Hong Kong & China
Hong Kong & China - a nation of contrasts
Nothing can prepare you for a holiday touring China and Hong Kong. As if set in two separate worlds, one half of China lies in an ancient kingdom where the Forbidden City and the Great Wall once guarded
dynasties of emperors and the people they reigned. On the flip side of the coin is the other half, pushing forward at an electrifying pace, moulding mighty metropolises and world-class hotels alongside
a colonial past. Added to this is Hong Kong’s big city shopping and dining blended with island life, tranquil countryside and unique living Chinese culture. Prepare to be enchanted…
Historical Beijing & Xian
China’s majestic capital city of Beijing offers a wealth of heritage sites from the Great Wall to the sprawling Tiananmen Square. Temples and palaces stand alongside beautiful green spaces, futuristic
skyscrapers and superb neon nightlife. The famous Terracotta Warriors truly are a sight to behold in Xian, now known as the eighth wonder of the world, and a place to immerse yourself in a different
era of powerful emperors. Xian also provides shoppers and culture vultures with plenty to whet their appetite. The Ming dynasty certainly knew how to live, with Xian’s stately city wall and seven
storey Wild Goose Pagoda just a couple of landmarks in this colourful history book.
Shanghai - welcome to China's dynamic playground
Explore dynamic metropolis of Shanghai at the forefront of business and design change, where the rich heritage of ancient Chinese culture coexists with modern skyscrapers and latest technologies. Visit
the stunning Yu Garden, with its typical pagodas and classic architecture from the Qing Dynasty, and the Jade Buddha Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in China. Shoppers will find their paradise
on the Nanjing Road, and with over a thousand restaurants, you'll be sure to find the ultimate Peking Duck within the space age skyline. Relax on the famous Bund, the promenade along the Huangpu River
with its grand buildings of the past sitting opposite the contemporary skyline of Pudong.
Stunning scenery in China
China offers a wealth of stunning sceneries, from the Yellow Mountains and Guilin's limestone cliffs to mighty waterways - a Yangtze river cruise is a must, especially as the opening of a dam in the near
future might actually stop all cruises. The garden cities of Suzhou and Nanjing and great lakes of West Lake in Hangzhou and Heavenly Lake on the Silk Road offer breathtaking natural beauty. The new hip
resort of Sanya, famously named "the Hawaii of China" for its glorious sandy beaches and luxurious resorts, offers a relaxing option at the end of your China tour or Hong Kong city break.
Hong Kong - a unique blend of old and new
With its spectacular skyline and Victoria harbour, Hong Kong is a unique and dynamic blend of old and new, East and West, successfully combining western contemporary style and British colonial history with
over 5,000 years of ancient Chinese tradition and heritage. This is a city with over 9,000 restaurants that is the world capital of Cantonese cooking and is a dining and gourmet paradise.
For shopaholics, Hong Kong offers a vast contrast and choice of shopping experiences from bustling markets to ultra modern malls and department stores where there are bargains galore to be had. There are also areas of great natural beauty with over 70% of Hong Kong being set aside for farmland, forests and mountains as well as 260 islands.
Over 260 islands in Hong Kong
Some of these 260 outlying islands are inhabited, and they present a more peaceful and traditional village environment in which beaches, mountains and harbours offer a soothing respite from downtown life.
However most of the islands are unpopulated yet accessible by public ferry-ride from the Central Ferry Piers on Hong Kong Island making them ideal for hikes and getting up close to nature. Ferry services
are inexpensive and frequent providing magnificent harbour views en route.
The most popular islands to spend the day or afternoon at are the car-less little island of Cheung Chau with its ancient fisherman’s temples, cafes and home of the yearly Bun Festival, Lamma Island famed for its seafood restaurants, and hiking trails and the largest island other than Hong Kong Island, Lantau, home to the Po Lin Monastery, Tai-O fishing village on stilts and Ngong Ping 360 which includes a stunning 5.7km cable car ride up the side of a mountain providing panoramic views over the island and the South China Sea.
From beaches to hiking
Closer to the city, discover laid-back Sai Kung, known as Hong Kong's back garden' where you can hike in the lush countryside, sunbathe on secluded beaches and sail or go sea kayaking in the sheltered waters.
Or go island-hopping in the Northeast New Territories, only accessible by boat, where highlights include Hakka walled villages, rocky headlands and peaceful bays.
If it's the cultural side of Hong Kong you want to experience, then there is no better way to do this than with a local via The Hong Kong Tourism Board's "Cultural Kaleidoscope" programme that includes harbour side Tai Chi classes, Tea Appreciation and Cake Making classes, Feng Shui classes and the chance to ride on The Duck Ling, the last authentic sailing junk in Hong Kong.
For more information on Hong Kong, order a Hong Kong information pack by emailing your details to lonwwo@hktb.com.
Explore China & Hong Kong with Hayes & Jarvis
Hayes & Jarvis offers a range of exciting tours of China combined with a stay in Hong Kong to capture the best that this nation has to offer. Whether you're looking to take a classic journey of China and Hong
Kong on our Images of China Tour (12 days from £1409 per person), take an unforgettable 22 day Grand Tour of China
from £1998 per person, or to combine the two modern metropolises of Shanghai and Hong Kong on a 8 day tour from £1159 per person, we have something to suit the needs of every traveller.
- Click here to view more China touring experiences.
- Click here to see our range of Hong Kong twin and multi centre options available.
- Click here to order our Tours & Safaris brochure.
