CTS Tours
China Discovery — Shanghai & Surroundings - China Tour from New Zealand | discovery Collection
discovery Collection

China Discovery — Shanghai & Surroundings

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.

Limited Availability
Only 5 seats left

Next Departure

3 Aug 2026

All departure dates

3 August14 October

Dates refer to scheduled group departures; year 2026 where applicable — confirm at booking.

10 Days
NZD $2,999 per person

Visa-free China for NZ travellersMany 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

100+ Years Heritage

Century of Excellence Since 1928

Auckland Local Office

Local Support When You Need It

Direct China Operations

No Middlemen, Best Value

50,000+ Happy Travelers

Trusted by Kiwi Families

Tour Overview

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.

CTS Tours departure schedule

Group departures from New Zealand (dates as published). Contact us to reserve a seat or request a private departure.

Signature series departures

Silk Road

signature · China

25 August14 October
Legacy of China

signature · China

13 August15 October
China Panorama

signature · China

14 October
Natural China

signature · China

20 August25 October

Discovery series departures

A Tale of Two Cities

discovery · China

13 August15 October2 November
Best of China

discovery · China

3 September
Shanghai & Surroundings

discovery · China

3 August14 October
Colourful Yunnan

discovery · China

10 September

Tour Highlights

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)

Six Harmonies Pagoda and Longjing tea tasting at Meijiawu

The Bund, City God Temple quarter, World Cultural Heritage Art Exhibition Centre, and Nanjing Road

Optional Shanghai acrobatics show and Maglev ride (extra cost)

Save this itinerary:

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day1

Auckland — Shanghai

Meals: Meals on board

Day2

Shanghai — Suzhou (≈1.5 hrs)

Meals: Lunch

Day3

Suzhou — Wuxi (≈1 hr)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day4

Wuxi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day5

Wuxi — Xinshi Ancient Town (≈1.5 hrs)

Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon tea

Day6

Xinshi — Hangzhou

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day7

Hangzhou — Shanghai (≈2 hrs)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day8

Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast

Day9

Shanghai — Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Day10

Auckland

SHANGHAI (1N)SUZHOU (1N)WUXI (2N)XINSHI (1N)HANGZHOU (1N)SHANGHAI (3N)
SHANGHAI (1N) — SUZHOU (1N) — WUXI (2N) — XINSHI (1N) — HANGZHOU (1N) — SHANGHAI (3N)

Schematic route for planning — not a geographic map. City order is derived from your itinerary text.

What's Included

Included

  • International and domestic airfares
  • Hotel accommodation as specified in the itinerary
  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Entrance fees and meals as specified in the itinerary
  • Land transfer

Not Included

  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Personal expenses
  • Transportation and guide services during free time
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Tips (suggested NZD $10 per day per person)
  • Optional activities (e.g. Shanghai Acrobatics Show, Maglev ride)
  • Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary

Enquire About This Tour

Interested in China Discovery — Shanghai & Surroundings? We'll get back to you within 24 hours.

We respect your privacy. Your information will not be shared.

Traveller Reviews

DC

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.

JO

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.

GH

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.

Quick Info

Destination
china
Collection
discovery
Duration
10 Days
Price
NZD $2,999 per person

You May Also Like

Explore more China Discovery tours

China Discovery — A Tale of Two Cities
discovery

China Discovery — A Tale of Two Cities

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 departures include mid-October.

10 Days
china
From

From NZD $3,480

View Details
China Discovery — Best of China
discovery

China Discovery — Best of China

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.

15 Days
china
From

NZD $4,539 per person

View Details
China Discovery — Colorful Yunnan
discovery

China Discovery — Colorful Yunnan

Yunnan by air via Beijing — Erhai and Bai culture around Dali (including Shuanglang and “Santorini” viewpoints), Lijiang's Lashi Lake and Shuhe, then overland to Shangri-La through Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monastery, and Napa Lake before returning to Auckland via Beijing.

11 Days
china
From

NZD $3,899 per person

View Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about traveling to China with CTS

Have more questions?

Contact Our Specialists