Golf and Wine Holiday

Ni Hao! Welcome to Beijing! Beijing was the capital of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties for more than 800 years and is home to some of China’s most accomplished ancient architectural art.

With a sweet smile, your private Beijing tour guide will meet you at the arrival hall. And our experienced driver and your cozy vehicle will be ready to take you back to your hotel. Your guide will help you to check in, and you could enjoy the rest of the day on your own.

Option: Sanlitun Bar Street. In addition to the deep historical and cultural heritage, Beijing is also a vibrant modern metropolis. Young people in Beijing like to have dinner together, go shopping, or have a drink at a bar after work. Sanlitun Bar Street is one of the most prosperous bar streets in Beijing. Not only Beijing locals, but also foreigners living in Beijing and Chinese entertainment stars love to go to Sanlitun. If you want to go shopping, we recommend Tai Koo Li in Sanlitun. Tai Koo Li is divided into the South Zone and the North Zone. The South Zone is filled with a variety of exclusive shops at a wallet-friendly price. The North Zone is a collection of high-end brands and designer brands. Besides, Tai Koo Li is also a gathering place for delicacy. Whether you are looking for Western or local cuisine, there is always something for you here.

Tips: Your tour guide is a local guide who knows everything about Beijing, no matter from the shopping malls or to the bars. If you want to wander around the city after your break, you can call your tour guide. The guide will tell you the worth-visiting places nearby. Or you can ask for help from the hotel reception. The hotel staff is available to communicate with you in English. They can also help you to call a taxi and offer a free Beijing map.

Beijing is the ancient capital of six dynasties of China, with a history of more than 800 years. Beijing has 6 World Cultural Heritage Sites-the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, the Ding Tomb, and the Chang Tomb.

This morning your tour will start from Tian’anmen Square. Located in the center of Beijing, Tian’anmen Square is the largest city square in the world. Its size is about 61 FIFA football fields and can accommodate around 1 million people to get together. Tian’anmen is a gate located outside the imperial city of Beijing in the Ming and Qing dynasties. And the square outside Tian’anmen was named after it. Chinese architects consider Tian’anmen Square to be the crown of the imperial palace and the imposing symbolization of an Eastern superpower.

Walking through the Tian’anmen Gate Tower and the Meridian Gate (Wu Men), you will enter the Forbidden City (Closed on each Monday). The Forbidden City is called “Zi Jin Cheng” in Chinese. “Zi” means purple that is the exclusive color of the emperors. “Jin” refers to forbidden, meaning that ordinary people are not allowed to enter. Not to mention ordinary people, even courtiers cannot enter the city without the summons. That is why it is called the Forbidden City.  

The Forbidden City is full of legends. So, there are many stories of court dramas that take place inside the Forbidden City. Are these court dramas filmed inside the Forbidden City? In fact, no, a large part of them are shot in the television and film base. And it is not allowed to shoot inside the Forbidden City now. However, some film and television works were filmed in the Forbidden City in history. The most famous one is “The Last Emperor”. This movie is the only one allowed to be filmed on a large scale inside the Forbidden City and was directed by Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci in 1987.

After lunch, you will go to Beijing CBD International Golf Club and play golf for half a day. The Beijing CBD International Golf Club is located southeast of the Forbidden City and takes about half an hour by car. The course is designed by American design master Brit Stenson. The design and construction level are World Championship level. The TPC course is famous for its large area of water and long and winding sand bunkers. Golfers can see the CBD water surface from the 17 fairways. What’s even more unique is that the club has a putting green on the mid-lake island known as a classic design. Each of the points is designed for professional competitions. Each fairway can allow players to adopt different strategies according to their level, which is both challenging and fun. You will enjoy one round of 18 holes of golf there and be transferred back to the hotel after playing golf.

Tian’anmen Square

Beijing CBD International Golf Club

After breakfast, we will visit the most beautiful ancient architectural complex in China-Temple of Heaven. Located southeast of Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is the altar where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held their great ceremonies to the heavens. The emperors prayed for the country to be prosperous and the people at peace through the ceremonies. It is recorded that 22 emperors have attended the ceremonies, and 654 rituals have been held.

Both the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City were built in 1420. As a unique ritual complex in Beijing, the site of the Temple of Heaven could have been chosen near the Forbidden City in a prominent location on the central axis. But why was the Temple of Heaven built in the southeast of the Forbidden City? The reason did not lie with the emperor and the designers, but with the sun in the sky. According to the “I Ching” (The I Ching is a rigorous philosophical work and can be used within the context of science to foretell future fortunes and misfortunes.), the southeast is the direction where the sunlight is most abundant. And a well-lighted place is the best place to build altars.

After that, we will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall located in the northeast of downtown Beijing, about 82 kilometers from Tian’anmen Square. The entire drive takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Mutianyu Great Wall is the essential part of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty in China. In the minds of many people, Mutianyu is the most popular place to shoot the Great Wall. Because Mutianyu has different beauty in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, it is easy to make a scenic blockbuster. To get a more beautiful view, you have to go higher up the Great Wall. Don’t worry about needing to climb up the mountain by yourself, because cable cars and chairlifts are available here. At the 15th beacon tower, you can get a panoramic view of the mountain. Moreover, it is also the location for the movie “If You Are the One” and is now an internet-famous site.   

Temple of Heaven

Mutianyu Great Wall

This morning you will explore the old Beijing Hutongs and have a visit of a local family. If someone asks, what can represent Beijing? The Beijingers must say that the profound inner soul of Beijing still lies in the long or short, deep or shallow hutongs. There are many characteristic things in the hutongs, such as the screen wall, which is probably unique to Beijing’s quadrangle courtyards. It is not only a barrier but also a link between the hutongs and the quadrangle courtyards. With it, the hutongs and quadrangle courtyards seem to become a whole. It blocks the courtyard owner’s unobstructed view of the hutongs and causes people outside to have endless reverie about the inside of the screen wall. You will visit Hutong by rickshaw, and you may have a chance to talk to the people who have lived in the Hutongs for generations.

After a hutong tour, we will visit the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. Empress Dowager Cixi spent most of her later years in the Summer Palace. It is said that when Cixi asked to build the Summer Palace, she gave an order that the Summer Palace should be built as “heaven on earth”. So, the Tower of Buddhist Incense was built which symbolized the Heavenly Palace. And the Kunming Lake symbolized the Heavenly River. The area around the Bafang Pavilion and the Dragon King Temple represented the earth.

After lunch, you will take the estimated flight: ZH9106 16:55-20:30 to Shenzhen. Shenzhen is the first special economic zone in China. After more than 40 years of reform and opening, Shenzhen has developed from a small fishing village to a world-famous metropolis. Now it makes a name for itself with its world-renowned urban construction and economic development. Shenzhen is not only a city with rich high-tech companies but also a golf destination for golf lovers. There is no winter in Shenzhen, and it is summer all year round. But we recommend visiting Shenzhen between November and April. Because at that time, the average temperature is around 15 to 20 degrees. The pleasant climate makes it the best time to travel and play golf.

Your guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. You will stay at Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen tonight. It’s a one-hour drive to the hotel. The hotel is adjacent to many world-class championship golf courses, Mission Hills Centreville, Sport & Eco Park, and other cultural and entertainment trendy places. There is a free shuttle bus in the hotel that allows you to travel freely between the hotel and the course. There are many room types for you to choose from the hotel, for example, Grande Deluxe Room, Grande Deluxe Suite, Family Suite, Presidential Suite, etc. And the hotel is fully equipped with a gym, outdoor pool, spa, and wellness center. And there are Chinese, Western, and Japanese restaurants to satisfy your different tastes.

Hutongs

Summer Palace

Good morning! After a good rest, I believe you are ready to start your golf day today. Don’t forget to open up the curtains and let the sunlight pour in. Then you will see the panoramic view of the golf course and natural greenery. After breakfast, you will enjoy your golf day at Shenzhen Clubhouse. The most famous course here is the World Cup Course. It was named the World Cup Course because the 41st Golf World Cup Finals were held on this course. Tiger Woods and other greatest golfers have played on it. The course is the only 72-hole golf course in China and the largest golf course in Asia. It is also the first course in China to be accredited by the US PGA and TPC for major professional competitions. All the golf courses in Mission Hills Shenzhen have five tees on each fairway: black, blue, gold, white and red. Each tee is used by different groups of people. In addition to the high-quality golf courses, the clubhouse has a billiard room, table tennis room, swimming pool, squash court, and children’s play area. There is also a standard indoor sports center that could accommodate basketball, badminton, volleyball, and 5-a-side soccer matches. After playing golf, you can go to the spa or foot massage center for a traditional massage to eliminate the fatigue and restore your energy.

Shenzhen Clubhouse

Shenzhen Clubhouse

This morning your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby, and you will be transferred to Hong Kong by private car. Upon your arrival at the Hong Kong hotel, your Hong Kong guide will help you to check-in. After a short break, your guide will take you to the Jumbo Kingdom for lunch. The Jumbo Kingdom is not only a floating restaurant but also an internationally renowned tourist attraction. Since its opening, Jumbo Kingdom has attracted many Chinese and foreign celebrities, including Queen Elizabeth II, international superstars Yul Brynner, William Holden, and Tom Cruise. Many famous movies have been filmed in the Jumbo Kingdom, such as the Hollywood movie “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing”; “Enter the Dragon” starring Bruce Lee, the movie “Infernal Affairs 2” and “The God of Cookery”; etc. The restaurant has a total area of 45,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 2,300 people. The restaurant is built based on the style of the Ming Dynasty palace, and the decoration inside is also very luxurious. The ornaments and murals in the restaurant cost more than 6 million. The theme of the restaurant is the dragon. So, you can see the dragon carvings in every corner of the restaurant. The most eye-catching thing is the dragon chair in the throne room. The dragon chair is built by hand and took two years to build.

After lunch, you will visit Stanley Market that is one of the most popular markets in Hong Kong. The stores at Stanley Market are generally open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Inside the market, there are many stores and diverse traditional Chinese crafts, such as antiques, rattan ware, paintings and calligraphy, silk clothing, and fabrics. Here you can pick your favorite souvenirs and enjoy bargaining, which is enough to make you appreciate the charm of the Stanley Market. If you get thirsty while strolling, you can buy a glass of freshly squeezed juice here, which will instantly energize you.

In the evening, you will visit Victoria Peak. The thrilling and exotic tram journey, the fascinating and magnificent night view of Victoria Harbor, the fabulous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, and the Peak Tower, which gathers many gourmet restaurants, are the four highlights of visiting Victoria Peak. Standing on the highest point of Hong Kong Island, you can see the whole city from above. The best time to reach the peak is near dusk, so you can see the daytime, sunset, and nighttime views at once, which is fascinating. After visiting the most classic sights in Hong Kong, your guide will take you back to your hotel.

Free Time Suggestion: Lan Kwai Fong. Lan Kwai Fong is a small alleyway in the area between D'Aguilar Street and Wyndham Street in Central. The alleyway stands for more than 90 restaurants and bars offering cuisines from Japan, India, Italy, Mexico, France, the United States, and the Middle East. It is popular with white-collar workers, expatriates, and tourists. The charm of Lan Kwai Fong is the nightlife. After 11 p.m., the place is packed with people, and you will see many people standing on the road with their beers. Besides, every Thursday night is Ladies Night, and the entrance fee is free for girls. And a glass of whiskey is also free for girls in each bar. You will see diverse activities on festivals such as Lan Kwai Fong Beer Festival, Halloween, Christmas, or New Year in Lan Kwai Fong. If you want to feel the atmosphere of Western festivals in Hong Kong, Lan Kwai Fong is a must-see hotspot.

Victoria Peak

Jumbo Kingdom

Playing golf on a top course can easily be the highlight of your stay in Hong Kong. Your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby in the morning and then take you to Discovery Bay Golf Club. Discovery Bay Golf Club is in an upscale community on Lantau Island. The course is located just 25 minutes from the financial district of Central. Opened in 1983, Discovery Bay Golf Club is one of the premier golf courses in Southeast Asia. There are three courses in the golf club, the Diamond, Jade, and Ruby nines. Besides, Discovery Bay Golf Club has always prided itself on its well-equipped facilities and high level of service. The clubhouse has a two-storied men’s locker room, Chinese and Western restaurants, bar, lounge, driving range, swimming pool, tennis courts, luxurious private banquet room, and mahjong room. In the end, sitting on the terrace with an after-golf drink and watching the spectacular sunset can be one of the most enjoyable experiences in your life.

Discovery Bay Golf Club

Discovery Bay Golf Club

Today you will visit Lantau Island which is known as the “Lungs of Hong Kong”. We will first take the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car. The cable car starts from Tung Chung Station and ends at the Ngong Ping Village, taking about 25 minutes. It is 5.7 km long and is the longest bi-cable ropeway in Asia. On the way, you could escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a panoramic view of Hong Kong islands such as the Hong Kong International Airport, the South China Sea, and the Lantau North Country Park. As you step out of the cable car, the first place to catch your sight is the Ngong Ping Village. The Ngong Ping Village is a great place to experience traditional Chinese culture and to buy some souvenirs. What’s more, there are many delicacies here, such as bean curd jelly.

As walking further, you will see the Po Lin Monastery which is known as the “Buddhist Kingdom in the South”. It is the most popular Buddhist temple in Hong Kong and Macau. After the death of Macau Casino King Stanley Ho, his family asked the Abbot of Po Lin Monastery to pray for him and help him to go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. If you believe in Buddhism, you can also buy an amulet here to bless your peace.

Sitting next to the Po Lin Monastery, The Big Buddha is about 10 minutes on foot from Ngong Ping Village. Once you arrive at the Big Buddha, you can climb the 268 steps to visit the top. The Buddha sits on a stone lotus base and is made up of 202 bronze pieces. It cost over HK$60 million and is the second-largest outdoor bronze seated Buddha in the world. The appearance of the Big Buddha imitates the Buddha statues in the Longmen Grottoes and Dunhuang Grottoes. After the modification of the Buddha’s appearance, it finally formed the current appearance of a benevolent face, kind eyes, and a smile on the lips.

After your visit, we will drive to Macau through the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is 55.5 kilometers long. As the longest sea bridge in the World, it was named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” by The Guardian. The bridge’s main girder used up to 420,000 tons of steel, equivalent to the weight of 60 Eiffel Towers. Previously, the drive between Zhuhai, Macau, and Hong Kong took 3 hours. After the bridge is open to traffic, the time is only 30 minutes.

Your Macau guide will meet you outside Macau customs and take you to the Macau hotel. Macau’s nightlife is sumptuous. You could get a taste of Macau’s nightlife after a short break.

A few hundred years ago, Macau was far more prosperous than Hong Kong. It is China’s first port for foreign trade with the West. It is said that the first piano imported into China was shipped from Macau to the Forbidden City. Now Macau still retains the leisurely lifestyle learned from the Portuguese. But some fashion and diversified elements are poured into the city. Macau’s nightlife is a perfect embodiment.

The Hotel Lisboa is a landmark and the largest casino in Macau. It is also the busiest place in Macau for nightlife. Besides gambling, there are many other tempting nightlives in Macau waiting for you. For example, you can go to the Wynn Hotel to enjoy the musical fountain, Picasso’s famous painting, and the Chinese dragon inlaid with thousands of diamonds. Or you could watch a dancing show, have a spa, and enjoy a glass of wine at the bar. In a word, don’t waste such a beautiful night, enjoy it.

Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

Po Lin Monastery

After your breakfast, your Macau guide will take you to Caesars Golf Macau for your one-day golf tour. Caesars Golf Macau is the only golf course in Macau that is open to both members and the public and is in the heart of Macau’s Cotai Entertainment Zone. Caesars Golf Macau is an 18-hole, par-71 tournament course based on the classic international beachfront course. It offers an avant-garde multi-purpose practice facility.

After golf, you will have a short city tour. We will visit the landmarks of Macau- A-Ma Temple and the Ruins of St Paul’s. Then we will explore the unique charm of Portuguese architecture in popular scenic spots such as Rua do Cunha. And then you will be transferred back to your hotel.

 A-Ma Temple

Ruins of St Paul’s

You will have a free morning. Your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby, and take you to Hong Kong Airport according to the time of your flight. You will be back to your sweet home, and the memorable China tour will end here.

Editor: Carrie Zhang