Quayside lanes lazing in the noonday sun, the only sounds are a sizzling wok behind a speckless doorway. On this new trip from China Tea Leaves, we’ll skip town to find brilliant-colored villages and an easy-going beach town in our neighbor Huizhou.
To the east of Shenzhen, a taste of Minnan culture seeps in the the local culture from nearby Fujian province. Here temples celebrate stories unique to this region, under sweeping cornices decorated in the distinctive multi-colored mosaic tiles you find in Xiamen and Fuzhou. Lanes are further spotted with clan houses and temples in crimson and turquoise green; everyone’s door is swept neat as a pin and festooned in orange and red couplets.
After our village exploration, we’ll head to one of Huizhou’s best coasts on Xunliao Bay, with powdery sand, then enjoy some local Hakka and barbecue dishes.
This may become your go-to escape for a holiday in the sun.
Price: 390RMB per adult, 240 per kid 1.2-1.5m, 190 under 1.2m and needs a seat. includes private transportation, bbq dinner and guide. Please pack lunch and snacks for lunch. Ask about discounted partner price – available for ABNet members or SWIC members
Group: 8-14 max
Saturday, November 2 8:00 Depart Shenzhen 10:00 Arrive Huizhou Walking tour, exploration, Picnic lunch in villages (please pack lunch yourself) Shuttle to beach, short walking tour in town, then free time on the beach Food court barbecue dinner (included) 19:00 Depart Huizhou ~21:30 Arrive Shenzhen
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)
One of the most beautiful villages in China, hiking, rice terraces, minority culture…all on a two day trip from Shenzhen? Yes, and you can come join an easy escape to the smoke ringed mountains of Guizhou province.
We will be whisked away by high speed train to southeast Guizhou province, known as Qiandongnan, an autonomous region of the Miao and Dong minorities. This trip will focus on the area of Zhaoxing Dong Stockaded Village (肇兴侗寨), often mentioned as one of the most beautiful villages in all of China.
The image of a Dong village amid the hills appears as a gateway to another world, with tiered drum towers and ornate covered bridges peeking out from a tangle of wooden houses. The Dong build these elaborate wooden towers as meeting houses and communal singing halls. The “Wind and Rain” bridges are thoughtfully built throughout the town and countryside as places to rest and socialize while journeying from one place to another. Zhaoxing has one of the best collections of both types of these buildings, and the town is a beautiful sight in the misty dawn or glowing into the night.
The Dong are also known for their colorful embroidered dress, and for their grand singing tradition. They have passed down folk songs using layered a cappella harmonies.
You will be amazed at the hidden world we can discover within just a few hours from Shenzhen.
The basic plan:
Saturday
High speed train from Shenzhen North to Guizhou, with a transfer in Guangzhou Shuttle to Zhaoxing Dong Village Tour the village, with its many Wind-and-Rain bridges and Drum towers, unique features of Dong villages. Visit the Dong Minority Culture Center and Weaving and Embroidery Museum Dinner Free time
Sunday
Breakfast and Dong Grand Song performance Shuttle to Tang’an Stockaded Village, another Dong village, surrounded by rice terraces Hike from Tang’an to Zhaoxing Return to Shenzhen by high speed train with transfer in Guangzhou
Price: Adult (double occupancy) 1680RMB Child (1.2-1.5m, share with 1 or 2 adults) 980RMB SWIC or ABNet members get 10% off
Dates: November 23-24 Depart from Shenzhen North Saturday 7:05am, return Shenzhen 20:58pm
Group size: 4-10
Includes high speed train tickets, hotel (double occupancy), village entrance and shuttle tickets, meals, travel insurance, and guide.
How to Book:
Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)
If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Guizhou in your introduction.
or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)
This trip will be offered both Saturday November 9th and Monday November 18th.
Come with China Tea Leaves to Kaiping (开平), for a one day getaway to a place with stunning architecture and pleasant villages, not far from Shenzhen. Kaiping is part of the five counties known as the top hometown of overseas Chinese. One in ten people with Chinese heritage living overseas have roots from this region.
It is also the hometown of diaolou (碉楼), a unique building type that acted as a fortress, watchtower, and clan house. Whereas palace and courtyard architecture throughout China expands out as it grows, the diaolou goes up. Thousands of diaolou are sprinkled throughout Kaiping’s districts, often rising seven, eight, or nine stories from low-lying villages. Those that emigrated sent back money they earned abroad, and sometimes brought back Western designs and furnishings adding to the distinction of their diaolou. This building phenomenon put Kaiping on the map as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and makes it a must-see in Guangdong province today.
This is a special offer to see these UNESCO recognized sites in just a one day trip from Shenzhen. Our private shuttle will take us from Shenzhen to Kaiping, taking about three hours.
First we’ll visit the Zili village (自力村). Several diaolou are set amongst the rice paddies, including two maintaining their original furnishings. Go inside and climb to the top for classic views of your surroundings. From Zili village, we will head to Li Garden (立园). Along the way we’ll see village life, women farming the rice paddies, and other diaolou dotting the greenway. Li Yuan is a masterpiece of Qing dynasty design, but it also incorporates western and middle eastern elements into its myriad gardens.
After a picnic lunch, we’ll continue through the rice fields, which with all the watchtowers and arcades might be starting to look like someplace between King’s Landing and Winterfell. Finally we’ll visit Jinjiangli (锦江里) village and its fine diaolou cluster. Their turrets, arches and colorful frescoes will make you feel like you’ve been transported to medieval Italy. On our way out of town we’ll make a stop by Chikan (赤坎) town, whose many western buildings have been used as movie sets for historic Chinese films. The town is preparing for a massive renovation but we can take our chances to see backstage before the refurbishing starts. We will drive back in the evening after an enchanting day in the castles of Kaiping.
Without traveling far from Shenzhen, you can see a world of architecture and revive yourself in the slower-paced villages of Guangdong province.
Saturday, November 9, or Monday, November 18: Approximately 7:00 am to 8:30 pm
Price: Adult: 545RMB, 515RMB SWIC or ABNet member. Child 1.2-1.5m: 295RMB, 275RMB SWIC or ABNet member.
Price includes: Private shuttle from Shenzhen and around Kaiping, entrance tickets, and full service guide by Greta of China Tea Leaves. Does not include lunch. Dining options are very limited around the villages, so please pack a picnic lunch.
Minimum 7 people, 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 Kaiping in your introduction.
or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)
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.
Price: 550RMB for adults, 280 for kids 525RMB discounted partner price – available for ABNet members or SWIC members includes round trip round trip ferry to Macau, tour, and glass of wine for adults Ferry to Macau about 1 hour. Minimum 5.
I will guide the group to restaurants in Macau, cost of lunch on your own.
Please note: This tour as priced and programmed starts in Shenzhen, journeys to Macau, and returns to Shenzhen. This involves exiting Mainland China to Macau, then returning to Mainland China on the same day. Please ensure that you can bring your original passport on that day, and that you have enough entries on your China visa to allow re-entry into Shenzhen.
Monday, November 4 8:00am Ferry from Shekou Ferry Terminal ~9:00am Arrive Macau Ferry Terminal Walking tour, lunch, free time Wine bar stop 16:00 Ferry from Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (if you prefer a later ferry so you can stay on in Macau, let me know at time of booking) ~17:00 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)
This trip is a variation on our classic Foshan trip, to discover the natural side of this classic Guangdong city and delve more into the center of Shiwan ceramics.
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.” Our first stop will be Xiqiao mountain, an important sacred mountain in the Lingnan area.
The distinctive green hills of Xiqiao were formed by volcanic activity in ancient Foshan, and its freshness presides over this southwest side of Foshan. The Baofeng Temple here has a history of 600 years, and its site today is where the monumental figure of Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy, was built in 1998. The 77 meter tall statue is one of the tallest figures of Guanyin in the world.
After visiting the temple, we will enjoy a lunch in a vegetarian restaurant at the rear of the temple.
After lunch, 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. The remainder of our time of the day will be free for you to explore the many charming sculptural alleyways and shops to find a wonderful ceramic souvenir.
Price: 390RMB per adult, (30 off for SWIC or ABNet members), contact me for kids price.
Saturday November 16 Depart 7:30AM, return Shenzhen approximately 6:00PM
2 Pick ups by private bus will be arranged around Shenzhen, to be convenient to public transportation, for example Chegongmiao metro and Sea World metro.
includes round trip private shuttle, entrance tickets, including Xiqiao Mountain and Nanfeng Ancient Kiln, shuttle bus at Xiqiao Mountain, and tour
Minimum 8 to keep this price. Ask me for details.
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)
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.
Price: 550RMB for adults, 280 for kids 525RMB discounted partner price – available for ABNet members or SWIC members includes round trip round trip ferry to Macau, tour, and glass of wine for adults Ferry to Macau about 1 hour. Minimum 5.
I will guide the group to restaurants in Macau, cost of lunch on your own.
Monday, October 28 8:00am Ferry from Shekou Ferry Terminal ~9:00am Arrive Macau Ferry Terminal Walking tour, lunch, free time Wine bar stop 17:00 Ferry from Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (if you prefer a later ferry so you can stay on in Macau, let me know at time of booking) ~18:00 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)
小桥流水人家 To make your home by a small bridge and flowing water.
These words describe the idyllic scenery of Chinese villages, which people come from across continents to see, often seeking out the tourist canal towns around Shanghai. But we have such a quaint village right in our backyard around the Pearl River Delta. The irrigated towns and paddies of Guangzhou and Foshan are a prime but overlooked place to find a classic scene of Chinese life.
On this day trip, we’ll head to the outer villages of Shunde district, part of Foshan just to the west of Guangzhou.
In the water town of Fengjian, you can wander the shaded streets of this village, catching glimpses of the local people’s relaxed life. Fishermen repair a net, two neighbors play chess along the river banks.
Shunde is also home to some of the most famous dishes of Cantonese cuisine, especially the popular desserts double skinned milk and ginger milk. We can taste these plus other snacks and sweets while lounging near the flowing river.
You can also take your family for a paddle in a traditional wooden boat in a loop around the canals. (Price not included in tour: small boat 150 per boat/up to 5 people, large boat 250 per boat/up to 10 people, pay directly to boatmen on the day)
This is the original Watertown group tour from Shenzhen. Come with China Tea Leaves to see some things that you can only see with us, and enjoy our relaxed, small group experience.
Price: 330RMB per adult, 235RMB 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.
Sunday, October 27 Depart 8:00AM, return Shenzhen 6:00PM
Default pickup in Shekou. Contact me if you are outside of Shekou for other pickup options.
includes round trip private shuttle, access to two water towns, lunch and Cantonese dessert, and tour
Minimum 8
How to Book:
Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)
If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Watertown in your introduction. 加我微信的时候，请备注Trips或Watertown；如果没有，我可能不加你。
or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)
Let’s get out for a half day exploration of Shenzhen’s botanical treasures and a special temple!
On Saturday October 26 we will go together to the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (仙湖植物园). The lush settings of the large park are the green lungs and heart of Shenzhen, sitting at the foot of Wutong Mountain, Shenzhen’s tallest peak.
The Botanical Garden features 1,349 acres of wild and landscaped tropical vegetation, all around the namesake Fairy Lake, or Lake of the Immortals. Stately trees line the winding roads wrapping the lake, over which looks the grand Hongfa Temple.
The Hongfa Temple was founded and began construction in 1983 by abbot Ben Huan. This Buddhist temple was the first new temple to be built in China after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Its courtyards ascend the hill in a series of bright tile roofs. Visitors light incense and bow before the grand Mahavira Hall. A new phase of the temple has recently been opened to the west side, with an elegant pagoda rising up in the mist surrounding Wutong Mountain.
After visiting the temple, we will explore some of the best botanical areas of the garden. Hundreds of miniature bougainvillea and evergreens make up the bonsai garden, a hothouse is filled with diverse cacti and succulents, and a pine garden evokes feelings of Japan with an arcing red bridge punctuating the framed view.
A half day out allows you to enjoy the greatness of nature in the subtropics of Shenzhen.
Saturday October 26 9:30 Meet Huangbeiling metro Bus to Fairy Lake Botanical Garden 10:30-11:00 Visit Hongfa Temple 11:00-13:00 Visit Botanical areas 13:00 Finish, continue to visit the gardens or lunch on your own
Price: 58RMB per person, includes garden entrance ticket, shuttle bus inside the park, bus from Huangbeiling, and a bottle of water
How to Book:
Contact Greta on WeChat (Scan QR code)
If adding me for the first time, be sure to mention Trips or Fairy Lake in your introduction.
or contact me by email (chinatealeaves @ yahoo.com)
The clear October sun is still shining, so let’s get ourselves to the seaside, for some history and a bit of fun.
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.
We’ll start the day with a tour of the grand Dongshan Temple, a renovated Buddhist temple near the Dapeng Fortress. Wander the ornate courtyards, discovering the halls of Guanyin, the eighteen arhats, and perhaps even the place where the legendary mythical bird or Roc, or “Peng,” landed to give Dapeng its name.
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. Western food is available for lunch in the cafes of Jiaochangwei.
Delve into local history while enjoying the sea air in Dapeng and Jiaochangwei.
Thursday October 24 Adults: 200RMB Kids 1.2-1.5m: 150RMB
includes round trip private shuttle, guide of temple, fortress, and beachside walk by Greta. Lunch additional.
SWIC or ABNet members receive a discount of 20RMB off each
Departure: 8:00am Return: 5:00pm will be confirmed based on guest needs
Private shuttle picks up from Shekou (for other pick ups contact me). Journey to Dapeng about 1.5 hours.
Minimum 6
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)
Quayside lanes too hot in the noonday sun, the only sounds are a sizzling wok behind a speckless doorway. On this new trip from China Tea Leaves, we’ll skip town to find brilliant-colored villages and an easy-going beach town in our neighbor Huizhou.
To the east of Shenzhen, a taste of Minnan culture seeps in the the local culture from nearby Fujian province. Here temples celebrate stories unique to this region, under sweeping cornices decorated in the distinctive multi-colored mosaic tiles you find in Xiamen and Fuzhou. Lanes are further spotted with clan houses and temples in crimson and turquoise green; everyone’s door is swept neat as a pin and festooned in orange and red couplets.
After our village exploration, we’ll head to one of Huizhou’s best coasts on Xunliao Bay, with powdery fine sand, then enjoy some local Hakka and barbecue dishes.
This may become your go-to escape for a holiday in the sun.
Price: 390RMB per adult, 240 per kid 1.2-1.5m, 190 under 1.2m and needs a seat. includes private transportation, bbq dinner and guide. Please pack lunch and snacks for lunch. Ask about discounted partner price – available for ABNet members or SWIC members
Group: 8-14 max
Saturday, October 19 8:00 Depart Shenzhen 10:00 Arrive Huizhou Walking tour, exploration, Picnic lunch in villages (please pack lunch yourself) Shuttle to beach, short walking tour in town, then free time on the beach Food court barbecue dinner (included) 19:00 Depart Huizhou ~21:30 Arrive Shenzhen
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)
