Mysterious Earthen Castles

Hong Kong, an international metropolis, is one of the best starting points for many foreign visitors to China. If you want to take a China tour from Copenhagen, Denmark to Hong Kong, you can take a connecting flight in cities like Helsinki, Moscow, Amsterdam, Paris, Zurich, Dusseldorf, as well as London in Europe. Below are the most recommended connecting flight information we would like to share with you.

You can take the Russian Airlines flight SU2659 1300/1625 from Copenhagen to Moscow, have a layover for 2h55m and then transit to the flight SU212 1920/0930+1 to Hong Kong. The total flying time is 14.5 hours. To transit in Helsinki, you can first take the Finnair flight AY664 1655/1925 from Copenhagen, have a layover for about 4.5 hours, and then board the connecting flight AY069 2350/1430+1 to Hong Kong. This option needs 15.5 hours in total. Or you may take the Scandinavia Airlines flight SK2551 0815/0940 to Amsterdam, have a layover for 3.5 hous there, and then transfer to the flight CX270 1310/0620+1. In this case, you will spend 16 hours for the air travel plus the layover. All three options mentioned above are available every day based on the current flight schedules. For visitors who live in Arhus, Odense and Alborg, you can head to Copenhagen by train to begin your air travel.

On your landing in Hong Kong, our guide will be greeting you at the airport and transfer you to the 3 star BP International Hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to have a good rest. The hotel we booked for you is conveniently located in downtown area, so you can have a walk around and get familiar with the surroundings.

Accommodation: BP International Hotel

After breakfast in the hotel, your guide will pick you up and take you to join the peak tram to the famous Victoria Peak, which is the first highlight of your Hong Kong tour from Denmark. It can feel rather strange when making the ascent in the tram as the buildings alongside appear to lean to one side and the illusion will tempt you to lean back in your seat in order to compensate. The peak is the highest point in Hong Kong, from where you can overlook the beautiful Victoria Harbor and the Kowloon Peninsula.

The afternoon tour will take you to the Repulse Bay, Aberdeen, and Stanley Market. The Repulse Bay is the most famous beach in Hong Kong, which has clean seawater and golden sand. Aberdeen is located at the southern end of Hong Kong Island, where local fishermen still live traditional life. If you are interested, you can board one of the fishing-boats for a short tour in the harbor. The cost is CNY 40 - 50 per person and you need to pay on the site. Stanley Market is one of the most bustling shopping areas in Hong Kong. You will find all kinds of interesting souvenirs, clothes, hats, silk clothes, and antiques. Most of the shopkeepers speak fluent English, so you can also enjoy the fun of bargaining.

Kindly Reminder: Today's lunch and dinner are not included in the itinerary. You will have free time in which to make your own arrangements for meals, but we still suggest that you have a hearty breakfast in the hotel and take some snacks for refreshment during the day.

Meals: Breakfast

This morning is free for you to explore the city. You can walk west along the Austin Road and turn left to Nathan Road to take the subway to Yau Ma Tei station. Leave the station from Exit C and walk to Temple Street, where you can do some shopping and pamper yourself with the local food. Then take the high speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station to the beautiful coastal city, Xiamen. Upon arrival, our guide will pick you up and, on the way to the 3-star Xin An Hotel, give you a brief introduction to the city and attractions you are going to visit. Have a good rest for the remainder of the day.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Xin An Hotel

Today you will take a day trip to the earth towers in Nanjing and Yongding counties. Earth towers, or tu lou as they are called in Chinese, are the traditional residences of the Hakka in Fujian Province. Since the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), the Hakkas have built circular castles with earth and rocks to protect themselves from wild animals and robbers. From a bird's eye view, the castles resemble UFOs. The Tianluo Earth Towers you are going to visit include one square, three circular, and one oval building. The Yuchang Earth Tower was built in 1368, being the oldest and largest in China. Although 600 years have passed since it was built, it stands firmly even though some of its pillars lean in different directions. You will also visit the Zhencheng and Chengqi earth towers in Yongding.

So that you may have a firsthand experience of the earth tower and the culture of Hakka, you will have a chance to stay overnight in an earth tower home tonight. However, you need to be prepared for the limited facilities on offer, as there are no private bathrooms or showers either. Should you not feel inclined to experience a night in an earth tower we can arrange for you to stay in a nearby hostel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Earth Tower Home-stay

Breakfast will be arranged in a Chinese restaurant near the earth tower, so you are advised to take some snacks if you are not used to the local food. In the morning, you will visit the Earth Tower Cultural Village and Nanxi Earth Towers, where you will see various kinds of earth towers, such as triangular, square, hexagonal, and octagonal. Afterwards, you will return to the Xin An Hotel in Xiamen. 
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Xin An Hotel

Visit the Gulangyu Island in the morning. Gulangyu Island is located at the southwest of Xiamen, facing the city across the Lujiang River, and is connected by regular ferries with the city. The island boasts a pleasant environment and beautiful buildings. Gulangyu is also known as the island of piano, as almost every family on the island owns a piano and there is a piano museum there as well. It is also the hometown of many famous musicians. During your visit, you can also have a taste of the local snacks. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Hulishan Battery. In this Qing-Dynasty (1644 - 1911) battery, you will see the world's largest cannon made in Germany and the smallest one made in Portugal.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The morning tour will take you to visit the Jimei Study Village, the Former Residence of Tan Kah Kee and Ao Yuan. Jimei Study Village was founded under the auspices of an overseas Chinese, Mr. Tan Kah Kee in 1913. Now it has  become a famous university including the library, gymnasium, concert hall,  swimming pool and even sailing club. Here you can also visit the place where Mr. Tan Kah Kee once lived and Ao Yuan, a beautiful garden consists of corridor, Jimei Liberation Monument and the tomb of Mr. Tan. The afternoon reamins free at your own leisure in this charming city. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today your China tour from Denmark, North European draws to a close. Our guide will bid farewell to you at the airport for your homebound flight. For flight from Xiamen to Copenhagen, you can take Xiamen Airlines MF811 1020/1620 (12 hours), stop over in Amsterdam for 2 hours and 40 minutes, and then connect to the Royal Dutch Airlines KL1135 1900/2020 (1h20m) to arrive in Copenhagen. The total trip is around 16 hours. Aslo, there are many other flight schedules bewteen these two cities for your choice. We wish you a smooth trip home and hope to meet you on your next visit to China in the future!

Meals: Breakfast