A 17-day journey through China's greatest imperial and cultural treasures — from Beijing's Forbidden City and the Great Wall to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, a Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise, and the dazzling skyline of Shanghai.
Next Departure
13 Aug 2026
All departure dates
Dates refer to scheduled group departures; year 2026 where applicable — confirm at booking.
I focus this Signature line on imperial Beijing and the great monuments — fewer hotel moves, more time inside the stories. If you want depth in the north before you add other regions, this is the spine I recommend.
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A 17-day journey through China's greatest imperial and cultural treasures — from Beijing's Forbidden City and the Great Wall to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, a Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise, and the dazzling skyline of Shanghai.
Single supplement: NZD $2,410
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
Temple of Heaven with optional Tai Chi among locals; Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City (see itinerary for Monday closure & ticket substitution)
Walk the Mutianyu Great Wall; jade craft workshop; Summer Palace gardens
High-speed train Beijing–Xi'an (G55, first class); Muslim Quarter; dumpling banquet with Tang Dynasty dance
Terracotta Warriors, ceramics and lacquerware workshop, Xi'an Ancient City Wall
Lhasa: Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery debates, Potala Palace, Norbulingka, Tibetan cultural dinner
Chengdu pandas; first-class rail to Chongqing; Victoria Cruises Yangtze Three Gorges (Shennü or Shennong Stream excursions)
Three Gorges Dam; evening flight to Shanghai; Yuyuan, silk factory, Bund, Huangpu River night cruise and Shanghai dinner
Leisure time in Shanghai before your return to New Zealand
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Peking Duck Banquet)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Dumpling Banquet)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Tibetan Dinner with Cultural Show)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Shanghai Local Cuisine)
Meals: Breakfast
Route visualization for planning — watch how you'll travel through each destination.
Interested in China Signature — Legacy of China? We'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Margaret & John Patterson
Auckland, NZ
Once-in-a-Lifetime — And We'd Do It All Again Tomorrow
“We've clocked up plenty of air miles, but this China Signature tour was genuinely in a class of its own. Baker arranged a private tai chi session on the Great Wall at sunrise — just the two of us, no crowds. As Aucklanders, we're used to queuing for everything; that one moment of pure silence on the Wall had us both tearing up. The boutique hotels were stunning, the guides passionate, and every day felt curated rather than scripted. If you're on the fence about China, trust me — just book it.”
Sarah & Tom Williams
Christchurch, NZ
Sorted From Start to Finish — Couldn't Have Asked for More
“We were quite nervous going to China for the first time, but Lisa had everything sorted before we'd even packed our bags. The itinerary was perfectly paced — enough to see the iconic highlights without feeling herded. The hotels were beautiful, local guides spoke brilliant English, and the included meals were genuinely delicious, not just tourist-friendly. Back in Christchurch now and already missing the dumplings.”
Paul & Linda Foster
Dunedin, NZ
Our Golden Anniversary — Made Absolutely Unforgettable
“We wanted our 50th to be something extraordinary, and Baker exceeded every expectation. A surprise intimate dinner in a lantern-lit Beijing courtyard, a private calligraphy lesson in a hutong, and thoughtful upgrades throughout. Coming from Dunedin, we joked we'd miss the cold — but the warmth of the Chinese people and the CTS team more than compensated. If you're celebrating something special, trust CTS to make it magnificent.”
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