“CTS made our 15-day China trip effortless. Beijing to Shanghai — every transfer, every meal, sorted by Kiwi-friendly people.”
Margaret & David Anderson
Auckland
Current departure information
Next Departure: 3 November 2026
From NZD $4,080 per person. Contact us to confirm availability before booking.
Fifteen days from Beijing's Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Great Wall and hutongs, by high-speed train to Xi'an's Terracotta Army, then by air to Hangzhou via Puyuan's fashion ancient town, West Lake and Longjing tea, finishing in Shanghai before your return via Beijing.
Next Departure
3 Nov 2026
Returns 17 November 2026
All departure dates
Dates refer to scheduled group departures — confirm at booking.
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · speak to a real person, no form needed
Scheduled small-group departures
3 November 2026 · 11 March 2027 · 13 May 2027 · 9 September 2027 · 28 October 2027
Limited places per departure — reserve early to secure your date.
Why book Best of China with CTS
Financial protection on every booking
Part of the China Travel Service group
NZ team handles every booking end-to-end
Our China team, not a reseller chain
Final price, in your currency, up front
0
Cities
15
Days
Tour duration
From NZD $4,080 per person
Price
Current published tour price
The Journey
Tour inclusions
Current inclusions published for China Discovery — Best of China.
International and domestic airfares
Hotel accommodation as specified in the itinerary
English-speaking tour guide
Entrance fees and meals as specified in the itinerary
Land transfer
Not included: Travel insurance (strongly recommended) · Personal expenses · Transportation and guide services during free time · Meals not listed in the itinerary · Optional tours and performances (e.g. acrobatic show, Tang Palace show) · Tips (suggested NZD $10 per day per person) · Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
Photos from the road
Photos shared with us by CTS travellers, plus one frame from our own China library. Each is credited for what it is — we don’t attach traveller quotes to them, because we can’t tell you who took which photo.
Shared by a CTS traveller
Shared by a CTS traveller
Shared by a CTS traveller
Shared by a CTS traveller
Shared by a CTS traveller
Guilin & Yangshuo
CTS photo library
From Kiwi travellers who've been
“CTS made our 15-day China trip effortless. Beijing to Shanghai — every transfer, every meal, sorted by Kiwi-friendly people.”
Margaret & David Anderson
Auckland
“Booking from NZ felt safe — Auckland office, NZD pricing, real humans who understood our school holidays.”
Sarah Chen
Christchurch
“The Great Wall day was the trip of a lifetime. Our guide had grown up nearby and the stories made it magical.”
Robert Williams
Wellington
“Direct China ops, not a reseller chain — you can feel it. Hotels, drivers, restaurants all just worked.”
Janet Thompson
Hamilton
“Xi’an, Hangzhou, Shanghai — every city had its own character. CTS got the pacing exactly right.”
Michael & Patricia Lee
Tauranga
“CTS made our 15-day China trip effortless. Beijing to Shanghai — every transfer, every meal, sorted by Kiwi-friendly people.”
Margaret & David Anderson
Auckland
“Booking from NZ felt safe — Auckland office, NZD pricing, real humans who understood our school holidays.”
Sarah Chen
Christchurch
“The Great Wall day was the trip of a lifetime. Our guide had grown up nearby and the stories made it magical.”
Robert Williams
Wellington
“Direct China ops, not a reseller chain — you can feel it. Hotels, drivers, restaurants all just worked.”
Janet Thompson
Hamilton
“Xi’an, Hangzhou, Shanghai — every city had its own character. CTS got the pacing exactly right.”
Michael & Patricia Lee
Tauranga
Visa-free China for NZ travellers — NZ passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business & family visits. Multiple entries allowed, no entry limit. Valid until 31 Dec 2026 (confirmed by China MFA, May 2026). Full guide →
Auckland Local Office
Local Support When You Need It
Direct China Operations
No Middlemen, Best Value
50,000+ Happy Travelers
Trusted by Kiwi Families
CTS Tours is a TAANZ member and IATA-accredited agency with local support in Auckland and direct operations in China—so you deal with one trusted team from enquiry to return.
View memberships & credentials
Free changes up to 60 days
Amend dates or travellers at no fee until 60 days before departure.
NZ-based specialist team
Speak to a Kiwi consultant in Auckland — one team, enquiry to return.
Backed by CTS
CTS Tours NZ runs Kiwi-led tours from Auckland, backed by China Travel Service — hotels, guides, transport we run ourselves.
TAANZ bonded & IATA
Client funds held in a TAANZ-bonded trust — protected if travel plans are disrupted.
Fifteen days from Beijing's Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Great Wall and hutongs, by high-speed train to Xi'an's Terracotta Army, then by air to Hangzhou via Puyuan's fashion ancient town, West Lake and Longjing tea, finishing in Shanghai before your return via Beijing.
Discover your destinations
Get to know the cities and landmarks along this route, with our guides to what to see and how to visit.
Destination guide
Explore the guide →
Destination guide
Explore the guide →
Destination guide
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Destination guide
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Landmark guide
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Landmark guide
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Group departures from New Zealand (dates as published). Contact us to reserve a seat or request a private departure.
signature · China
signature · China
signature · China
signature · China
discovery · China
discovery · China
discovery · China
discovery · China
discovery · China
Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City (or substitute Jingshan Park & Prince Gong's Mansion if tickets unavailable), Beihai Park, and the Great Wall
Hutong pedi-cab tour with family visit and Silk Market
High-speed train G89 Beijing–Xi'an (second class)
Terracotta Warriors with Circle Vision and Bronze Chariot; optional Tang Palace banquet show
Xi'an City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda Museum, and Muslim Quarter (Huimin Street)
Flight to Hangzhou and Tongxiang — Puyuan Fashion Ancient Town (Song-style waterways)
West Lake boat tour, G20 Hangzhou International Expo Center, Meijiawu Longjing tea, Qinghefang Ancient Street
Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden, Bund, Nanjing Road, Lujiazui skyline corridor, World Cultural Heritage Art Exhibition Centre
Evening international flight from Auckland to Beijing.
Included meals (22)
12
Breakfasts
9
Lunches
1
Dinners
Accommodation (12 nights)
5 carefully selected properties
Sample hotels detailed below — final selection confirmed at booking.
Representative properties for this tour — actual hotels may vary by departure date and are confirmed at booking.
Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Mercure Xi'an Downtown or similar (4-star)
Puyuan Hotel or similar (5-star)
Holiday Inn Hangzhou or similar (4-star)
Holiday Inn Express Shanghai or similar (4-star)
Interested in China Discovery — Best of China? We'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Cherie Fairley
21 Jun 2026
“We went on a recent trip to Dali and Lijiang from 19th to 30th May 2026. Well, what amazing places they are. Plus the nearby city of Shangrila. We both had an amazing time walking and exploring with only our phone app to translate, since little or no English was spoken or written. Contrary to what the Lonely Planet guidebook said! Everything worked out well which is why we want to thank Baker at CTS personally for an awesome trip, the trip of a lifetime. If any other tours, guided or unguided come up please let us know. This is Mikes second time holidaying with CTS and we will certainly highly recommend your company to friends. Mike Brooker & Cherie Fairley”
GReview from GoogleMaryam Absh
6 Jul 2026
“The china journey was well‑organized, I actually enjoyed all the moments without worrying about anything. Highly recommend the tour of tale of two cities china”
GReview from GoogleMurray Middendorf
16 Jun 2026
“Just came back from a tour of Xinjiang and a stopover in Xian. We had a fantastic time, the culture and scenery in Xinjiang is stunning and the tour was led by an experienced guide with excellent English. Highly recommended.”
GReview from Google
I designed Essentials as a broad China sweep — one itinerary that hits the icons so you do not have to choose Beijing or Shanghai alone on visit one. Expect full days; I have trimmed the fluff so the highlights stay honest.
Explore more China Discovery tours
Beijing's Forbidden City, Great Wall, and hutongs, then high-speed rail to Xi'an for the Terracotta Warriors. Many NZ leisure trips can use China's visa-free entry (confirm before you book); confirmed 2027 group departures listed on this page.
"Perfect first China experience — the essence of Beijing and Xi'an"
From NZD $3,480
per person
Yangtze Delta loop from Auckland: Suzhou gardens and Shantang Street, Wuxi lakeside sights and Three Kingdoms City, Hanfu and afternoon tea in Xinshi water town, Hangzhou's West Lake and Longjing tea, then Shanghai's Bund. Visa-free entry may apply for many NZ trips (confirm dates); next confirmed departure 25 March 2027.
From NZD $2,699
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Yunnan by air via Beijing — Erhai and Bai culture around Dali (including Shuanglang and “Santorini” viewpoints), Lijiang's Lashi Lake and Shuhe, then overland to Shangri-La through Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monastery, and Napa Lake before returning to Auckland via Beijing.
From NZD $3,899
per personEverything you need to know about traveling to China with CTS
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