 delicate ceramic pillows.
After the historical exploration, e transferred to the urban central axis in Zhujiang New Town to see the modern cityscape of Guangzhou at Huacheng Square. Have a leisure stroll between the glittery skyscrapers and peculiar shaped modern buildings to feel the fast development of this metropolis. Most importantly, appreciate the slim outline of the iconic Canton Tower on the opposite bank of Pearl River.
After the tour, be escorted back to your hotel.
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, pay a short visit to the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. With a history about 1500 years, this temple is one of the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism where you can have a simple understanding about Chinese Buddhism. Walk leisurely and admire the 57.6-meter octangular brick-wood Flower Pagoda and see some exquisite Buddha statues.
Then, visit the must-see Chen Clan Ancestral Hall which is regarded as the largest, most beautifully decorated and best preserved traditional ancestral temple in Guangdong Province. Roam among the tranquil houses and courtyards built during 1888-1894 to discover its architectural origin and find out whether it was an ancestral hall or an academy for the Chen Family in Guangdong initially. Since it is famous as the “Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art”, you will taste the super exquisite colorful decorations of vivid patterns of various flora and fauna, figures and immortals to feel the highly skillful construction and decoration of Lingnan people and know their typical folk culture and best wishes of harvest and prosperity in ancient China.
Later, be transferred for about 10 minutes’ driving to see the quite different Shamian Island where over 150 European styled old buildings from the colonial period from 19th century are well preserved for a nice savory. Take a relaxing walk in the strongly exotic street block in emerald and imagine the past life and changes of Guangzhou told by those historical remains.
After that, have a break and enjoy the specially arranged Cantonese lunch in one of the best reputed local restaurants to know why Cantonese food is so famous and popular around the world.
After the visiting, your guide and driver will send you back to your hotel or to the airport / train station to catch the flight / train to your next destination or home. Service ends!
Departure Ideas: Guangzhou is a large international city with great transportation connections including many international and domestic flights from and to. Furthermore, high speed trains are quite convenient from/to most domestic cities including Hong Kong (about 1 hour), Shenzhen (0.5-1.5 hours), Guilin (2.5-3.5 hours), Guiyang (4-6.5 hours), Beijing (8-10 hours), Shanghai (7-8.5 hours), Chengdu (9-10 hours), Xian (8-9 hours), Hangzhou (6-7.5 hours), and so on.
Guilin, the darling of tourists!
Guilin is famous for having the best landscape under Heaven which can be seen in three most popular places - Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng. Only 3 days are needed to get them all in a single trip. You will visit the essential sites in the city, enjoy a relaxing cruise along Li River, and have a pleasant time of countryside exploration in Yangshuo Town. Another highlight is the unique trip to Longji Terrace which is an ideal place for experiencing ethnic culture, hiking and photography.
Shanghai, regarded as the Oriental Paris, is the best place to experience East-meet-West Culture, find hidden tradition within modernity.
Generally speaking, you can spend Day 1 exploring the popular landmarks of Shanghai, such as the Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, the Bund, and Shanghai World Financial Center Tower. The Day 2 is for you to explore deep into the city of Shanghai (such as Old French Concession, Tianzifang or Jade Buddha Temple) and departure.
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