Two of China's most talked-about cities in one 10-day trip — futuristic Chongqing's neon cliffside skyline, the famous monorail through a building, and UNESCO Dazu Rock Carvings, then laid-back Chengdu's giant pandas and teahouse culture. Connected by bullet train. Departs 1 November.
Next Departure
1 Nov 2026
Returns 10 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
Days to departure
until your group flies from Auckland
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 →
100+ Years Heritage
Backed by CTS · Founded 1928
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 · Founded 1928
CTS Tours NZ has run Kiwi-led tours from Auckland since 2000 (25 years), backed by China Travel Service (founded 1928) — hotels, guides, transport we run ourselves.
TAANZ bonded & IATA
Client funds held in a TAANZ-bonded trust — protected if travel plans are disrupted.
Two of China's most talked-about cities in one 10-day trip — futuristic Chongqing's neon cliffside skyline, the famous monorail through a building, and UNESCO Dazu Rock Carvings, then laid-back Chengdu's giant pandas and teahouse culture. Connected by bullet train. Departs 1 November.
Single supplement: NZD $400
Featured departure
1 November 2026 2026
Minimum 15 passengers. Enquire to confirm availability and hold your seat.
Official guides and destination hubs to help you prepare—visa timing, seasons, and places on this route.
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
Watch a real train pass through the middle of a residential building at Chongqing's legendary Liziba Station
Explore Hongyadong after dark — a glowing cliffside complex that looks like a scene from a Miyazaki film
Visit the Dazu Rock Carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 50,000 Buddhist sculptures carved over 1,000 years
Step inside the Huguang Guild Hall, a beautifully preserved Qing Dynasty merchant complex beside the Yangtze River
See giant pandas up close at the world-leading Chengdu Research Base -- best at morning feeding time
Witness the Matchmaking Corner at People's Park, where parents search for partners on behalf of their adult children
Travel city-to-city on China's high-speed bullet train -- Chongqing to Chengdu in under 90 minutes
Wander Ciqikou Ancient Town and Jinli Street for Sichuan street food, local crafts, and old-quarter atmosphere
Depart Auckland in the evening on your international flight to Beijing. Meals served on board.
Included meals (10)
7
Breakfasts
3
Lunches
0
Dinners
Accommodation (7 nights)
2 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.
Pagoda SASA Design Hotel or similar 4-star, Chongqing
Holiday Inn Express Chengdu Gulou or similar 4-star, Chengdu
Everything you need to know about traveling to China with CTS
Have more questions?
Contact Our SpecialistsInterested in China Discovery — Fire & Fuzz? 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 put this China Discovery — Fire & Fuzz itinerary together for New Zealand travellers who want the route to feel human — hotels, pacing, and local guides are chosen so you spend your energy on the places, not on fixing problems on the ground. Ask our Auckland team if you want my eyes on the dates; I still review Discovery and Signature lines myself.
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
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.
From NZD $4,080 per person
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 $3,399
per person