Panoramic China Food Tour

Welcome to Hong Kong! Hong Kong is a prosperous free port and cosmopolis with an area of 1106.06 square kilometers. Around 7,474,200 people live in this beautiful city, which is also known as a food paradise. So, it couldn’t be better to start your gastronomy tour here. Your local guide will be waiting for you at the airport, and then lead you to the hotel to have a nice rest before your exciting trip.

This morning, we will go to Victoria Peak, one scenic spot that attracts many tourists at home and abroad. You will take Peak Tram to achieve the Peak Tower, which will offer you the best position to appreciate the whole picture of Hong Kong. As the earliest funicular railway in Asia, Peak Tram in Victoria Peak has a long history of more than 120 years. Of course, your tram journey will definitely impress you a lot. The high altitude of this mountain means some high slopes, giving you the illusion that skyscrapers and bushes along the way are inclined.

Then, Aberdeen Fishing Village is your next destination. The British Government once renamed the bay from its former name Shek Pai Wan to Aberdeen to the memory of a foreign minister during its colonial times. Now, it is the central part of the southern district with many tourists. Riding on a sampan will be the most traditional way to feel the strong characteristics of a fishery port. You will spend around 30 minutes enjoying the breathtaking sea view by sampan. While blowing the sea breeze, you can capture the beautiful scenery with your eyes or  via cameras.

Getting off the sampan, we will take you for a dim-sum lunch at Jumbo Kingdom Floating Restaurant. A gourmet tour at Aberdeen can’t miss this very popular restaurant, where you can have the delightful water view while relishing delicious dim-sum. Since the restaurant opened in the “Year of the Dragon” in the Chinese lunar calendar, its overall design is dominated by the dragon, which is a symbol of power in China. So, walking into Jumbo Kingdom Floating Restaurant is like traveling into an ancient Chinese palace. From the lobby to the porch and main hall, each part of the restaurant demonstrates an elegant imperial style, attracting people from different places to come.

After lunch, you will go to Repulse Bay. The most representative bay in Hong Kong, Repulse Bay is situated in the south of Victoria Peak, surrounded by mountains and rivers. The crescent-shaped bay is also known as the “Oriental Hawaii”. Therefore, whether in summer or winter, young men and women in swimsuits can be seen on the beach. Here, you can feel the warm sea breeze, run on the soft sand, and freely enjoy the joy of a seaside holiday. As one of the well-known high-end residential areas in Hong Kong, the buildings in Repulse Bay are impressive, which are important parts of its enjoyable landscape. The Repulse Bay, formerly known as the Repulse Bay Hotel, is one of the landmarks of Repulse Bay. This building group is not only the place where the hero and heroine meet in the book Love in a Fallen City by Zhang Ailing (a modern Chinese novelist) but also the shooting location of many famous films. If you are a shutterbug, remember to take a stroll here.

Then, we will head for Stanley Market, which is located in the east of Repulse Bay. Sunshine, beach, unique architecture, and shopping and food center, all the things show that Stanley is a good place for sightseeing and leisure. The quaint style and a comfortable combination of Chinese and western culture are the significant features of Stanley Market, drawing many foreigners and locals to shop here. There are several alleys in it, and you will certainly stop by a shop or a stall while walking around. A diversity of goods, such as jewelry, silk, antiques, watches, Chinese crafts, are provided here. Many tourists choose to buy souvenirs for their families here.

Apart from shopping, food culture is also an important part of Hong Kong. So, after shopping at Stanley Market, we will take you to Temple Street. The busy street extends about 500 meters long and is famous for a night fair that sells goods at an acceptable price. If you want to taste local snacks, Fish Ball and Double-Layer Steamed Milk Custard are recommended. It is said that people in Hong Kong consume about 300 Fish Balls per person per year, and that’s about 1 Fish Ball per day per person. So you can tell that it’s almost a necessity in Hong Kong people’s lives. The other one, the Double-Layer Steamed Milk Custard, is a kind of Cantonese dessert with a sweet flavor using milk, sugar, and egg white as its major ingredients. This is the last stop of your Hong Kong trip today, and we will take you back to the hotel after some free time here.

Temple Street

Aberdeen Fishing Village

This morning, we will drive southward for about half an hour to Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal in Lantau Island, 30 kilometers away from the center of Hong Kong. Then you will take Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to the peak. Usually, we will arrange a standard cabin for you. However, if you are not scared of heights and want to try a crystal cabin, you can just tell us in advance. Just as its name implies, the crystal cabin is mostly transparent, including a crystal bottom, offering you an opportunity to appreciate the panorama of Lantau Island along the way.

After arriving at the peak, you will first visit the Big Buddha. Built in the early 1990s, the Big Buddha is an important Hong Kong landmark. Covering an area of 6,567 square meters, this 34-meter-high statue is the world’s tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha. Each delicate design of this statue has its religious meaning. For example, in the Buddha’s right palm, there is a sign that shows his best wishes to dispel fear in all beings. Here, you will not only see innumerable Buddhists, but also many tourists visit this extraordinary project.

When it comes to the Big Buddha, one has to mention the Polin Monastery where a solemn consecration ceremony was held for it. The Polin Monastery was built in 1924 and is the first of the four Zen temples in Hong Kong. Combined with the main hall, the Hall of Avalokitesvara Buddhisatva, and the side hall, this temple has more than 40 rooms, where visitors can stay overnight or several days to seek inner peace. The scenery in the temple is pleasant and the environment is very quiet. When you walk into here, every cell of your body will be relaxed, as if the soul has been purified. If you are tired of the busy and high-pressure life, this temple will be a good place to lighten up for a while. You can just walk around and meditate. Of course, you can worship the Buddha and ask yourself a blessing for safety and health.

After lunch, you will have some free time at the Ngong Ping Village, which is near to the Big Buddha. It covers 1.34 hectares and there are a lot to see. The Ngong Ping Teahouse is an exquisite Chinese garden-style architecture, in which visitors can have some tea and desserts. You will also find many restaurants, shops and recreation facilities, so you can just wander around with your friends. What’s more, you might also have a chance to see some wonderful street performances, such as Kung fu, juggling, Cantonese opera. All of these show distinct culture and local atmosphere in Ngong Ping.

After that, your Hong Kong trip ends here for now, and you will be transferred back to the hotel.

Polin Monastery

Big Buddha

In the morning, you will be transferred to Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station and take the estimated high-speed train G80 08:05/08:56 to Guangzhou. Guangzhou, or Canton, is the capital of Guangdong province. It covers an area of 7434.40 square kilometers and has a permanent population of 18.68 million. The city is not only steeped in history and culture, but also has been an important port to promote international trade since ancient times. A metropolis like Guangzhou is never short of delicious food, so you can try some local delicacies here, such as Cantonese mooncake, ginger milk, steamed vermicelli roll, and shrimp dumpling.

This morning, your local guide will pick you up at the station and drive to Chen Family Ancestral Temple. Chen Family Ancestral Temple is the largest and the most splendid and best-preserved building featured by the traditional southern ancestral temple style. The architecture is famous for its combination of local folk decoration art, with woodcarving, brick carving, ceramic sculpture, coloured drawing and other skills. Its whole design style will enable you to feel the charm of ancient buildings and give you an illusion of returning to ancient China. You may wonder what the ancestral temple is for and why name it in this way? In the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), as the political, economic and cultural center in Guangdong province, Guangzhou attracted people in this whole province to come for business. But most of them didn’t have a place to stay. So, local people gathered members who had the same surnames and built such kinds of ancestral temples, providing their clans with accommodations. And Chen (a Chinese surname)Family Ancestral Temple is one of them.

Then, we will go to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street and you can have lunch by yourself here. The street is more than 1,237 meters long and has over 300 shops, which fully present Cantonese food culture. Being a food lover, you will definitely enjoy your stay here. Local delicacies, including ginger milk (coagulant milk with ginger), steamed vermicelli roll (rice roll with fillings), are very popular among foreign visitors. Ginger milk tastes mellow, smooth and sweet, with a slightly spicy flavor. After eating it, your stomach will be warmer. As for the steamed vermicelli roll, the major ingredients of it are pork, rice milk, eggs, mushrooms and so on. But with the different making process, its flavor will be different too. You can choose as you want.

After finishing lunch, you will visit Yuexiu Park, the largest comprehensive park in Guangzhou. There are several attractions in the park, such as Zhenhai Tower, the Five Goats Statue, and ancient rampart. Of them, the Five Goats Statue is well worth a visit. As the emblem of the city, the statue consists of five exquisite goats of different sizes and postures, vividly presenting a well-known legend here. In the Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-256BC), local people suffered from hunger due to poor harvest. One day, five deities riding on their goats came and wished that there will never be a famine here. The five goats were left as a stone statue, bringing fair weather and good harvest in this city.

Then, Canton Tower is your last stop today. Once noted for its height, Canton Tower is not only a TV tower, but also a well-known tourist attraction. Five function sections and various recreation facilities can be found here. A visit to the highest position (488M Look Out) will be arranged for you to overlook the whole city. The 488M Look Out broke the Guiness World Record for this outdoor viewing platform in 2013. This platform covers 177 square meters and can hold more than 20 people at a time. Upon arrival, you can take a walk here. No matter which direction you are looking at, you will be surprised by the spectacular view. Also, you can take out your camera and record this memorable moment.

After visiting Canton Tower, we will take you back to the hotel.

Yuexiu Park

Canton Tower

This morning, you are free to decide where to go. You may have heard that Cantonese have a habit of having dim-sum. If you want to know more about local eating habits, we recommend you to find a local restaurant nearby your hotel and have a try. Here are two types of Cantonese dim-sum that you can try. The first one we recommend is the Shrimp Dumpling. Shrimp Dumpling uses fresh shrimp, pork and bamboo shoot as its major fillings, with thin and crystal wrappers, delivering a smooth and tasty flavor. The next type of traditional Cantonese dim-sum that you must have a try is Cha Siu Bao (barbecued pork buns). It’s puffy on the outside, and tender on the inside, with a sweet and salty taste. Besides its delicious taste, Cha Siu Bao is popular among locals and tourists because it signifies unity and tolerance in local culture.

Then, your guide will send you to the station and you will take the estimated train G2904 12:20/15:00 to Guilin. Located in the northeast of Guangxi province, Guilin has been a city that is famous for its beautiful landscape since ancient times. With an area of 27,800 square meters, its permanent population is about 4.93 million. Thanks to its abundant rainfall, pleasant environment and fresh air, the city has been regarded as the best place to relax and live in. Moreover, the WTO once rated it as one of the best cities to go to in China. Besides its beautiful landscape and pleasant climate, Guilin is also an ideal place in terms of delicious food. You are going to discover some cates in Yangshuo West Street, and beer fish as well as Guilin rice noodles are good choices.

In the morning, we will go to Elephant Trunk Hill. Some people believe that you can’t say you have been to Guilin if you haven’t visited this hill. As an important part of the Guilin landscape, Elephant Trunk Hill derives its name from its shape being like a big elephant that is guzzling the water of the Li River. Legend has it that the elephant was a valiant general of the Emperor of Heaven. One day he came to Guilin without permission and indulged himself in the beautiful scenery here. Soon after, he fell sick. Luckily, with the care of local people, he recovered. And he wanted to stay here to express his gratitude by helping local people dredge waterways and irrigate farmland. But his decision infuriated the Emperor of Heaven. The Emperor soon sent another general to arrest him. Yet he refused to go back to the Heaven and fought with that general. Unfortunately, he died in the battle and that general turned him into an elephant-shaped hill, which is the Elephant Trunk Hill now. That’s one of the stories of Elephant Trunk Hill, and let’s go to see this elephant with our own eyes! After visiting this hill, we will drive northward to Longji Rice Terrace Field, which is about 76 kilometers away from here. It will take us around two hours.

This afternoon, you will enjoy yourself at Longji Rice Terrace Field. A terrace is very common in mountain areas, but Longji Rice Terrace Field is doomed to be an exception due to its massive scale. The terraces are distributed between 300-1100 meters above sea level, with a maximum slope of 50 degrees, layer by layer, coiling from the foot of the mountain to the top. It is called “the best of the world's rice terrace fields”. So, you should never miss this spectacular scene.After visiting the pleasant Longji Rice Terrace Field, we will go back to the downtown where your hotel is.

Elephant Trunk Hill

Longji Rice Terrace Field

This morning, we will drive southward for about 45 minutes to the Mopanshan pier, 24 kilometers away from the center of Guilin. Then, you will be transferred to Yangshuo by Li River Cruise. Lunch is provided for you during your cruise tour. Usually, we will arrange a three-star cruise, in which you can have Chinese boxed lunch. But if you want to experience a four-star cruise, what you need to do is tell us in advance. And the four-star cruise will offer you a Chinese buffet.

In the afternoon, you will disembark at Yangshuo. And we will take you to Yangshuo West Street to continue your tasting tour. It is said that many foreigners are very fond of Beer Fish (a very popular local delicacy) in this pedestrian street, so you can probably have a taste after arrival. A key to maintaining its unique fresh and spicy flavor lies in the ingredients: living carp from the Li River, and the Li River water. If you are interested, just have a try as you won’t have a chance to eat such adelicacy in other places.

Then, your Yangshuo tour comes to an end, and we will take you back to your hotel in Yangshuo.

Li River Cruise

Yangshuo West Street

This morning, we will first drive southward back to Guilin. And this 65-kilometer distance will take us about one and a half hours. Then in the afternoon, you will visit Reed Flute Cave, a magnificent Karst cave. It was an ancient underground lake a million years ago, but due to crustal movement, the water table dropped and the underground lake became a cave. Later, the rainwater flowed from the rock crevices into the cave, and the calcium ions precipitated and crystallized, forming thousands of kinds of stalactites after years of accumulation. People praise the Reed Flute Cave as a “palace of nature's art”. Its spectacular view can be proved by the high praise of many celebrities, such as former Chinese chairman Hu Jintao, former US president Richard Nixon, both of whom have been here. And Mrs.Nixon once said, “The scene in this cave is as glorious as that in a palace.”. Then, we will send you to the airport, and you will take the estimated flight MU6272 18:45/21:10 to Shanghai.

Upon arrival, you can see the local guide waiting for you, and you will be transferred to the hotel for a good rest. As one of the major cities in China, Shanghai may not be a strange word to you. It lies in east China, with an area of 6,340.5 square kilometers. There are around 24.88 million people who settle permanently in this booming city. Here, you can continue your exploration of delicious food, and tasting small steamed buns, as well as pan-friedpork buns which are typical Shanghai dim-sums, will be a nice experience of your foodie tour.

Reed Flute Cave

Reed Flute Cave

Today, Jade Buddha Temple is your first stop in the morning. Although located in the bustling downtown, Jade Buddha Temple has the magic of helping you calm your mind. From its name, we can know that the temple mainly houses the Jade Buddha. Once you come here, a visit to Jade Buddha Statue Hall is a must. The 1.95-meter-high statue is the one brought back by Master Huigen (the first head monk of this temple) from India in his worship journey, and what attracts the tourists most is the peaceful, quiet, and kind expression on the Buddha’s face. It seems that all unpleasant feelings have been dispelled as long as you see that face. If you want to escape from the bustling world for a little while, just come here!

Then, we will take you to Yu Garden (closed each Monday). It was originally a private garden built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) under the command of Pan Yunduan (a government official) to please his father. And that’s how the garden got its name -- the word “Yu” means peace and pleasing in Chinese. Walking into the Yu Garden, you will be captivated by its elegant and subtle design of several attractions. Now, I will give you more details about Exquisite Jade Rock, the highlight of the garden. The rock weighs around 3 tons, and is measured by 3 meters in height, 1.5 meters in width, 80 centimeters in thickness, fully presenting the feature of Taihu Lake stones (Precious materials frequently used in the building of artificial hills in gardens on the Yangtze Delta, and is most famous for their peculiar shapes.). This Exquisite Jade Rock was made by water erosion, and shaped like a beehive for its numerous holes. There’s a base beneath the rock. . It is said that they were not integrated at first. When Exquisite Jade Rock was shipped to Pan Yunduan to decorate this garden, a gust of wind capsized the ship and the rock sunk into the river. The Pan liked the rock so much and decided to salvage the rock at a huge cost. Oddly, another piece of rock was found together with the missed one in the end. So, he used this newly found rock as a base for the previous one, and that’s what we see today in Yu Garden.

Walking out of Yu Garden, you can hang around in Shanghai Old Street. The architectural style of this street, together with various shops, tends to bring you back to the bustling market in old Shanghai. When it comes to food here, visitors are usually eager to taste small steamed buns, one of the best-known local cuisines. Believe me, its thin wrapper with rich fillings and fresh taste will amaze you.

This afternoon, your tour will begin with a visit to Shanghai Tower. It is the highest skyscraper in Shanghai and throughout the country. To give you a better panorama of Shanghai, we will take you to the Observation Deck on the 118th floor of this building. While overlooking the whole city from all directions, you can take cool photos to post on your Facebook.

After that, your next destination is the Bund. The 1.5-kilometer bund is considered to be the symbol of Shanghai. It combines both modern and historical features of Chinese culture. Dozens of buildings of different styles stand here, known as Exotic building clusters in the Bund of Shanghai. Each year, many tourists come here for sightseeing.

After some free time on the Bund, we will bring you to Nanjing Road. It is your last stop in Shanghai. The booming high street is a shopping paradise, in which you can pick some souvenirs. Marble seats can be seen along the way, offering you a place to have a rest when feeling tired. Afterward, we will take you back to the hotel for a good rest before the next stop.

Yu Garden

Shanghai Tower

In the morning, you will take the estimated flight HU7846 12:15/14:45 to Xi’an. As an important birthplace of Chinese civilization, Xi’an was the capital of more than ten dynasties. Today, it is a popular tourist city in China. The city covers 10,108 square kilometers and has about 12.95 million people living here permanently. For most Chinese, besides long history and rich culture, “delicious food” tends to be the first thing that comes into mind when talking about Xi’an. So, it will be an exciting part of your culinary tour. You will have a chance to try some local popular snacks, such as Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup and Chinese hamburger.

This morning, we will drive eastward to Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The museum is about 40 kilometers away from the center of Xi’an, and it will take us around 50 minutes on the way. Being part of the eight wonders of the world, the terra cotta warriors have attracted visitors from home and abroad. They served as the burial objects of Qin Shihuang, the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-207BC). What makes them famous is not only the large scale, but also the extraordinary sculptural skills presented in each warrior. If you observe them carefully, you will be surprised at their unique expressions, as none of them is the same with another. All in all, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is well worth visiting and it will be a nice post on your Instagram.

After lunch, we will head for Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This pagoda is seen as a masterpiece of architectural work in Chinese Buddhism. Here, you can not only appreciate the beauty of the antique building, but also ascend this pagoda to overlook the city.

Then, the Great Mosque is your next stop. The distinct design makes it one of thehot tourist attractions in Xi’an. When you walk into it, I believe you will be amazed by the perfect combination of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic architecture.

At the end of today’s tour, we will take you to Muslim Street. It is safe to say that you can find all the delicious cuisines of this city in the street. Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup should have a place on your list. Its easy-to-chew meat and nutritious soup will sure satisfy your taste buds.

Great Mosque

Muslim Street

This morning, you will take the estimated high-speed train G350 10:22/14:46 to Beijing. As the capital of China, Beijing is an ancient city with a long history of more than 3000 years. It covers an area of 16,410.54 square kilometers and has a permanent population of around 21.89 million. This city is the last stop on your China tour. And tourist attractions as well as palatable food here will impress you as much as those in your previous stops. Usually, a food lover likes to go to Wangfujing Street in search of delicacies.When arriving in Beijing in the afternoon, you will see our guide waiting for you with a pleasant smile. You can take a short break, and then, what you need to do is follow your guide to Wangfujing Street. Most visitors would make “tasting some local snacks in Wangfujing Street” on their travel check lists. And Noodle with Soy Bean Paste is often at the top of their lists. If you are interested in what Chinese pasta tastes like, remember to try this one. Also, Bingtanghulu (candied haws on a stick) and Baodu (quick-fired tripe) are popular snacks that you can try. After tasting delicious snacks, you will be sent back to the hotel for a nice rest.

Wangfujing Street

Wangfujing Street

Today, we will choose Tian’anmen Square as your first destination. The square is the largest city square in the world, and can hold one million people at once. It is actually a witness to many great historic events. For example, the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China was held here on October 1, 1949. And it is probably the crucial significance it has to this country that draws innumerable people to come each year.

The second place we are going to visit today is the famous Forbidden City (closed each Monday). As the royal palace of the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City is an invaluable heritage of Chinese civilization. Now, I will introduce something about the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the largest palace in the Forbidden City. Besides its imposing design style, there are a lot of stories about this palace. As one story goes, it is in a study inside this palace that the Emperor Kangxi captured Oboi (an official who assisted the emperor in governing the country, and then turned bad). Oboi was one of the designated officials to help young Emperor Kangxi when he inherited the throne. Oboi had worked faithfully for Kangxi at the beginning, but then, indulging in power, he tried to control all affairs of state. So Kangxi decided to bring him to justice. Later, he set a trap and captured Oboi in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Stepping out of the Forbidden City, we will go to Jingshan Park. This former royal garden is now a hot place to visit for tourists. In this park, you will see many people climbing on to the Wanchun Pavillion, the highest place in the park, to have a full view of this city. You can do the same!

After lunch, you will visit Hutong near Shichahai by rickshaw. For a long time, Hutong has been seen as a vital witness to this ancient city. It is more than a path to connect the different parts of the region. Also, it carries both the joys and sorrows of local people and the distinctive culture of this city. Our guide will take you into a local house in this area to know more about how the locals are living their lives here.  

In the end, we will lead you to Summer Palace. It is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, as well as a World Heritage Site. As you walk in the Long Corridor, you can pay more attention to those exquisite paintings. There are about 14 thousand of paintings along the corridor, but none of them are the same. Isn’t it unbelievable?

Jingshan Park

Hutong

This day, a cooking class of two or three hours is waiting for you. Being a food lover, this time, you have a chance to learn the steps of making popular local dishes from experienced cooks in the morning. You will have what you cooked for lunch!

Then, in the afternoon, we will take you to Mutianyu Great Wall. There is no need to worry about how to reach the peak or return as chairlifts will help you all the way. The 5400-meter-long wall is believed to be the most splendid section of the Great Wall. And the three unique watchtowers here deserve your observation. Finally, it will take us about 2 hours and 15 minutes to drive eastward back to downtown. During the 77-kilometer distance, we will pass by Birds’ Nest and Water Cube. You can have a far-away look at the two sites of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Birds' Nest

Water Cube

Today will be yours to explore the city. You can choose some places to go based on your interest. In terms of popular tourist destinations, we recommend Houhai Lake, a perfect place to relax. You can have a short stay in small bars here, from which you will discover a different Beijing. If you want to explore more dishes on your foodie tour, Huguo Temple Noshery won’t let you down. Various traditional Chinese snacks with low prices are offered here, and I believe you don’t want to leave once you come!

Today your 16-day China Panoramic Food tour ends. Your guide will send you to the airport according to the time of your flight and say goodbye to you.

Author: Jiang Bingya

Proofreader: Li Yiwen