HONG KONG AND BEIJING DISCOVERY

Formerly a home of emperors, the Forbidden City was the Chinese Imperial Palace in the days of the Ming Dynasty and was lovingly restored in time for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. You’ll have the chance to take in the serene surrounding courtyards and stately rooms of this vast and elegant 720,000-square-meter complex which was completed in 1420 during the reign of Emperor Yongle. The Forbidden City served as the Imperial administrative center until the fall of the Empire in 1911 and according to legend is made up of 9,999 rooms.

Our guide will take you to climb the hill behind the historic city to get spectacular views of the site and the layout of Beijing, helping you gain a greater understanding of the chaotic city.

After visiting the Forbidden City, you will be able to enjoy a scenic walk around Beihai Lake. The lake is especially popular with young couples who come for romantic boat trips. Nearby Beihai Lake is also the more lively Houhai Lake which is surrounded by Hutongs. Hutongs are alleyways that play host to traditional courtyard-style homes, many of which have now been converted into pedestrianised streets boasting charming restaurants and bars.

Your walk will then lead you to the Drum Tower. Here you can attend a demonstration of how, during the Ming Dynasty, the passing of each hour was marked with a drum roll. From the top you can also admire the rooftops of the neighbouring Hutongs and the Clock Tower just opposite.

Before you are escorted back to your hotel you will take a walk to the Drum Tower. During the Ming Dynasty, the Drum Tower was used to mark the passing of each hour with a drum roll. From the top of the tower you can admire the view of the surrounding rooftops and Clock Tower located opposite.

Your evening is free to spend as you wish, but be sure to ask your guide for a tasty restaurant recommendation for some fantastic Beijing food. Perhaps you’d like  to try Peking Duck, a dish native to the city of Beijing?

The district is the center of all things art in the city and is regarded by some as the most important arts area in Asia. Not only galleries and exhibitions, the district also houses cafés, restaurants and specialist fashion boutiques supplied by up-and-coming young Chinese designers. You’ll be able to spend an hour or two window shopping your way around the network of narrow alleyways, or relax at a café and people-watch your morning away.

After visiting the art district, you will take the three-hour (approx.) flight to Hong Kong. Upon arrival at the airport you will be met by your guide and then taken to your hotel to check-in. Hong Kong is an island territory that exists under the sovereignty of China ever since it was handed back to the Chinese by the British in 1997.

Having been a colony of Britain for over 100 years, you can still see much of the impact the Brits had on the small island. For example, many of the street names mimic many you’ll find in London; while several buildings pay homage to Queen Elizabeth II (Hong Kong has a hospital, school and stadium named after HRH).

Even the buses that service the island are double-decker, just like in London, though instead of the iconic red, Hong Kong double-deckers are commonly gold in color, and all traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road, just like the UK.

English is also widely spoken everywhere and is still listed as one of the two main languages of Hong Kong (the other being Cantonese Chinese) which is especially handy as all street signs are written in both languages.

After you’ve checked-in to your hotel you’ll then be free to spend the rest of your day at leisure, acclimatizing yourself to your new surroundings with a leisurely stroll around the city, or by sampling one of Hong Kong’s spectacular restaurants – some of which are amongst the best in the world.

So, after a robust breakfast, make sure you put on your best, most comfortable pair of walking shoes and throw some sunscreen in your bag – maybe a swim suit too!

Your penultimate day begins with a journey to Shek O Country Park by public transport (MRT and/or bus depending on your hotel’s location). The park hosts an eclectic mix of fishermen, businessmen and expats who seek solace from the manic main island and feels a world away from the buzzing metropolis.

Your eight-kilometer trek will start from To Tei Wan Village and takes you through bamboo groves up to the crest of the Shek O Peak (284 meters above sea level) which gives a 360-degree viewpoint of the surroundings, with Clear Water Bay to the east and Stanley Beach to the west.

The walk concludes in Tai Long Wan Village on a beautiful sandy beach. Here you’ll enjoy a much-earned barbecue lunch as you rest your weary feet in the waters that rythmically lap the sand – or even take a dip if the idea compels you!

Walk complete, you are then free to enjoy your time in the park before heading back to the main island, or return to your hotel and enjoy your last night enjoying Hong Kong’s vibrant nightlife, or take a meal at a delightful restaurant.