with Regional Gourmet Cuisine Tasting ’2022
South China Islands & Coastal Provinces in Tour:
- Sanya; Xinglong; Haikou; Macau; Zhuhai; Zhongshan; Taishan; Foshan; Kaiping; Shunde; Panyu; Dongguan; Shenzhen; Xiamen; Taipei; Yehliu; Sun Moon Lake; Tainan; Hualien; Taroko Gorge
Tour Price Includes:
- Round trip airfare from San Francisco via Cathay Pacific Airways.
- First/Deluxe Class hotel accommodation based on double occupancy.
- Meals as in the itinerary (B=Breakfast * L=Lunch * D=Dinner).
- Transportation and all China domestic airfares as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Guided sightseeing tours & Travel Tag/Bag.
Scheduled Itinerary for this Tour:
Day 1: San Francisco / Hong Kong
Early morning departure from San Francisco for a pleasant flight to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific Airways.
Day 2: Hong Kong / Haikou 海口
Arrival Hong Kong in the morning and make immediate connecting flight to Kaikou, Hainan Island (the second largest island in China, lying south-west off the coast of Guangdong Province). Haikou- is the capital and most populous city of Hainan province. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, separated from Guangdong’s Leizhou Peninsula雷州半岛, in the north is the shallow and narrow Qiongzhou Strait 琼州海峡. Upon arrival, transfer to Meritus Mandarin Hotel for rest or similar. Welcome dinner (special local cuisine). (D.)
Day 3: Haikou
Morning tour to Kaikou Volcano Park, the stone village and lava tunnel caves. After lunch at the local restaurant, return to the city to visit the old Kaikou Town, the Temple of the Five Lords and Hainan Provincial Museum. (B.L.D.)
Day 4: Haikou / Xinglong興 隆
After breakfast, take a scenic ride to visit the tribal village of the Li and Miao to see their lifestyles, and a chance to talk with the local residents. Our trip continues on to Xinglong and visit the Cultural Pearl Farm, the Monkey Island and the Dongshan Ridge. Upon arrival to Xinglong. We will visit the Tropical Botanical Garden, where you will see a variety of unique tropical plants, including cashew tree. rare fruit trees and exotic garden plants. While walking around the garden, we will also have an opportunity to sample the local coffee, coconut milk, cocoa and tea. Stay at Xinglong Treasure Island Hot spring Hotel or similar hotel. (B.L.D.)
Day 5: Xinglong / Sanya 三亞
Along the way, you’ll visit the famous tea commune and rubber plantation in Fung Lai and then process to Sanya- It is well known for its palm-fringed beaches, luxuriant forest, and exotic tribal communities. Build as “China’s Hawaii”, Sanya has 20km of long stretches of beach. As the only tropical city across the coastline, it is definitely booming and packed with a lot of water sports such as snorkeling and jet-skiing, rainforest hiking. Upon arrival, transfer to Pullman Ocean view Sanya Bay Hotel or Sheraton Hotel for rest. (B.L.D.)
Day 6: Sanya 三亞
Today we tour the famous DEER RETURNING HEAD PARK; the GIGANTIC GRANITE BOULDERS with the inscription “To the ends of the earth, and the boundary between the sea and the sky (Tianya Haijiao 天涯海角) )”; Binlagu Li Minority Culture Park, and Yanoda Tropical Rainforest. Enjoy famous special local cuisines for lunch and dinner. Stay at the Pullman Ocean view Sanya Bay Hotel or similar class hotel. Local folk dancers will entertain you in the evening. (B.L.D.)
Day 7: Sanya 三亞
Spend the day at leisure and enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches, or stroll in the close-by hill area or just visit with the local fisherman. (B.)
Day 8: Sanya 三亞/Hong Kong/Macau
Relax in the morning before taking a flight to Hong Kong. upon arrival, we will transfer and take a Jetfoil to Macau (Macao) – known as “Las Vegas of the Orient” with many newly developed Las Vegas style Casinos. Offering widest range in gambling and variety shows. Stay at Sofitel Hotel or similar hotel. (B.D.)
Day 9: Macau
Today you will visit the ruin of St. Paul’s Chapel – a World Heritage and Land Mark of Macau. We will also explore Mt. Fortress; The lotus Statue; Senate Square; Macau Tower; Fishman’s Wharf; Taipa; Na Cha Temple and Ama Temple (World Heritage). Then our last stop will be at the Cookies Shop. There we can have free sampling of the most famous almond cookies and peanut candy of Macau. (B.L.)
Day 10: Macau / Zhuhai 珠海/ Zhongshan 中山
This morning coach to Zhuhai- a prefecture level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province, and where we will begin our 4 days Gourmet Tasting of local cuisine. We will visit the New Yuanming Garden( 圓明新園)-a reproduction of the imperial Yuanming Palace in Beijing before we proceed Zhongshan-one of the few cities in China with an eponymous name, is named after Dr. Sun Yat-sen(1866-1925) the founding father of the Republic of China. He was born in Cuiheng village in Nanlang Township of what was then Xiangshan County. Special local cuisine for lunch 午餐享用農家風味餐and Banquet Dinner-Roast Squab, 晚餐石岐乳鴿宴). Overnight at Shangri-la Zhongshan Hotel. (B.L.D)
Day 11: Zhongshan 中山/ Taishan 台山/ Foshan 佛山/ Kaiping 開平
After breakfast, proceed to Taishan city, where China’s famous movie Let the Bullets Fly were filmed. We will visit the Museum of Taishan and the old town before we continue to Foshan-the cradle of China’s Southern style Martial Art. We will visit Ancestral Home (佛山祖廟)and Manorial Hall to Huang Feihong- A well know Chinese Kungfu Master. After that continue to Kaiping- located in the Pearl River Delta and is part of the Greater Taishan Region, the ancestral homeland of many Overseas Chinese. We will visit Li Garden & the Diao Lou-are fortified multi-storey towers which were constructed in the Kaiping area from the early Qing Dynasty, also the Kaiping diaolou and villages were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2007. Special local cuisine for lunch and Special Local Dinner at Kaiping Fun Garden 晚餐風澤園特色風味餐. Over night at Pan Tower Int’l Hotel or similar hotel. (B.L.D.)
Day 12: Kaiping開平/ Shunde顺德/ Panyu 番禺/ Dongguan 东莞/ Shenzhen深圳
Drive to Shunde where you will visit the Qinghui Garden(順德清暉園)-a combination of China Landscape to explore its unique style of architecture and a study of its “water culture” and it’s advance humanity characteristics” of Shunde. Then drive to Panyu and visit the Baomo Garden ( 寶墨園), for lunch we will have Shunde flavor food with special dessert午餐品嚐鳳城風味(送順德雙皮奶). Drive onto Dongguan after lunch to visit the Humen Bridge and the Sea War Museum, before proceeding to Shenzhen–a major city of Southern China‘s Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. Enjoy the Mushroom Banquet in the evening. Stay at Shangri-la hotel or similar. (B.L.D.)
Day 13: Shenzhen/ Xiamen 厦门
Late morning flight to Xiamen – known as Amoy, is a coastal city in Fujian Province in China. Xiamen has been called the Egret Island because of the hundreds of thousands of egrets inhabiting there. Upon arrival, tour Nanputuo Temple; before transfer to Crowne Plaza Hotel,or similar hotel for rest. (B.L.D.)
Day 14: Xiamen
This morning tour of Gulangyu鼓浪屿Island, listed as one of the nation’s major scenic spots. GulangYu Island is in the southwestern of Xiamen city, it takes just short ride by local ferry boat. There are many famous pianists in China from this island. There are many colonial buildings built after the Opium War, including the Britain, the America, France, German, Spain, etc.which are visited annually by millions of people from all parts of the country and the world. The main sites of interest here include the Sunlit Rock, Shuzhuang Park, Gangzihou Bathing Beach; Memorial Hall to Zheng Chenggong; Hulishan Fortress and Suzhuang Garden. (B.L.D.)
Day 15: Xiamen (Excursion Tour of Nanjingtulou 福建土楼)
Today our journey to Nanjing, the “kingdom of Tulou.” Visit the historic Tianluokeng Tulou Gluster, one of the most magnificent and the symbol of all Tulous – is a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka and Minnan (fulao) people in the mountainous areas in southeastern Fujian, China. They were mostly built between the 12th and the 20th centuries,and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The nearby attraction’s we will visit later are Yuchang Building (the Zigzag Building) and Taxia Village. Return to Xiamen in the afternoon with stops at Jimei College and Dragon Boat Pond. (B.L.D.)
Day 16: Xiamen / Taipei臺 北
Late morning flight to Taipei- the capital of the Republic of China (ROC) (commonly known as Taiwan) and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan Island. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River. Upon arrival, start our City Tour at the Presidential Office Building(pass by), Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Martyr’s Shrine (War Memorial), National Palace Museum, Traditional Taiwanese Temple, Handicraft Center. Stay at the Palais de Chine Hotel (5-star) or similar hotel. (B.L.D.)
Day 17: Excursion tour of Keelung 基隆 ; Jiufen 九份; Yehliu 野柳
This morning we will start the sightseeing tour to the northern coast through rich farming land to the growing industrial area and harbor of Keelung–A major port city in the northeast of Taiwan . We will see the Cave of the Immortals, a narrow natural cleft in a hill containing Buddhist shrines and sculptures, also we will visit Jiufen-once was gold city of Asia and called little Shanghai or little Hong Kong, . The most prosperous shopping district is Jiufen Old Street. It goes through most of the village. Along the street there are shops vending the most famous country snack of Jiufen, yam dish and various local dishes too. Then continue along the northern coast to Yehliu Park- known for it’s spectacular rock formations, sculptured throughout the ages by wind and sea erosion leaving fascinating pillars including the famous Queen’s Head and Fairy’s Shoe. After lunch back to the hotel for rest until the evening when you will be taken to Shilin Night Market-士林夜市- is a popular destination after darkin Taipei City. Shilin Night Market has since become the largest and most well-known night market in Taiwan, especially with regards to food, and is a favorite focal point for Taipei’s night life among residents and visitors alike. (B.L.)
Day 18: Taipei 臺 北 / Sun Moon Lake日月潭
After breakfast in the hotel, we will take the coach to sun Moon Lake where our bus will drive us around the lake with stops at Wenwu Temple, Holy Monk Shrine, Tes-En Pagoda. Stay at the Sun Moon Lake Fleur de Chine Hotel with every rooms equipped marble hot spring bathtub. (B.L.D.)
Day 19: Sun Moon Lake / Tainan 台 南, Pingtung Province
After breakfast, proceed to Formosan Aborigines Cultural Village then drive to Tainan-Ancient Capital City of Taiwan, and visit Forever (Chikan) Castle, Shrine of Kuosinga, and Confucius Temple. Stay at the H Resort or same class Hotel. (B.L.D.)
Day 20: Tainan台 南 / East Coast National Scenic Areas東台灣海岸 / Hualien -Taroko Gorge 太魯閣
Our exciting tour to the East Coast national Scenic Area Begins, we will be visit Some popular spots like Little Yeliu, Sanxiantai, Stone Steps, and Eight Immortals Cave on the way to Hualien. Stay at the Farglory Hotel or Silks Place Taroko. (B.L.D.)
Day 21: Hualien 花蓮 / Taipei
Photo opportunities at the Eternal Spring Shrine長春祠 with stop Swallow Grotto燕子口, Tunnel of Nine turns九曲洞, Marble Bridge, Tiensiang, and a marble factory. We will leave late afternoon to Taipei by Taroko class train (or Tzechiang 自強class train). Upon arrival, check in hotel for rest. Farewell dinner in the evening. Stay at Sherwood Hotel or Palais de chine Hotel or similar for rest. (B. D.)
Day 22: Taipei / San Francisco
Bid farewell to the Orient then return to the United States via Cathay Pacific Airways in the evening, re-crossing the International Date Line for the same day arrival or if you wish, you can extend your stay in Hong Kong and return to San Francisco on a later date within 60 Days. (B.)
