China · discovery · 12 Days
Trace the golden thread of China's imperial history on this 12-day journey through Beijing's Forbidden City and Great Wall, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, and Shanghai's vibrant waterfront.
1 / 4 · The Great Wall, China
Next confirmed departure
16 November 2026
Scheduled group departure
Twin-share price
From NZD $4,999
Per person · NZD
Travelling solo?
Own room + NZD $690
From NZD $5,689 total per person
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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.
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Amend dates or travellers at no fee until 60 days before departure.
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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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Depart Auckland on flight MU780 at 22:00. Meals are served on board.
Meals: See day description
Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Upon arrival in Shanghai, clear immigration and customs and transfer to the domestic terminal for flight MU5151 (08:00–10:25) to Beijing. Met and greeted by your local representative at the airport. Transfer to visit the Temple of Heaven, the 500-year-old temple housing altars on which sacrifices and offerings were laid to the gods, set in glorious gardens, trees and sculptures. Stroll along Qianmen Street. Tonight enjoy the famous Beijing Duck banquet as your welcome dinner.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Tour Tiananmen Square, the biggest public square in the world. Afterwards, visit the Forbidden City, the vast complex of palaces which was home to successive Emperors for more than 500 years. Continue to visit Beihai Park, an imperial garden to the northwest of the Forbidden City. Note: there is a daily limit on the number of tickets available for the Forbidden City; entry cannot be guaranteed and is subject to availability. If tickets cannot be secured, a visit to Jingshan Park overlooking the Forbidden City and Prince Gong's Mansion will be offered instead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Morning tour to the Great Wall at Juyongguan section, stretching almost 4,000 miles and crowned one of the ten wonders of the world. Return to the city to view the Olympic Park's Bird's Nest and Water Cube from the outside.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Morning pedi-cab tour of Hutong — the 'old city' neighbourhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens — and a local family visit. After lunch, tour the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved of all imperial palace gardens, featuring the famous Marble Boat and the ornately painted 'Long Corridor'.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Beijing Wanda Moments or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Dinner · View full day
Morning free at leisure. Board train G655 (08:26–14:20) to Xi'an in 2nd-class seat. Met on arrival by the local guide and transferred to the hotel to rest. In the evening stroll through Hui Min Street and Zhonggu Lou Square.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Mercure Downtown Xi'an or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Morning tour to the greatest archaeological discovery of the century — the more than 2,000-year-old Terracotta Warriors interred with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, including the Bronze Chariot exhibit. In the evening enjoy a Xi'an dumpling dinner with Tang Dynasty dance performances.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Mercure Downtown Xi'an or similar (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Morning visit to the Old City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the earliest and largest existing square pavilion-style brick pagoda of the Tang Dynasty and a testament to the integration of ancient Indian Buddhist temple architecture into Chinese culture. After lunch, transfer to the airport for domestic flight MU2161 (16:00–18:20) to Shanghai. Met on arrival by the local representative. After dinner, escorted to the hotel for check-in.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Motorpark Jichen Hotel Shanghai (4-star)
Breakfast, Dinner · View full day
Morning visit to the water town of Zhujiajiao. Afternoon return to downtown Shanghai, free at leisure. After dinner, enjoy an evening cruise along the Huangpu River to admire the charming night views on both river banks.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Motorpark Jichen Hotel Shanghai (4-star)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · View full day
Morning visit to the elegant and tranquil Yu Garden, believed to have been built more than 400 years ago, whose exquisite architecture makes it one of the highlights of Shanghai. In the afternoon, visit Shanghai Museum (East), the Bund, and Nanjing Road for shopping.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Motorpark Jichen Hotel Shanghai (4-star)
Breakfast, Dinner · View full day
Free at leisure until after lunch (lunch not included). Picked up from the hotel to visit Xintiandi — a polished commercial version of Shanghai's Stone-Gate architecture known for its upscale, cosmopolitan vibe. Then explore Tianzifang, a warren of narrow alleyways packed with boutique galleries, quirky design shops, cozy cafes and local craft stalls. In the evening, transfer to Pudong International Airport for your overnight departure.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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Depart Shanghai on flight MU779 at 00:10, arriving in Auckland at 16:25.
Meals: See day description
Included meals (26)
9
Breakfasts
7
Lunches
10
Dinners
Accommodation (9 nights)
3 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 Downtown Xi'an or similar (4-star)
Motorpark Jichen Hotel Shanghai (4-star)
Room basis: Prices are per person, twin share. A private room for a solo traveller is an additional NZD $690 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.
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