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.
Next Departure
15 Oct 2026
Returns 24 October 2026
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Dates refer to scheduled group departures — confirm at booking.
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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 →
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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.
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
On this tour, “A Tale of Two Cities” means Beijing and Xi'an — not Shanghai. You start with Auckland — Beijing, explore Beijing including the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall, Olympic park photo stops, and a hutong pedi-cab tour with a family visit; then you board a high-speed train to Xi'an (published example: G89, afternoon departure, second-class or similar).
In Xi'an you visit the Terracotta Warriors (including Circle Vision and Bronze Chariot where specified), the ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda Museum, and Huimin Street — matching the published day-by-day itinerary — before flying back via Beijing to Auckland.
Want Jiangnan gardens, West Lake, and Shanghai instead of Beijing and Xi'an? See China Discovery — Shanghai & Surroundings — 10 days from NZD $3,399 per person on the published page.
This Beijing & Xi'an route is priced From NZD $3,480 for 10 days on the published page.
Authoritative itinerary and gallery: main tour page.
Visit the 500-year-old Temple of Heaven set in imperial gardens
Tour Tiananmen Square — the world's largest public square
Explore the Forbidden City, home to emperors for over 500 years
Walk the Great Wall, one of the ten wonders of the world
Photo stop at the iconic Bird's Nest and Water Cube Olympic Park
Experience old Beijing on a pedi-cab Hutong tour with a family visit
Discover the Terracotta Warriors — the greatest archaeological find of the century
Visit Xi'an's ancient City Wall and the Tang Dynasty Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Depart Auckland in the evening on your international flight to Beijing. Dinner and breakfast served on board.
Included meals (12)
7
Breakfasts
5
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.
Beijing Wanda Moments or similar 4-star hotel
Mercure Xi'an Downtown or similar 4-star hotel
Interested in China Discovery — A Tale of Two Cities? 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
This is my go-to first-timer pairing: the Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing, then the high-speed train west to Xi'an for the Terracotta Army. I keep the rhythm tight so you feel the story from empire to tomb — it's the tale I tell friends from New Zealand.
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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.
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per personEverything you need to know about traveling to China with CTS
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