China Escorted Tours Including Hong Kong and Macau

Welcome to Beijing! You will meet your guide at the airport. And then, you will be escorted to the hotel to have a good rest.

Beijing, the capital of China, covers an area of about 16,410 square kilometers. It is located at northern China with major rivers flowing through. Beijing has a monsoon-influenced climate characterized by high humidity in summer and coldness in winter. It also has a long history dating back to 3,000 years ago and has a population of more than 20 million. Beijing is famous for its art treasures such as palaces, gardens, and temples. This 8-day China escorted tour starting from Beijing is sure to impress you a lot.

Today, we will first visit Tian’anmen Square that is 880 meters long and 500 meters wide. As one of the biggest squares in the world, it boasts many historical buildings, such as the Tian’anmen Gatetower, the National Museum of China, and the Monument to the People’s Heroes. What’s more, since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it has become a sacred and important place for holding great celebrations and gatherings. On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao stood on the Tian’anmen Gatetower and announced the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Then, we will go to the Forbidden City (closed each Monday) that is surrounded by a moat about 52 meters wide. It used to be an imperial palace where the emperors lived. According to the statistics, more than 1 million pieces of treasures are housed in the Forbidden City, such as poems written by the Emperor Qianlong, the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). It is said that Emperor Qianlong is fond of writing poems. The number of his poems exceeds that of poems written by emperors in any other dynasties.

After lunch, we will stroll around the Temple of Heaven, an imperial complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of Beijing. It mainly consists of the Circular Mound Altar, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. In front of the Imperial Vault of Heaven, there are three magical stones. When you stand on the first stone and clap once, you will hear one echo. And when you stand on the second and then the third stone, you will hear two and three echoes respectively.

After that, we will visit the Summer Palace that is listed by the UNESCO as one World Cultural Heritage site in 1998. It perfectly combines lakes, gardens, and palaces together. It is built based on Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The Longevity Hill is divided into two parts, the front hill and the back hill. Many buildings including halls and pavilions are built on the front hill, while the back hill is characterized by vibrant natural scenery. The Kunming Lake covers an area of 2.2 square kilometers and it is an artificial lake. On the the Kunming Lake, the three small islands are very famous. Each of them symbols a sacred mountain in Chinese mythology.

The Forbidden City

Summer Palace

This morning, we will drive about 80 minutes (about 50 kilometers) towards the northwest to the Chang Tomb, covering an area of 120,000 square meters. It is where Emperor Zhu Di, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his wife Empress Xu were buried. Zhu Di loved Empress Xu deeply. They discussed national affairs and shared common values and interests. When Xu died, Zhu Di was immersed in grief and always felt restless. He ordered his subordinates to bury him together with Empress Xu when he died. That is the Chang Tomb we see today.

After a nice lunch, we will drive one hour to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall located in the northeast of Chang Tomb. It is 5,400 meters long. And it was first built in the Northern Qi (550-577). In ancient times, Mutianyu had always been considered as an important military fortress. In 1404, the Mutianyu Pass was built and used to protect Beijing. According to the historical records, the present Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt and fortified under the supervision of general Xu Da in the Ming Dynasty on the foundation of the Great Wall in Northern Qi.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Chang Tombs

Today, you will be transferred to the airport and take the estimated flight CA6603 13:40/17:35 to Hong Kong. When you arrive in Hong Kong, you will be picked up by the local guide at the airport and then be escorted to the hotel.

As one of the most prosperous cities in the world, Hong Kong covers an area of about 1,106 square kilometers and has a population of over 7.4 million. It boasts a pleasant climate, making it suitable for traveling all year around. Besides, it is a paradise for the foodie. The Baked Chicken in Salt, one of the most popular local specialties, is strongly recommended to you. Other famous attractions, such as Victoria Peak and Macau Tower, are also worth visiting. We hope you can have a wonderful Hong Kong escorted tour.

Free Time Suggestion:

When you are available, you can visit Star Avenue, a popular coastal avenue in Hong Kong. Modelled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it is designed to praise the Hong Kong film industry and staff working backstage. The fingerprints of many famous actors, such as Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, etc. are embedded in the specially made plaques. Here also stands a two-meter high bronze statue of Bruce Lee with his classic postures in the martial arts film, Enter the Dragon. You can take a picture with your favorite actors or actresses’ statues or plaques.

You can also visit Harbor City. It is the largest and most famous mall, including 4 shopping areas, over 700 stores, about 50 restaurants, and 2 big movie theaters. It sells everything. You can find many luxury shops, like Gucci and Chanel. After shopping, you can go to the Victoria Harbour to enjoy the night scenes.

After breakfast, we will visit the Wong Tai Sin Temple, one of the best-known temples in Hong Kong. It is said that Wong Tai Sin, a Chinese Taoist Deity, did many good things to people, so people built this temple in 1921 to honor him. Many his followers come to the temple to worship him. Besides, the temple is the only place where Taoist weddings can be held for newlyweds in Hong Kong.

Then, we will take the Peak Tram to get to Victoria Peak. It is the highest point of Hong Kong, where you can not only go shopping and eat delicious food but also see the unique spectacular sights. Getting off at the terminal station of the Peak Tram, we will see a distinctive bowl-shaped building, Peak Tower. It is designed by Terry Farrel, a famous British architect. Sky Terrace 428, a viewing platform is on the top floor of the Peak Tower. It provides a 360-degree view of Hong Kong. You can overlook the modern skyscrapers and the beautiful Victoria Harbour.

In the afternoon, we will explore the Stanley Market located in the south of Hong Kong. Stanley used to be a small fishing village, but now, it is a very famous and beautiful town, attracting many visitors from all over the world each year. When visitors come to Stanley, the first thing they want to do is to visit the Stanley Market, a traditional open-air market. Over 150 small shops are gathered here. Many shops in this market sell local souvenirs, Chinese traditional crafts, and silk garments. You can buy some special gifts for your family.

Stanley Market

Peak Tram

After a nice breakfast, we will drive to Lantau Island, the largest island in Hong Kong. Covering an area of about 147 square kilometers, it is nearly twice as large as Hong Kong Island. There are winding coastline, beautiful beach as well as many natural and historical sites. The most areas of Lantau Island are covered with mountains. You will take the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to go up to this island. From the cable car, you can overlook the charming scenery of Lantau Island. Although it is a 25-minute ride, it is still very exciting.

After reaching the top of the mountain, we will go to the Ngong Ping Village. You can try lots of food here and visit the Wishing Tree. It is said that the higher you hang the prayer cards on the Wishing Tree, the more possible your dreams will come true. Sounds interesting, right? Then, we will go to the Po Lin Monastery that was first built in 1906 by three monks from Jiangsu Province in the east of China. The main hall shrines three bronze statues of the Buddha, marking his past, present, and future lives. Opposite the Po Lin Monastery is the famous Big Buddha, with a height of 34 meters. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. A big bell inside the Big Buddha is clanged each seven minutes, 108 times a day, which means the release of 108 types of human troubles.

In the afternoon, we will go to Lady’s Street. It is a famous pedestrian street in Hong Kong. The whole street is divided into four parts. In the early days, most commodities here were sold to ladies, so people call this place Lady’s Street. But now it is a popular tourist spot. Many tourists from across the world come here every day. Visiting this place is also a good chance for you to get to know the local lifestyle.

Lantau Island

Po Lin Monastery

Today, we will take a ferry to Macau after breakfast. And then we will visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s Church. As the famous landmark in Macau, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The front façade and the grand stone stairs are the only remains of an ancient church. The stone facade has five tiers and is about 27 meters high. On the top of it, there is a cross. When you visit it, you should keep an eye on the exquisite carvings on it. For example, there are some Jesuit images with oriental themes, like the Blessed Virgin Mary stepping on a seven-headed dragon.

Then, we will go to Senado Square. As one of the four large squares in Macau, it covers an area of 3,700 square meters. The locals like to have a walk here after dinner. In the middle of the square stands a fountain, which attracts many visitors to take pictures with it everyday. In addition to this fountain, there are many other characteristic designs in this square. During some traditional festivals, this square will be decorated with various Chinese-style ornaments. For example, during the Spring Festival, many red lanterns with Chinese zodiac patterns will be hung in this area.

After that, we will visit the A-ma Temple located in the southwest of Macau. Sandwiched between hills and seas, it is the largest temple in Macau. People built this temple to commemorate Mazu whose real name is A-ma. It is said that A-ma was a nice piscatorial girl. She was smart and fond of learning since childhood. When she was alive, she often helped others solve problems. Sadly, she died for rescuing a fisherman on a ship at the age of 28. But somebody said A-ma had become a sea goddess. And she often appeared when the ships sailing on the sea were in danger. She would turn the situation from danger to safety by using her magic. In order to thank her for her great contribution to the locals, people built a temple and named it A-ma Temple.

Then, we will go to the Casino of the Grand Lisboa Hotel. Macau is one of the three largest gambling centers in the world and the Casino of the Grand Lisboa Hotel is the most popular gambling place. Macau’s gambling industry has a long history, which to some degree contributes to the economic development of Macau. In Macau, there are several types of gambling, such as casinos and horse racing. At present, Macau is the only legal gambling region in China. You can follow your guide to have a visit to Casino of the Grand Lisboa Hotel to feel the gambling culture in Macau.

After lunch, we will visit the Macau Tower, covering an area of over 10,000 square meters. It is the 8th highest tower in the world, about 338 meters high. You will climb up to the 58th floor to have a panoramic view of Macau. If the weather is good, you can even see the Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The bungee jump from the Macau Tower is very popular. Except for the bungee jump, visitors can also experience another exciting activity, Skywalk X, on the Macau Tower, You will walk on a transparent glass ground which is about 233 meters above the ground in this activity. It will be a good opportunity for people who pursue thrills to explore Macau Tower in a special way. There is a revolving restaurant on the 60th floor and it is also a popular place for visitors to overlook the whole Macau while dining. After this, we will take a ferry back to Hong Kong.

Senado Square

Ruins of St. Paul’s

Today, the 8-day Hong Kong escorted tour will come to an end. Your nice guide will escort you to the airport and see you off. Thank you for choosing China Tour Star and we look forward to your next China tour.

Author:Yalin Zhao

Proofreader:Yan Liu