Activities in China
-
FEATURED
Lantau Island and Giant Buddha Day Trip from Hong Kong
8 hours (Departs Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
by Viator
lt;pgt;Take a day trip to Lantau Island, Hong Kong's largest island, and discover pristine beaches, traditional fishing villages, lush valleys, soaring…Not LP reviewed
from USD$120.07 - All activities
-
China Cycle Tours
Joint Sūzhōu–Shànghǎi cycling group with tours of both cities as well as the surrounding countryside. Family friendly.
reviewed
-
Terracotta Warriors Essential Full Day Tour from Xi'an
9 hours (Departs Xian, China)
by Viator
lt;pgt;Xi'an is home to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors Army and Horses, one of the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. This…Not LP reviewed
from USD$94.99 -
A
Mandarin House
With four branches around town, new language classes start each week. Courses at all levels, with an average of four to six students per class.
reviewed
-
B
Ngong Ping 360
Bringing the masses in ever greater numbers to Po Lin is the 5.7km Ngong Ping 360, a cable car linking Ngong Ping with the centre of Tung Chung (downhill and to the north).
The ride is well worth taking, offering spectacular views over the airport as it transports you from the high-rise apartments of Tung Chung to the more rural landscapes of Lantau. The lower station is just opposite the Tung Chung MTR station. Less appealing is the upper station, which empties onto the 1.5-hectare Ngong Ping Village just west of the monastery complex. A blatant attempt to commercialise the whole experience, it includes several themed attractions, including two Disney-fied regurgitations…
reviewed
-
Bike Asia
Bike Asia arranges outings from half-day expeditions to three-day adventures. Two- to four-week cycling expeditions are also arranged through China, Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia, Tibet and Nepal. Bike Asia also hires decent and well-maintained mountain bikes.
reviewed
-
Omeida Chinese Academy
Has reader-recommended Chinese-language classes. It offers two-week classes (10 hours per week) for Y1000 and also hires English teachers.
reviewed
-
West Lake Boat Trips
Wooden cruise boats ( 游船; yóu chuán; 1½hr; adult/child incl entry to Three Pools Y45/22.5; 7am-4.45pm) shuttle every 20 minutes from a number of points around West Lake (including Gushan Island, Yue Fei Temple, Red Carp Pond and the south end of Hubin Lu) to the Mid-Lake Pavilion ( 湖心亭; Húxīn Tíng) and Xiaoying Island ( 小瀛洲; Xiǎoyíng Zhōu), which has a fine central pavilion and ‘nine-turn’ causeway. From the island you can look over at the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon (Sāntán Yìnyuè), a string of three small towers in the water, each of which has five holes that release shafts of candlelight on the night of the Mooncake Festival in…
reviewed
-
C
Shāmiàn Traditional Chinese Medical Centre
To the southwest of the city is the leafy oasis of Shamian Island. It was acquired as a foreign concession in 1859 after the two Opium Wars and is now a peaceful respite from the city. Shamian Dajie, the main boulevard, is a gentle stretch of gardens, trees, and old men playing Chinese checkers. Travellers recommend Shamian Traditional Chinese Medical Centre, at the western end of the island, for its massage (Y68 per hour).
reviewed
-
Spring City Golf & Lake Resort
The Spring City Golf & Lake Resort, on the northeastern shore of Lake Yangzong, is arguably China's best golf course (can't wait to get furious letters from China's East Coast on that claim). Golf media absolutely gush over some of the signature holes. It features one championship 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus and another designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, as well as a five-star resort and water-sports centre.
reviewed
-
D
Flight Experience
Wanna know what it was like landing at Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak airport, when pilots had to squeeze between the washing lines of Kowloon’s tenement blocks before chucking a hard right for the final approach? Then trying flying a virtual Boeing 737 on the route or hundreds of others with Flight Experience. Sweaty palms guaranteed.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Splash Hong Kong
Hong Kong has some surprisingly worthwhile diving spots, particularly in the far northeast, and there is certainly no shortage of courses. One of the best sources of information for courses and excursions is Sai Kung–based Splash Hong Kong.
reviewed
-
Karst Café
Karst Café has one- to 10-day climbing excursions. Climbing in Yángshuò has mushroomed in popularity over the past decade. Autumn is the best season for clambering up the karst towers.
reviewed
-
Ocean Spring
For a true hot-spring experience, the Ocean Spring resort in Dǒumén ( 斗门 ) has a huge oceanside open-air pool and rooms with their own hot-spring tubs.
reviewed
-
Hangzhou Night Tour: Dinner and 'Impression West Lake' Show
3 hours (Departs Hangzhou, China)
by Viator
Spend a night on the town in Hangzhou with dinner and a show! After a day of sightseeing, experience the city’s vibrant nighttime recreational activities.…Not LP reviewed
from USD$97.99 -
Small-Group Yangshuo Rock-Climbing Adventure
4 hours (Departs Yangshuo, China)
by Viator
Ready for your next adventure? Whether you’re an expert mountaineer or a beginner climber, you will have an experience of a lifetime on this rock-climbing…Not LP reviewed
from USD$39.99 -
Coloane Trail
Coloane’s and Macau’s longest trail, the 8100m Coloane Trail (Trilho de Coloane), begins in the mid-section of Estrada do Alto de Coloane (bus 21A, stop Estrata Do Campo, enter Estrata Militar across the road, after 600m, turn right) and winds around the island. You can make a detour to Alto de Coloane (170m) to see the A-Ma Statue.
The shorter Northeast Coloane Trail (Trilho Nordeste de Coloane), near Ká Hó, runs for about 3km. Other trails that offer good hiking include the 1.5km-long Altinho de Ká Hó Trail and the 1.5km-long Hác Sá Reservoir Circuit (Circuito da Barragem de Hác Sá), which both loop around the reservoir to the northwest of Hác Sá beach.
reviewed
-
Shanghai Sideways
Unusual motorcycle-sidecar tours of the city.
reviewed
-
Cycling
There's no shortage of places to rent bikes (from Y15 per day), but for the best equipment and strong advice on possible trips, try Bike Asia, above Bar 98. Bikes go for Y50 per day (deposit Y350), including safety helmet and map. English-speaking guides (from Y300) are available.
reviewed
-
Western Steps
The 15km western steps route has some stellar scenery, but it's twice as long and strenuous as the eastern steps, and much easier to enjoy if you're clambering down rather than gasping your way up. If you take the cable car up, just do this in reverse.
The western steps descent begins at the Flying Rock (飞来石; Fēilái Shí), a boulder perched on an outcrop half an hour from Běihǎi Hotel, and goes over Bright Summit Peak (光明顶; Guāngmíng Dǐng; 1841m). Look out from Bright Summit Peak to Áoyú Peak (鳌鱼峰; Áoyú Fēng; 1780m): you'll notice that it looks like two turtles!
South of Áoyú Peak en route to Lotus Flower Peak, the descent funnels you down…
reviewed
-
Eastern Steps
A medium-fast climb of the 7.5km eastern steps from Yúngǔ Station (890m) to White Goose Ridge (白鹅峰; Bái'é Fēng; 1770m) can be done in 2½ hours. The route is pleasant, but lacks the awesome geological scenery of the western steps. In spring wild azalea and weigela add gorgeous splashes of colour to the wooded slopes of the mountain.
Much of the climb is comfortably shaded and although it can be tiring, it's a doddle compared with the western steps. Slow-moving porters use the eastern steps for ferrying up their massive, swaying loads of food, drink and building materials, so considerable traffic plies the route. While clambering up, note the more ancient flight…
reviewed
Advertisement
-
E
St Stephen’s Beach & Military Cemetery
A great little tucked away spot, St Stephen’s Beach, with a cafe, showers and changing rooms, is south of the village. In summer you can hire windsurfing boards and kayaks from the water-sports centre. To reach the beach, walk south along Wong Ma Kok Rd. Turn west (ie right) when you get to a small road (Wong Ma Kok Path) leading down to a jetty.
At the end of the road, turn south and walk past the boathouse to the beach. Bus 14 or 6A will take you close to the intersection with the small road.
Well worth a look is Stanley Military Cemetery for armed forces personnel and their families. The oldest graves date back to 1843 and are an intriguing document of the…
reviewed
-
F
Hong Kong Dolphinwatch
Between 100 and 200 misnamed Chinese white dolphins (Sousa chinensis) – they are actually bubble-gum pink – inhabit the coastal waters around Hong Kong, finding the brackish waters of the Pearl River estuary to be the perfect habitat. Unfortunately these glorious mammals, which are also called Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, are being threatened by environmental pollution, and their numbers are dwindling.Hong Kong Dolphinwatch was founded in 1995 to raise awareness of these wonderful creatures and promote responsible ecotourism. It offers 2½-hour cruises to see the pink dolphins in their natural habitat every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday year-round. Guides assemble in the…
reviewed
-
G
AJ Hackett
New Zealand–based AJ Hackett organises all kinds of adventure climbs up and around the Macau Tower.
reviewed
-
H
Long Coast Seasports
Cheung Sha (Long Sand), at over 3km Hong Kong’s longest beach, is divided into ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ sections; a trail over a hillock links the two. Upper Cheung Sha, with occasional good surf, is the prettier and longer stretch and boasts a modern complex with changing rooms, toilets, showers and a snack bar. Lower Cheung Sha village has a beachfront restaurant, Stoep Restaurant. Long Coast Seasports is a water-sports centre offering windsurfing, sea kayaking and wakeboarding. Prices vary widely, but basic windsurfing costs from $100/300/500 for an hour/half-day/day, while a single kayak rents for $60/180 for an hour/half-day. Beach umbrellas are also available…
reviewed
-
I
Suzhou Creek Boat Tours
New boat tours along Suzhou Creek, which has benefited from a decade-long clean-up project, were scheduled to begin service in April 2010. Tours are expected to take in several new museums, including the Matchbox Museum (2521 West Guangfu Rd; 光复西路 2521 号 ), the Coin Museum (17 West Guangfu Rd, inside the Shanghai Mint; 光复西路 17 号上海造币厂内 ) and the Silk Museum (289 Aomen Rd; 澳门路 289 号; admission free), actually tours of a silk factory. Boats will leave from W Guangfu Rd in western Jìng’ān, running for a 10km stretch along Suzhou Creek to the M50 art galleries (it will be easiest to find more information about the tours at M50). There are plans…
reviewed