8-Day Greater Bay Area Decryption Tour: HK-SZ-GZ-MO

• Hong Kong Arrival--Transfer to Hotel--Free Time

Today is free for you to get to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, the Pearl of the Orient. The rest of today after arrival is to recover from long flight, or explore this vibrant and bustling metropolis on your own.

Free Time ideas: It is one of the most popular things to do in Hong Kong to spend ten minutes riding the humble Star Ferry which sails between Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island( daily 6:30am-11:30pm). From the ferry, you can enjoy the breathtaking skyline of Hong Kong especially in the evening when the Symphony of Lights begins.

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 will 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.

• Explore Hong Kong By Your Own

Hong Kong's tourism industry is very developed. Foreign travellers can explore Hong Kong independently and easily. Below is recommended Hong Kong day trip itinerary.

Recommended Activities

Firstly, you will climb to the highest point of Hong Kong - Victoria Peak(552m) via the famous Peak Tram which has operated for more than 112 years as one of the world oldest funicular railways. Walk through the verdant woods to explore hidden old buildings left by the old Hong Kong. Also ascend to the observation deck to sweep the magnificent Hong Kong skyline and tranquil harbor views. Get down from the peak, then go to visit Aberdeen Fishing Village where you will get an impressive insight of an old traditional fishing village to view the rows of old Junks and Sampans. 

Continue to take a trip to the Stanley Market. Browse fancy petty commodities in various little stores and enjoy the fun of bargaining, or just order a cup of coffee or beer at the seaside café or pub, a great way to spend time away from the maddening crowds. (If you are interested in the beautiful sand beach with long coastline, soft sand and clean water, you can visit Repulse Bay instead of Stanley Market.)

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.

• Explore Hong Kong By Your Own

Recommended Activities

After breakfast, drive about 1 hour to Tung Chung of Lantau Island - the largest outlying island of Hong Kong.

Upon arrival at Tung Chung, ride the 25-minute wonderful Ngong Ping 360 cable car which is famed as one of the world’s most amazing cable car experiences and the most spectacular way to reach Ngong Ping Village. With the cable car, you will get breathtaking panorama of Hong Kong International Airport, vast South China Sea, verdant and mountainous terrain of Lantau Island, and 360-degree view of Ngong Ping Plateau. When landing the earth at Ngong Ping Village, go to visit the largest Buddhist temple of Hong Kong - Po Lin Monastery which is composed of palatial prayer halls, shrines, courtyards, gardens and a scripture library. Located opposite the monastery is Tian Tan Big Buddha - the biggest seated bronze Buddha in the world at 34 meters high. You need to climb 268 steps up to the statue to marvel at its magnificence. From here you can also enjoy super views over the lush greenery of Lantau Island. If you like, take a walk for 20 minutes to reach Wisdom Path to see a series of 38 wooden steles arranged in a ∞ pattern that stands for infinity.

After lunch, ride a bus down the Ngong Ping Village to explore the Venice of Hong Kong - Tai O which is more than three centuries old, and still retains most of its historical setting such as waterways, stilt houses and fishing boats and its fishing village scenery. Then transfer by bus to Tung Chung and drive back to your hotel.

• high speed train to Guangzhou--Yuexiu Park--Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall--Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King
• 4-Stars Hotel

In this morning, you will go to Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station to catch 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 China's mainland 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.

• Chen Clan Ancestral Hall--Shamian Island--high speed train to Shenzhen
• 4-Stars Hotel
• Breakfast

Today after breakfast, you will first be escorted from your hotel to visit the must-see Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. It 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, you will be transferred to the railway station for a high speed train to Shenzhen (about 0.5-1.5 hours based on different trains going from/to different train stations). Upon arrival, be picked up at the arrival hall of the train station and escorted to your hotel in Shenzhen. 

• Ping’an Finance Center--Shenzhen Museum--DJI Flagship Store--Splendid China Folk Village
• 4-Stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, you will see the modern face of Shenzhen by getting atop the 600-meter tall skyscraper - Ping’an Finance Center. It is the tallest building in Shenzhen, the second tallest building in China and the 4th tallest building in the world. Reach Free Sky at 116th floor to catch a panoramic view of Shenzhen as well as overlook Hong Kong in far distance. Afterwards, be driven to Shenzhen Museum for a better understanding about this migrant city turning from a fishing village to the first-tier class metropolis in China within 40 years. Enjoy many informative displays and learn the history from ancient times to modern life.

Later, be driven to DJI Flagship Store located in OCT Harbor close to Shenzhen Bay. You will enjoy the performances of drones in the specialized demonstration area, appreciate fantastic photos and videos shared by enthusiasts all over the world, moreover, you can touch and personally experience the latest drones and aerial photography and videography, and if you have any questions and interests, you will be well served by the staff here. DJI offers the best chance to see the world in God’s eyes, expanding people’s horizon from ground to sky, from our familiar territory to less-visited zones. It will be cool to experience the newest tech and free your mind when visiting DJI flagship store.

In this afternoon, be transferred to Splendid China Folk Village to have a glimpse of vast China and experience the colorful culture of ethnic minorities of China. Walk and recognize the iconic sites in Splendid China Miniature Park which is composed of 82 reproductions of beautiful scenery, grand architecture, historical sites and traditional dwellings of China. You won’t miss Forbidden City, Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Potala Palace, Mogao Caves, Li River, Leshan Giant Buddha, Stone Forest etc. Traveling across China within short time, you’ll be enchanted with China’s profound history, culture, natural beauty, palaces, temples and pagodas in one go. Then, take a stroll at China Folk Culture Village to explore 27 different ethnic villages built with the proportion of 1:1, experience brilliant culture, unique folk customs and hospitality of the ethnic groups. Watch interesting performances at their villages at the scheduled time. If your time allows, enjoy the fantastic performance called “New Oriental Neon Costumes” at Impression China Theater at 17:00, and “Dragon and Phoenix Dance” at Phoenix Square at 19:30.

After the tour, drive back to your hotel for a good rest. 

• ferry to Macau--Ruins of Saint Paul's--Section of Old City Wall--Senado Square (Largo do Senado) --A-Ma Temple
• 4-Stars Hotel
• Breakfast

After breakfast, you’ll go to Shenzhen Shekou Ferry Terminal for a ferry to Macau Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal (takes about 70-80 minutes). Macau is now famous for its range of casinos, gourmet and fine dining, and historical architecture. Upon arrival, you are free to explore Macau on your own. Below is the recommended itinerary of Macau day trip.

First visit the historical sight of Ruins of Saint Paul's, which is a gothic church constructed by Portuguese in 1562 and once the largest cathedral in Asia. Now, it is over 350 years old and a World Cultural Heritage Site symbolizing Macau. Observe the designing style and those carvings, patterns, characters, figures, etc., you will find the great combination and collision of the European elements in the Renaissance and the traditional oriental styles. Walk behind to see the only remaining Section of Old City Wall of the past Macau that was built by the Portuguesa to defend against enemies from other countries about 300 years ago. Then, walk about 10 minutes to visit the Senado Square (Largo do Senado) to appreciate the multiple century-old Portuguese styled architectures and enjoy its rich south European flavor and also the daily lifestyle of Macau people who walk along those leading lanes and operate their business.

Then, transfer to visit the 400 year-old A-Ma Temple to appreciate the featured traditional ancient Chinese constructions and the local culture of belief of the A-Ma and be touched by the sincere worship of various people from both Macau and China's mainland to her. After that, be escorted to the Border of Gate (Portas do Cerco) to know the history of the border battle between the Qing dynasty and the Kingdom of Portugal during the 1840s and its importance for people now in Macau and China's mainland. If interested, visit one of the casinos for which Macau is famous (minimum age 21).

After the tour, go to your hotel in Macau.

• Macau
• Breakfast

Today you will go to the ferry terminal to board your direct ferry to Hong Kong International Airport for your flight to onward destination.