First Time in China? Why Beijing + Xi'an Is the Right Starting Point

The most common question we get from New Zealand travellers planning their first China trip: *where should I go?*

The honest answer, almost every time, is Beijing and Xi'an.

Not Beijing and Shanghai. Not a grand sweep of five cities. Not the Yangtze River cruise. For a first visit — particularly if you have 10 days — Beijing combined with Xi'an gives you the most rewarding experience with the least logistical friction.

Here's why we keep recommending this combination, and what makes it work so well for Kiwi travellers.

The Case for Beijing + Xi'an as a First China Trip

You get the two most historically significant cities in China.

Beijing is imperial China — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven. Five centuries of Ming and Qing Dynasty power concentrated in one city. It is, by most measures, the most impressive collection of ancient monuments in the world still functioning in their original urban setting.

Xi'an is older and in some ways even more astonishing. It was the capital of China under the first unified empire (Qin Dynasty, 221 BC) and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty golden age (618–907 AD). The Terracotta Warriors are the most obvious draw, but the city walls, the Muslim Quarter, and the Shaanxi History Museum each justify the visit independently.

The route is simple and stress-free.

Beijing to Xi'an is a direct high-speed train — no internal flights, no airport transfers, no connection anxiety. You board at Beijing South, the train reaches up to 300km/h across the North China Plain, and you arrive at Xi'an North approximately four hours later. The guide meets you at the station. It is genuinely one of the smoothest inter-city transitions in the world.

It's the right scope for 10 days.

A first China trip that tries to cover Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an in 10 days ends up rushed and exhausting. Two cities done properly — with time to absorb them, to walk without a schedule, to eat without rushing — is a far better experience than three cities done at pace.

The Objections We Hear — Answered

"But I want to see Shanghai."

Shanghai is an excellent China trip in its own right — but it's a very different experience from Beijing and Xi'an. Shanghai is modern, coastal, cosmopolitan. Beijing and Xi'an are ancient, landlocked, imperial. If you try to combine all three in one 10-day trip, you end up with 2–3 days in each city, which is genuinely not enough for any of them.

Our recommendation: do Beijing and Xi'an first. Return for Shanghai and the Jiangnan water towns later.

"Is China difficult to navigate independently?"

It depends what you mean. The high-speed rail system is genuinely excellent and the major tourist sites are well-signposted. But for a first visit, the language barrier is real, the distances are large, and the difference between a good guide and no guide is the difference between understanding what you're seeing and just looking at it.

For most first-time visitors from New Zealand, a guided tour for at least the first China trip is the right call — not because China is dangerous, but because a knowledgeable guide turns a confusing experience into a coherent one.

"Is China safe for New Zealand travellers?"

Yes. China has very low rates of petty crime, the tourist infrastructure in Beijing and Xi'an is well-developed, and the food safety standards in 4-star hotels and reputable restaurants are reliable. The main practical challenges are pollution (Beijing has improved significantly in recent years), crowds at major sites (manageable with early starts), and the language barrier (manageable with a guide).

The October Factor

If you're flexible on timing, October is the best month for northern China. The summer heat and humidity have passed, the skies are clearer after the monsoon season, and the temperature (10–20°C in October) is ideal for walking. The trees around the Summer Palace and hutong neighbourhoods turn golden, and the Great Wall in autumn light is genuinely stunning.

CTS Tours' October 2026 departure for this itinerary leaves from Auckland on 15 October — timed specifically for the best conditions in both cities.

Visa for New Zealand Travellers

Many New Zealand passport holders currently qualify for China's visa-free entry policy for short leisure visits (typically up to 15 days). This makes a 10-day trip accessible without the lead time of a full visa application. Confirm the current requirements with CTS or the Chinese Embassy before booking, as policies are subject to change.

What to Book

CTS Tours offers A Tale of Two Cities — 10 days, Beijing + Xi'an, guided throughout, from NZD $3,480 per person (twin share). Includes international airfares from Auckland, 4-star hotels, high-speed train, entrance fees, and English-speaking guide.

View tour details and departure dates →