China · discovery · 15 Days
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.
1 / 5 · Shanghai’s illuminated skyline at night
Next confirmed departure
11 March 2027
Scheduled group departure
Twin-share price
NZD $4,080
Per person · NZD
Travelling solo?
Own room + NZD $800
NZD $4,880 total per person
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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.
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Client funds held in a TAANZ-bonded trust — protected if travel plans are disrupted.
Meals on board · View full day
Evening international flight from Auckland to Beijing.
Meals: Meals on board
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On arrival, transfer to visit the Temple of Heaven — 500-year-old altars and pavilions set in gardens, trees and sculpture where emperors once made offerings to heaven.
Meals: See day description
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
Tian'anmen Square; photo stop at the National Centre for the Performing Arts ("The Egg"). Forbidden City — palace complex home to emperors for 500+ years. Beihai Park, imperial garden northwest of the palace. Silk factory. Optional evening: acrobatic show. Note: Forbidden City tickets are capacity-limited; if unavailable, Jingshan Park (Forbidden City overlook) and Prince Gong's Mansion substitute.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
Great Wall — stretching toward Central Asia, counted among the ten wonders; jade carving factory en route. Return to Beijing for an outside view of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube in Olympic Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
Pedi-cab hutong tour — narrow lanes and courtyard life with a family visit. After lunch, Silk Market shopping.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast · View full day
Morning at leisure. Train G89 15:00–19:12 to Xi'an (or similar, second-class seat). Local guide meets you and transfers to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Mercure Xi'an Downtown or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
Terracotta Warriors — Circle Vision film and Bronze Chariot. Optional evening: Tang Palace Banquet song-and-dance show.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Mercure Xi'an Downtown or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
Ancient City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda — iconic Tang-dynasty brick pagoda symbolising Buddhist architecture in China.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Mercure Xi'an Downtown or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Small Wild Goose Pagoda Museum and Huimin Street. Flight to Hangzhou, then continue to Tongxiang (Puyuan). Puyuan Fashion Ancient Town: Song-dynasty style architecture, waterways and "parallel water and land" Jiangnan lanes.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Puyuan Hotel or similar (5-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
Breakfast and free time in Puyuan. Drive to Hangzhou. Afternoon: West Lake — Hua Gang Guan Yu, boat cruise, Su Causeway, Leifeng Pagoda; setting of the Legend of the White Snake.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Holiday Inn Hangzhou or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
Hangzhou International Expo Center (G20 main venue). Lunch, then Meijiawu Tea Plantation with Longjing tea tasting. Free time at Qinghefang Ancient Street. Transfer to Shanghai.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai or similar (4-star)
Breakfast · View full day
Yuyuan classical garden; silk factory; stroll the Bund. Free time on Nanjing Road.
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch · View full day
People's Square and Nanjing Road; Lujiazui circular corridor for three iconic towers; World Cultural Heritage Art Exhibition Centre.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai or similar (4-star)
Breakfast · View full day
Free time in Shanghai until transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing to connect with your return to New Zealand.
Meals: Breakfast
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Arrive back in New Zealand.
Meals: See day description
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)
Room basis: Prices are per person, twin share. A private room for a solo traveller is an additional NZD $800 for the full tour.
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
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Landmark guide
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