Category: tour

day trip – macau july 10

 

Our neighbor across the Pearl River Delta, Macau, has an outsized reputation as the “Las Vegas of the East,” and a quick European mini-holiday. But beyond the glittering lights and tourist-flooded streets, you will discover another side of Macau. Ornate temples wafting with incense, traditional bakeries, craftsman’s studios, and chapels and shrines with curious history can be found if you take the time to explore the winding alleys. 


On this insider tour of Macau, we’ll see a relic of a Christian saint, a secret garden inside a public library, the most beautiful black-and-white mosaic street in Macau, and a temple dedicated to the snake goddess held to be creator of the Chinese universe. In the afternoon we’ll stop by a cozy wine bar for a glass of Portuguese wine. After the end of the tour, you can stay on in Macau to enjoy its nightlife and fine dining.

 

Price: 550RMB for adults, 280 for kids
525RMB discounted partner price – available for ABNet members, SWIC members, and students of Purple Peony Studio
includes round trip round trip ferry to Macau, tour, and glass of wine for adults
Ferry to Macau about 1 hour.

I will guide the group to restaurants in Macau, cost of lunch on your own.

Tuesday, July 10
8:45am Ferry from Shekou Ferry Terminal
9:45am Arrive Macau
Walking tour, lunch, wine bar stop
Free time in Macau
21:00 Ferry from Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (last ferry will be booked; but can board earlier ferry if you wish and there are available seats)
22:00 Return to Shekou

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Macau in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

day trip – zengcheng july 7

  

Looking for a refreshing experience to break up your sweltering Shenzhen summer? Well, look no further than the treasure of northeastern Guangzhou, Baishuizhai waterfall in Zengcheng district.

Baishuizhai (白水寨瀑景区) is the tallest waterfall in mainland China, falling a total of 428.5 meters between two former volcanic peaks. These hills are covered in lush bamboo forests, as well as natural hot springs.

While hiking heroes opt to climb the 9999 steps to the peak of the mountain, kids and casual walkers can climb up the boardwalk skirting the waterfall itself. In several tiers going up, the waterfall is crossed back and forth, at some points close enough to touch and feel its spray. Our goal will be the lookout platform at around 3200 steps.

This is a truly refreshing experience, only 2 hours drive from Shenzhen.

Please pack a simple picnic lunch, that we will enjoy on our hike on the side of the waterfall.

Price: 290RMB for adults, 220 for kids
270RMB discounted partner price – available for ABNet members, SWIC members, and students of Purple Peony Studio
Includes round trip private shuttle, entrance to the scenic area, and guide

Journey to Zengcheng about 2 hours.

Saturday, July 7
8:30am departure
10:30am arrive at waterfall park
Hike plus lunch along the waterfall
4:00pm depart
6:00pm arrive Shenzhen

Pick up in Shekou, other pick ups available – just contact me.

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Waterfall in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

best of colorful yunnan – 5 days

Are you dreaming of a land of blue skies, colorful clouds, people living a quiet traditional life? A place where you can stretch your legs, climb green mountains, wade amongst wildflowers, and discover temples, new friends and always a bit of adventure? Sounds like a fairy tale, some kind of Shangri-La, you say?

You would be right. And you can find your own paradise in the northwest corner of Yunnan province.

This is a condensed tour featuring the best of Lijiang and Shangri-La areas in 5 days. No extended hiking, so it’s great for families and kids!

Yunnan province is located in southwestern China, tucked between Tibet, Sichuan and Guangxi provinces, Myanmar, and Vietnam, and is one of the most diverse provinces in China, with dozens of ethnic minorities; flowers, mushrooms and other wildlife; and dramatic landscapes with the weather of eternal spring.

We will fly into Lijiang (丽江 elev. 7900ft/2400m), a major stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road in western China. Our home base will be the old town of Shuhe, a village on the old Tea Horse Road, which connected Tibet to southern Yunnan and beyond, for centuries of trade of horses (from Tibet) and tea (from southern Yunnan). We’ll also visit Baisha, the former capital of the Naxi kingdom.

On our third day, we will head north towards to Shangri-La (香格里拉 elev. 10,370ft/3160m), the center of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan province. You will really feel like we’re in Tibetan country, even though we won’t have crossed the border. Ladies in traditional pink headwear do their shopping and older folks grasp their prayer beads throughout the streets. We will visit a lively market, the old town of Dukezong, the largest prayer wheel in the world, and the Songzanlin monastery, which is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan.

We’ll come back down for our last night in Shuhe before flying out from Lijiang with colors and memories alive in our hearts.

Day 1: Fly to Lijiang, visit Shuhe
Day 2: Visit Baisha, former capital of Naxi kingdom
Day 3: Travel to Shangri-La, visit old town and prayer wheel
Day 4: Visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhist monastery, return to Shuhe
Day 5: Fly from Lijiang

Dates:

June 27 – July 1

or

July 2 – July 6

Stay tuned for available dates for this route in August and September.

 

Price:

3680RMB

3380RMB discounted partner price – available for ABNet members, SWIC members, and students of Purple Peony Studio

 

Includes:
3 nights in a high quality Naxi courtyard guesthouse, 1 night in a 5 star hotel in Shangri-La, (both double occupancy), private shuttle transportation, meals, entrance tickets, and travel insurance.
Not included:
Airfare (I can help book for a small booking fee)

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Yunnan in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

day trip – dapeng april 22

Despite the capricious weather this past week, our southern China sun will be returning, and when it does, it will be high time to get ourselves to the seaside.

Shenzhen is bookended in history, with Dapeng Ancient Fortress holding down the eastern extremity. Dapeng Ancient Fortress is a fortified village that dates back to the Ming dynasty, predating the urbanization of Shenzhen, and was in charge of controlling pirates off the coast of China. Today it still retains many narrow alleys to walk, with people living a quiet life in the village and shops selling traditional foods and gifts.

Jiaochangwei is another former military village, still situated directly on the seaside. Now it takes the form of a young Chinese surf town, with many colorful hostels and restaurants for a weekend beach getaway.

 

Delve into local history while digging your toes into the sand in Dapeng and Jiaochangwei.

Sunday April 22
Adults: 180RMB
Kids 1.2-1.5m: 165RMB

SWIC or ABNet members receive a discount of 20RMB off each 

includes round trip private shuttle, entrance tickets, and guided tour by Greta. Lunch additional.

Departure: 8:30am
Return: 6:00pm

Private shuttle picks up from Shekou (for other pick ups contact me). Journey to Dapeng about 1.5 hours.

Minimum 10

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Dapeng in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

day trip – guangzhou april 26

Trace Guangzhou’s history in the footprints of a few blocks of the city’s core. Our neighbor has been a diverse metropolis for centuries and has played an interesting part in China’s history. On this day tour, we’ll discover some of beautiful and important sites in Guangzhou.

First we’ll visit one of the enduring symbols of Guangzhou, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Sun Yat-sen, popularly known as Sun Zhongshan, was the first president of the Republic of China after the Xinhai revolution overthrew the imperial Qing dynasty. Sun Yat-sen was a native of the Pearl River Delta, and it was from Guangzhou that he initiated some of the first movements in overthrowing the Qing government. The memorial here was built soon after his death in 1925.

After our walk of the grounds and look inside the exhibit halls about Sun Yat-sen’s life, we’ll have lunch together in old Guangzhou. (Cost additional – just split the bill with the group) Lunch will be either dim sum or an authentic Cantonese restaurant.

After lunch, we’ll visit the Guangxiao temple in central Guangzhou, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Guangzhou, as the site dates back to 230AD. Grand halls and green courtyards are decorated with fresh flower offerings, and left and right of the main halls are two iron pagodas, the oldest of their kind in China. 

 

 

Next we’ll make our way to Chen Clan Academy, an ornate complex built in the Qing dynasty. You can see the educational, social, and religious purposes the academy served, as well as learn about the traditional building techniques used and other ancient handcrafts preserved by Cantonese artists.

In the center of this modern city, you can discover some of the beautiful and fascinating history of Guangdong and the Chinese nation.

Adults: 315RMB
Kids 1.2-1.5m: 225RMB

SWIC or ABNet members receive a discount of 15RMB off each 

includes round trip private shuttle, entrance tickets, and guided tour by Greta. Lunch additional.

Thursday April 26
Departure: 7:30am

Return: 6:00pm

Private shuttle picks up from Shekou (for other pick ups contact me). Journey to Guangzhou about 2 hours.

Minimum 7

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Guangzhou in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

day trip – foshan may 3

Come on a day trip to see Foshan, the colorful hometown of Cantonese traditions! Enjoy a day out in the spring weather, while you learn about kung fu, lion dancing, ancient ceramics and traditional culture.

Foshan city is part of the Pearl River Delta and the third largest city in Guangdong, with distinctive Cantonese cultural traditions and rich history. Its name means “Buddha mountain.”

On this day trip, first we will visit the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln. Here you can see a ceramics kiln that has been in continuous operation since the Ming dynasty, for over 500 years. There are also many charming sculptural alleyways and shops to find a wonderful ceramic souvenir.

From here, we’ll head to lunch in Lingnan Tiandi, a historic district developed with many restaurants and quaint cafes. Cost of lunch is on your own. I will recommend a few restaurants to choose from, and provide a suggested menu to order from. I will recommend that groups of 3-5 dine together, rather than our entire group together for efficiency at the restaurants.

After lunch, we will explore the Ancestral Temple (祖庙 zu miao), which has been a central part of Foshan people’s religion for centuries. In this well preserved temple, you can also learn about Ip Man and Wang Fei Hong, two major kung fu masters from Foshan. The elements of Cantonese opera are demonstrated at the temple’s own traditional stage, so you can hear the orchestra or singer practicing (few performances each day at select times.) And don’t miss the heart of the Ancestral Temple, the ornate halls of Beidi, the northern emperor god, to whom locals pray to watch over Foshan.

Price: 315RMB per adult, 225RMB for kids between 1.2-1.5m (15RMB off for Shenzhen ABNet or SWIC member), kids under 1.2m get an additional discount – contact me.

Thursday May 3
Depart 7:30AM, return Shenzhen 6:00PM

includes round trip private shuttle, entrance tickets, including kung fu and lion dance show, and tour

Minimum 7

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Foshan in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

may day jaunt to “little guilin” – apr 30-may 1 in zhaoqing


Come with China Tea Leaves on a holiday jaunt from Shenzhen to nearby Zhaoqing!

Zhaoqing (肇庆) is located in Guangdong province, to the west of the Pearl River Delta, rich in both history and green mountains, but a bit off the tourist track.

We will depart by shuttle from Shekou in Shenzhen, on Sunday April 30 (ask for other pick up locations). In Zhaoqing we’ll stay one night in a sweet and stylish hotel overlooking one of the city’s most famous sights, the Seven Stars Crag park (七星岩). With its classic landscape of rocky mountains and peaceful lakes, you’ll see why Zhaoqing is called a “little Guilin.” (Hotel: Yuese Theme Hotel, right on Seven Stars Lake)

On Saturday June 17, we’ll visit Dinghu Mountain (鼎湖山), one of the four most important mountains in Guangdong province. This biodiverse park is full of greenery and tropical flowers, a butterfly sanctuary, a majestic waterfall, and a quiet lake.

Zhaoqing also is full of history, including an intact city wall dating back to the Song dynasty.

On Sunday, we will head back on our shuttle for an afternoon arrival in Shenzhen.

Enjoy a weekend away from the city for reinvigorating views in Zhaoqing with China Tea Leaves.

Depart: Sunday April 30, 8:00am
Return: Monday May 1, 6:00pm

Adult price: 1530RMB (double occupancy)
Kids 7-18y: 980RMB
Kids under 7y: ask for price (please inform me if seat on shuttle or extra bed required)

SWIC or ABNet members: Get a special price of 1480RMB for adults or 920RMB for kids 7-18y.

Includes: round trip shuttle from Shenzhen, 1 night hotel (double occupancy), all meals Sat lunch – Sun lunch, entrance tickets, butterfly sanctuary and Dinghu park shuttle, travel insurance and guided tour by Greta.

Minimum: 8 people, Maximum, 14.

Payment by cash or WeChat, deposit of 700 per person to hold your spot, please pay in full by April 20.

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Zhaoqing in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

daytrip – shuilian waterfall april 15

 

Announcing an easy day out with your family, to a mountain park covered in waterfalls and fresh green nature!

We’ll be traveling to Shuilian Mountain Park in nearby Dongguan. Dongguan actually has the greatest number of parks of any city in China, even more than Shenzhen. Shuilian is a beautiful park located less than 1.5 hours drive from Shekou, making for a convenient day out with your family!

We’ll have a leisurely departure at 9:00am from Shekou. The main feature of the park is a lake fed by a grand waterfall. After arriving at the park, we’ll take a modest hike part way up the mountain past waterfalls and taking in views of the lake below. Note: This is hiking up steps, first some stone steps and then an uphill boardwalk. However the climb we are doing is not very high (about 150m – half a Nanshan mountain) and not to the top of the mountain, so we can go at an easy pace. At the top of our hike, we’ll sit and eat our picnic lunch next to a pool fed by the waterfall. You may feel as if we’re in a fairy world amongst the streams and shady groves of trees. After lunch we’ll visit the park’s ancient temple, a small stone sanctuary dating back to the Song dynasty. After viewing the temple, we’ll have some free time for exploring more of the mountain or taking a boat out on the lake. There is also a butterfly garden (extra charge) and other paths you can explore on your own. We’ll arrive back in Shekou at 5:30pm.

 

 

Adults: 220RMB
Kids 1.2-1.5m: 180RMB

SWIC or ABNet members receive a discount of 15RMB off each 

includes round trip private shuttle, entrance to the park and ancient temple, and guided tour by Greta. Please bring a packed lunch, water, and any snacks you will want for the bus ride. Boat ride or any other fees not included.

Sunday April 15

Departure: 9:00am
Return: 5:30pm

Private shuttle picks up from Shekou (for other pick ups contact me). Journey to Shuilian about 1.5hours.

Minimum 10, maximum 14

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Shuilian in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

day trip – huizhou a lake and a beach april 5

Discover history and fun in the sun in Shenzhen’s neighbor to our east, Huizhou!

You might think of Huizhou as an incidental suburb of Shenzhen, but actually it has an abundance of natural beauty and even quite a bit of history! In one day away from Shenzhen, you can wander amongst a classical Chinese garden, and sun yourself on the sands of a wide open beach!

First, we’ll visit Huizhou’s West Lake, a sister to Hangzhou’s famous West Lake. This really is a cultural landscape, with islands and bridges with poetic names and scenes that recall Su Dongpo’s quiet verses. Greta will give a short tour here, and then let you have enough free time to wander on your own.

After our time unwinding at West Lake, we’ll head south to the coast to Silver Beach. This is a newly developed area with an expansive beach, hotels, and restaurants. Take your time to stroll the sands, wade in the water, or just soak up the sea air and sun’s rays. Our default plan will be to return to Shenzhen by 6:30pm. (If the group desires, we could stay for sunset and dinner in one of Silver Beach’s seafood restaurants, returning to Shenzhen after dinner. Let me know your preference when booking.)

 

Thursday April 5
7:45 departure, 6:30 return

Price: 245RMB for Adults, 170RMB Kids 1.2m-1.5m, Free for Kids under 1.2m
20RMB off for SWIC or ABNet members.

Includes round trip transportation and tour. Lunch, boat, snacks, other fees are shared or on your own.

Bring your passport (not needed for booking, but just a good idea to always have it when you are outside of Shenzhen)

Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Pack water bottles and snacks for the 2 hour bus ride.

And mosquito repellent! and sunscreen.

Minimum 10, maximum 14

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Huizhou in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)

day trip – foshan april 7

Come on a day trip to see Foshan, the colorful hometown of Cantonese traditions! Enjoy a day out in the spring weather, while you learn about kung fu, lion dancing, ancient ceramics and traditional culture.

Foshan city is part of the Pearl River Delta and the third largest city in Guangdong, with distinctive Cantonese cultural traditions and rich history. Its name means “Buddha mountain.”

On this day trip, first we will visit the Nanfeng Ancient Kiln. Here you can see a ceramics kiln that has been in continuous operation since the Ming dynasty, for over 500 years. There are also many charming sculptural alleyways and shops to find a wonderful ceramic souvenir.

From here, we’ll head to lunch in Lingnan Tiandi, a historic district developed with many restaurants and quaint cafes. Cost of lunch is on your own. I will recommend a few restaurants to choose from, and provide a suggested menu to order from. I will recommend that groups of 3-5 dine together, rather than our entire group together for efficiency at the restaurants.

After lunch, we will explore the Ancestral Temple (祖庙 zu miao), which has been a central part of Foshan people’s religion for centuries. In this well preserved temple, you can also learn about Ip Man and Wang Fei Hong, two major kung fu masters from Foshan. The elements of Cantonese opera are demonstrated at the temple’s own traditional stage, so you can hear the orchestra or singer practicing (few performances each day at select times.) And don’t miss the heart of the Ancestral Temple, the ornate halls of Beidi, the northern emperor god, to whom locals pray to watch over Foshan.

Price: 280RMB per adult, 190RMB for kids between 1.2-1.5m (20RMB off for Shenzhen ABNet or SWIC member), kids under 1.2m get an additional discount – contact me.

Saturday April 7
Depart 7:30AM, return Shenzhen 6:00PM

includes round trip private shuttle, entrance tickets, including kung fu and lion dance show, and tour

Minimum 10, maximum 14

How to Book:

Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)

If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Foshan in your introduction.

or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)