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
All departure dates
Dates refer to scheduled group departures; year 2026 where applicable — confirm at booking.
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.
Visa-free China for NZ travellers — Many leisure trips qualify for up to 30 days without a tourist visa under current published policy. Always confirm your exact dates and purpose before travel. Read our China visa guide for New Zealanders
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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.
Featured departure
1 November 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
Meals: Meal on board
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Meal on board
Schematic route for planning — not a geographic map. City order is derived from your itinerary text.
Everything you need to know about traveling to China with CTS
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David Chen
Wellington, NZ
“As a second-generation Chinese Kiwi, I wanted to reconnect with my heritage. CTS created a journey that was both deeply personal and wonderfully surprising.”
Jennifer O'Brien
Tauranga, NZ
“The cooking class in a Beijing hutong was the highlight of our trip! Lisa and Baker clearly love what they do, and it shows in every aspect of the tour.”
Greg & Michelle Hart
Rotorua, NZ
“Fantastic value for money. We saw the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, and Shanghai skyline all in one well-paced trip. The guides were outstanding.”
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October-ready from Auckland — 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); published group departure in October as listed on this page.
From NZD $3,480
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.
NZD $4,539 per person
October-ready from Auckland — Yangtze Delta loop: 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); mid-October departure published.
NZD $2,999 per person
