Queensland Chemists Golf Club
China 2009

 

Departs 16 May 2009

 

Proudly presented by Golf Holidays International

 

China- A Mystical Land of Contrasts

 
 

China a country of rapid motion. To be among the Chinese people is to feel the energy of change, it should be remembered however, that China is a 5000 year old civilisation that differs greatly to the ways of the western world in areas such as customs, language, food & culture. Be prepared to experience the spectacular architecture. Luxury accommodation & exquisite cuisine.

Hong Kong
One of the most exciting & modern cities in the world, a patchwork of east meets west. A unique & exciting tourist destination with fabulous shopping, wonderful dining, fascinating sight seeing - Hong Kong offers it all.

Macau
The oldest European settlement in China was established by the Portuguese between 1554 - 1557 and has been governed by them until the handover in 1999. Located at the mouth of the Perl River Delta, Macau is one of the most dynamic regions of China.

Shenzhen - Mission Hills

Shenzhen is located in the very south of Guangdong Province. Overlooking Hong Kong to the south and bordering Kowloon, this area is commonly referred to as Hong Kong’s “backyard”. There are 12 golf courses designed by 12 renowned golf legends. Two of the courses were designed by Jack Nickelous.

This would have to be the most diverse golfing environment in the world.

 

Stone Forest

The best of the world famous Stone Forests (Shilin) of Kunming are in Lunan County, 90km south of Kunming. This typical karsts physiognomy takes the form of a forest of stone pillars and boulders. It is as if the countless stone shapes have sprung from the ground, assuming different shapes as if vying to surpass each other in grandeur and sublime beauty. Among the sights in the Stone Forest are Lion Arbor, Sword Peak Pond, Lotus Peak, Moon Lake, Jade Lake, and Dadie Waterfall.

 

Golden Temple

The most interesting attractions in the Golden Temple Park (Jindian Gongyuan) are the Taihe Palace (Taihegong) and the Golden Temple (Jindian). Taihe Temple is the most important and active Taoist temple in Yunnan. The Ming Dynasty Golden Temple is the most unique and well known structure in the park. It, like Taihe Temple, is a Taoist temple. However, the special thing about Jindian is the architecture. The walls, sixteen pillars, rafters, roof tiles, altar, statues, altar-hanging, the horizontal inscribed board, the table and even the banner on the right in front of the temple are all made from bronze.

 

Terra Cotta Warriors Museum - Spectacular

The highlight of your stay in Xian is the visit to the underground vaults where the famed Terra Cotta Warriors were discovered. In 1974, near Xi’an in central China, villagers chanced upon what has become one of the world’s most astonishing archaeological findings – an 8,000 man army in battle-ready formation, each warrior a life-size figure in pottery made over 2,200 years ago. The warriors were found when a group of peasants digging a well accidentally made one of the century’s greatest archaeological discoveries of the Twentieth Century. What they stumbled upon were thousands of life-size terra-cotta warriors who had been standing guard by the tomb of the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi for over 2,000 years. A permanent building protects the army figures and tourists from most of the elements, and visitors are able to walk around the periphery of the once-buried relics.

 

The Great Mosque

In Xian The Great Mosque is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved

Islamic mosques in China and its location is northwest of the Drum Tower (Gu

Lou) on Huajue Lane.

 

Tang Dynasty Dinner Show

Of the 13 dynasties that established their Capital in Xian (also known as Chang

An), the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) is distinguished as the most progressive and prosperous era in the history of China. You will experience the music and dance of this period symbolizing the splendor and glory of the Chinese civilization. In this authentic Tang Cultural performance, one can sense the integration of the folk customs that are predominant of this great ancient culture.

 

Chinese Lunch at Bai Family Restaurant

Daizhaimen Restaurant of Family Bai lies in the northwest of Beijing, originally part of the imperial route to the famous Summer Palace. It represents the top level of imperial food including Palace Dish and Guanfu Dish. The restaurant finds itself in the tranquil Garden of Prince Li of the Qing Dynasty. Inside the garden, there are all kinds of ancient styled sceneries such as pavilions, terraces, verandas, winding paths, ambulatories, strange stones, piling of rockeries. You can spot a new scene with each step forward as if you were in a wonderland. Here our taste buds will be tantalized with many different and exotic foods.

 

Summer Palace with boat riding on Kunming Lake

One of the finest landmarks in Beijing. On the way to the Summer Palace, our guide will talk about the history and brief introduction of this garden. The site has long been a royal garden. The lovely Kunming Lake occupies three quarters of the area. The group will enjoy a boat ride on the lake (weather permitting) and walk back along the Long Corridor. Somewhat similar in style to the covered bridge in Lucerne, this 728-meter long open sided corridor is decorated with 8,000 scenes including many from the emperor’s travels around the country. As cameras were not available, the emperor would have artists paint scenes that caught his eye and then have them repainted on the corridor’s beams and sides.

 

Morning visit Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City

Tian’anmen Square is at the very center of Beijing city and the biggest city square in the world, covering 44 hectare. Bounded to the north by Tian’anmen

Gate (the Rostrum), to the west by the Great Hall of the People, to the east by the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History, and to the south by the imposing Qianmen Gate, it is the largest public square in the world. The most dominating feature of the Rostrum is Mao’s portrait; a required backdrop for any photo visitors may take of themselves. Crossing the Changan Avenue and directly behind the Rostrum is the Forbidden City, so called because it was off limits to commoners for 500 years. Commoners caught in the palace during this period were executed.

 

Afternoon Hutong Rickshaw Tour with tea ceremony at Drum Tower

In Hutong area, in which Beijingers have lived for hundreds of years, the visitors will be transported on a pedi-cab (three-wheeled rickshaw bicycle) to visit a Chinese home in the Hutong. The Hutong’s still account for about onequarter of all housing in Beijing. After this interactive cultural experience the visitors will enter a local home and enjoying lunch the Beijing way. The homes hold between 6 and 10 people and a guide will accompany each group as few of the family members speak any language apart from Mandarin and “Beijing Hua” (Beijing speak). They do communicate with gestures, laughter and often proudly show photos of family members and friends around. They are also very happy to talk about their lives and experience through the guides, which makes it a great experience for visitors.

 

New Silk Market - Beijing

Shopping at Beijing’s famed Silk Market, a “must” on the agenda of most foreign travellers. Bargaining for clothes, shoes, and other necessities here is part of the fun of a visit to China’s capital city. The new market has fiveaboveground shopping floors and three underground. A place for our guests to take their respective partners!!!!

 

Dinner at private China Club with Peking Opera & Chinese traditional Musicians

 

China Club, .t for an Emperor: It’s dif.cult to experience “Old China” in Beijing. Other than historical landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, there isn’t much left to give you a true sense of what China used to be like. But with the opening of the exclusive China Club Beijing, a private member’s club, a privileged few can now step back in time to experience what China was like during the Qing Dynasty more than 400 years ago. The Peking Opera and Chinese Traditional Musicians is an experience not to be missed. It truly is like stepping back in time.

 

Shanghai Silport Golf Club

Is designed by Bob Martin, a member of Nicklaus Group. Aside from the well balance course design, SSGC’s classic elegance is derived from being surrounded in the beautiful scenery, challenging and undulating greens. In the course are 36 Ming and Qing dynasty sculptures that SSGC chairman, Mr. Beta Soong collected from all over the world over a span of thirty years. A unique sight at SSGC, they act as the course guardian figures, bringing good fortune to its players.