Hong Kong Budget Trip from Beijing

Dear tourists, welcome to China. Our first stop is Beijing. When you come to Beijing by plane, we will provide you with warm services to make your journey comfortable. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel to check in. Considering the fatigue of the flight, we don’t arrange any tour for your first day.

Beijing is a famous ancient oriental capital. There are abundant tourism resources here, with more than 200 attractions open to tourists. Of course, Beijing’s leisure and entertainment life and customs are also worth you experiencing in person.

Today, our trip will begin. Firstly, we are going to Tian’anmen Square, an attraction you cannot miss. The founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China was held here in 1949. So, it became the symbol of the country. There is a very solemn flag-raising ceremony here every morning and the five-star red flag will rise with the sun every day. 

Then, we are going to the Forbidden City (closed each Monday), which is also known as the Palace Museum. There are more than 70 palaces and more than 9,000 rooms in it. In the past 600 years, from an imperial palace to a public museum open to people around the world, it has witnessed the lives of 24 emperors and their families. The Forbidden City has a large number of precious cultural relics, such as paintings, calligraphy works, porcelains, bronze artifacts, jades, clocks, oracle bone inscriptions, and so on. Among them, the Jinou Yonggu Cup is known as the Palace Treasure. “Jinou Yonggu” means “the golden goblet remains strong forever”. It was used to represent the completeness of the sovereign’s territory and prosperity of the feudal China. Today, it’s considered the representative collection of the Forbidden City. This cup is 12.5 centimeters high, 8 centimeters in diameter, and its mouth is engraved with different kinds of Jewels, including 11 pearls, 9 rubies, 12 sapphires and 4 pink tourmalines. According to historical records, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1636 - 1912) attached great importance to the production of this cup.  At the time of production, it was revised many times to make the emperor satisfied. Therefore, it has been regarded as a precious treasure by the emperors of the Qing Dynasty.

The last attraction of the morning is the Jingshan Park. On the south, it abuts the Forbidden City, and on the west, it is near to Beihai Park. Here, you will have the opportunity to overlook the Forbidden City. In addition, the Peony Garden here is the largest in Beijing. The peonies in Jingshan Park are famous varieties in China like Royal Peony, Luoyang Peony, and Heze Peony. Peonies of different varieties add charms to the ancient Jingshan Park.

After lunch, we are going to the Hutongs. Hutong is a narrow alley or small street in Beijing’s old city area. When we arrive, we will take the Rickshaw to explore the narrow and long Hutongs and feel the local customs of old Beijing. Here, you can enter a house for a visit, chat with the residents in the Hutong, and feel the charm of the Beijing culture at close range.

Then, we will go to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is a large landscape garden, and was the summer resort of the royal family in the Qing Dynasty. It is also the best-preserved imperial palace garden, known as the Museum of Imperial Gardens. It covers an area of about 3 square kilometers and is mainly composed of Wanshou Mountain and Kunming Lake. Because the Summer Palace was built to celebrate the Queen Mother’s birthday, the emperor named the mountain here Wanshou Mountain, which means longevity. Kunming Lake is the main lake of the Summer Palace, accounting for three-quarters of the total area. You will immerse yourself in this beautiful place.

Options:

1. As the saying goes, “climbing the Great Wall, eating Peking Roast Duck and watching Kungfu are the foreigner’s must-dos in Beijing.” The Red Theater is famous among tourists from home and abroad, and the Legend of Kungfu (19:30-20:50) has a full house for every performance. It is different from the traditional Kungfu performance of exhibition type. It makes the drama story into the Kungfu performance. The story is about a young monk, Chunyi, who left his family and went to learn Kungfu, and finally became a Kungfu master. The simple story contains the eternal theme of life - “suffering and growth”. Since its first performance, more than 100 foreign leaders, envoys and their spouses have come to watch it.

2. Peking Roast Duck is a famous Beijing dish with a world reputation, which has a history of hundreds of years. To make roast duck, the restaurants need to use a special duck that has been domesticated for many years. The roasting is also very particular: choosing fruitwood charcoal to roast. After placing the duck in the oven, the cook will keep it turning over and roast it. The Peking Roast Duck is tender inside with a crispy crust. If it is the first time for you to visit Beijing, you must not miss this special and representative food.

Jingshan Park

Summer Palace

The first visit today is the Ming Tombs. We will drive north for about 70 minutes(50KM) to get there. The Ming Tombs is the burial place of the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Ming Tombs is located at the foot of Tianshou Mountain in Changping District, Beijing, with a total area of more than 120 square kilometers. Here, we are going to see the Chang Tomb and the Sacred Way. Located at the southern foot of the main peak of Tianshou Mountain, the Chang Tomb is the joint burial place of Emperor Zhu Di, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), and Empress Xu. Among the 13 tombs of the Ming Tombs, the building scale of Chang Tomb is the largest, the construction time is the earliest, and the ground buildings are best preserved. The Sacred Way was the leading road to the Ming Tombs in the Ming Dynasty. After the emperor's death, when the emperor's body went to the Ming Tomb being buried, the Sacred Way must be passed.

After lunch, we are going to the Mutianyu Great Wall. We need to keep driving northeast for about 1 hour, about 45 kilometers. Mutianyu Great Wall, with a total length of 5,400 meters, is the longest section of the Great Wall in China and the essence of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty. The vegetation coverage rate on the mountains where the Mutianyu Great Wall is located is over 90%. The trees here are mainly red-leaf trees such as maples, torch trees, etc. Therefore, if you visit here in autumn (especially in September and October), you will see the red leaves all over the mountains, which is very spectacular. About ascending and descending the Great Wall, you can take the cable car or chairlift to go up and down the Great Wall. If you love exciting things, you can take the toboggan down. (Tip: For your safety, only people under 60 can ride the toboggan.)

When you finish visiting the Mutianyu Great Wall, we will take you back to the city. On the way, we will stop by the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. Considering your energy and time, we only arrange for you to take a photo stop outside the two venues where the 2008 Olympic Games were held.

Option:

After energy-consuming sightseeing, you may feel a bit tired. We can arrange a comfortable foot massage to ease the tiredness and refresh you. Foot massage originated in ancient times in China and has a history of more than 3,000 years. Previously, it was used to treat diseases. Now it has evolved into a daily health care activity.

Sacred Way

Water Cube

Beijing’s journey will come to an end and you will go to Hong Kong by the estimated flight CA111 09:30/13:05. Our professional guide will take you to Beijing airport. After you arrive in Hong Kong, our Hong Kong tour guide will wait for you at the arrival hall and take you to the hotel.

Hong Kong is a prosperous port city and an international metropolis. It is the third-largest financial center in the world, where Chinese and Western cultures merge.

Today, our trip in Hong Kong will begin. Firstly, we will visit the highest point in Hong Kong: Victoria Peak. It is not only a shopping center but also a sightseeing platform that gives you a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour and Kowloon. It is deeply loved by local residents and tourists. You can take the retro red Peak Tram to the top of the mountain. It is the earliest tram system in Asia. When you reach the top of the mountain, the Peak Tower will come into view. The Peak Tower is a characteristic building in Hong Kong. It integrates sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. It can meet your needs in all aspects. You can have a rest at one café in the Peak Tower after sightseeing.

Next, we will come to Aberdeen Fishing Village. Aberdeen Fishing Village is a famous sightseeing place in Hong Kong and has a strong fishing port style. Traditional sampans, fishing boats and luxury yachts are moored side by side beside the wharf. You will spend about half an hour on the sampan around this place. You can take beautiful pictures of the scenery and experience the life of fishermen.

After that, you will visit Stanley Market, which is located on the coast. In the 1970s, Stanley gradually developed into a tourist area. Stanley Market is the liveliest place in Stanley, with all kinds of small shops selling clothes, Chinese handicrafts, watches, and other souvenirs. There are bars and restaurants along the coast, and the buildings are full of European flavor. You can have a rest if you feel tired.

Free Time Suggestion:

1. The Avenue of Stars is similar to the Hollywood Walk of Stars in the United States. The names and handprints of more than 100 film actors and actresses are inlaid on a special memorial in recognition of their contributions to the film industry of Hong Kong. When you walk along here, you can also enjoy the famous Victoria Harbour. Speaking of this, you cannot miss a means of transport, the Star Ferry, which is the best way to have a local touch.

The Star Ferry has a long history of cross-harbour transport in Hong Kong. It is not only a living antique walking on the water, but also one of the most important memories of Hong Kong people. The hull of the Star Ferry is white on the upper part and green on the lower part. This ferry is divided into upper and lower floors. I recommend that you choose the upper floor, where there are fewer passengers and you can see better scenery.

2. Temple Street is a particularly famous night market in Hong Kong, whose keywords are food stalls, fortune-telling, and mahjong parlors. You can have a stroll in the street and experience the nightlife of Hong Kong.

Aberdeen Fishing Village

Victoria Peak

Today, we will drive to Lantau Island. When we arrive at Tung Chuang Cable Car Station, we will take the standard cabin to the mountain. If you want to upgrade to the crystal cabin, please let us know in advance. (Crystal cabin has a transparent underbody and it will give you a more exciting experience.)

After arriving at the top of the mountain, you will visit the Big Buddha and the Po lin Monastery. The Big Buddha is composed of 200 bronze castings. It is 26 meters high and weighs 220 tons, and is the world's largest outdoor bronze sitting Buddha. In addition, many Hong Kong films were shot in the Big Buddha, like the Infernal Affairs by Lau Tak-wah and Leung Chiu-wai. If you have watched this movie, you can take a picture here as a souvenir. The Polin Monastery is an important place to worship Buddha in the local’s daily life.

Optional Activity:

The Tai O Fishing Village is on the back of Lantau Island, which means that the Lantau Island is must passed if you want to get there. Because private vehicles are not allowed on Lantau Island, we will take public transportation to Tai O Fishing Village after visiting Lantau Island. Like Semporna in Malaysia, this place retains the most primitive water shanties. The best way to explore Tai O Fishing Village is to take a sampan. If you are lucky, you can also see the pink Chinese dolphins. (Tip: If you are easy to get seasick, it is recommended to take seasickness medicine in advance. You can choose whether to take a sampan or not.)

Lantau Island

Po Lin Monastery

Now, it is time to say goodbye. Your guide will take you to the airport according to your flight time. Hope you have a safe trip.

Editor: Mengwei Wang

Proofreader: Summer Hou