Why Small-Group Matters in China
China's major sights — the Great Wall at dawn, the Terracotta Warriors at pit level, the Li River at first light — are best experienced without 45 other people from four different countries who all want to be at the same gate at the same time.
Our groups stay small — small enough to move as one unit, get into restaurants locals actually use, and have a guide who remembers your name by day two. It's large enough to share the per-person cost of a private coach and dedicated specialist without paying luxury-tier prices.
What's Included
Return flights from NZ
Return international airfares from Auckland included in tour price
Hand-picked hotels
4-star hotels selected for location and quality, not just price
All entrance fees
Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors — no surprise costs
Most meals included
Breakfasts daily, select lunches and dinners at quality local restaurants
Private coach throughout
Your own coach and driver for the group — no shared buses with strangers
English-speaking guide
Experienced China guide; the same guide stays with the group throughout
Upcoming Departures
Current product details below come from tours that are active in the latest ME publication.
China Discovery — A Tale of Two Cities
10 Days · Beijing + Xi'an
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
From NZD $3,480· Departs 18 March 2027 · 10 June 2027 · 21 August 2027 · 2 September 2027 · 21 October 2027 · 14 November 2027
China Discovery — Shanghai & Surroundings
10 Days · Suzhou + Wuxi + Xinshi + Hangzhou + Shanghai
Master of the Nets Garden, Panmen, and Shantang Street in Suzhou · Silk factory; Three Kingdoms City (warship tour & horse battle show); Purple Sand Museum; Nanchang Ancient Street in Wuxi · Li Garden by the lake, Pearl Exhibition Centre, and a local market day in Wuxi · Hanfu dress-up for photos and afternoon tea in thousand-year-old Xinshi Town · West Lake boat tour, Su Causeway, Leifeng Pagoda, and Hangzhou International Expo Center (G20)
NZD $2,699 per person· Departs 25 March 2027 · 25 May 2027 · 5 November 2027
China Discovery — Best of China
15 Days
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)
From NZD $4,080 per person· Departs 3 November 2026 · 11 March 2027 · 13 May 2027 · 9 September 2027 · 28 October 2027
The Guide Makes the Difference
Our China specialists know the ground. They know which section of the Great Wall is worth the climb for your fitness level, which Terracotta Warrior pit has the best vantage, and which street food stall in Xi'an has been running for three generations. They also know what Kiwis like — honest itineraries with enough breathing room to have a coffee and wander before the next big sight.
The same guide travels with your group from city to city — so you are never handed off to a local subcontractor who has never met you.
Plan Your Trip
Limited places per departure
Small groups mean limited seats. Enquire now to check availability and hold your place.
Beijing & Xi'an →Shanghai & Surroundings →Group Facts
- Group size
- Small group
- Guide
- English-speaking specialist, 20+ yrs
- Transport
- Private group coach
- Pricing
- NZD — no currency risk
- Solo supplement
- Available on request