5 Best Daytrips from Hong Kong

Get up close to the spectacular rock formations of Hong Kong Global Geopark with your own private guide. From Victoria Harbour, board your choice of a sailboat or catamaran and cruise the crystal waters past landmarks like the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Observation Wheel. As you continue on along the coast, the city falls away to reveal beautiful beaches and verdant mountain backdrops.

Your seafaring adventure culminates at Hong Kong Global Geopark, a site featuring distinct rock formations and educational exhibits. Admire the volcanic structures of High Island, the strange shapes of East Dam, and the eroded cliffs of Sea Arch.

Just north of the Hong Kong border sits Shenzhen, a modern Chinese city known for its high-rise buildings and shopping destinations. Travel by the Mass Transit Railway to reach the metropolis and then embark on a full day of exploration.

Bask in panoramic views of Shenzhen's skyline from atop the 384-metre-tall Meridian View Center, peruse the arts and crafts at a local market, and break for a tasty lunch at a locally loved restaurant. At the end of your tour, you're given plenty of free time to shop the boutiques at 5-storey Luohu Commercial City Mall before hopping on the train back to Hong Kong.

See a different side of China on a full-day tour to Macau. Centuries of colonial rule shaped the city into a fascinating mix of Portuguese and Chinese influences, which today are glammed up by slick shopping centers and lavish casinos. After a ferry ride from Hong Kong, your guide leads you to the A-Ma Temple, a 15th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site built in honor of sea goddess Mazu. Next, make your way to the Ruins of St. Paul's, a hauntingly beautiful structure dating back to the 16th century.

Refuel with a buffet lunch and then delve into the colonial history of Macau with a stroll to a 1569 Portuguese defensive barrier and the cannon-laced 1626 Mont Forte. For unparalleled views of the city, get whisked to the top of  223-metre-tall Macau Tower. Once back down on the ground, you can try your luck at the Sands Macau, a sprawling casino that rivals that of anything in Las Vegas.

Explore Hong Kong's major neighboring cities with a daytrip to both Shenzhen and Guangzhou. After a ferry ride to Shenzhen, your day begins with admission to the Shenzhen Zoo for the chance to spot tigers, elephants, and a variety of other exotic wildlife. Don't miss an opportunity to get up close with China's national treasure, the adorably furry giant panda.

From here, continue on to Guangzhou for a mouthwatering local lunch before setting off on a tour to see the Buddhist sites of the country's third-largest city. Visit the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, an ancient complex built in 510 AD, and the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall, a site dedicated to the founding father of the Republic of China.