Compare direct flights from Auckland and seasonal Christchurch services to Shanghai (PVG) and Guangzhou (CAN), with high-speed rail connections to Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, and Chengdu.
The Great Wall of China winding across the mountain ridges of Jinshanling
Spanning imperial capitals, dramatic karst river valleys, and modern riverfront cities, China presents monumentality on a scale found nowhere else in Asia. In the north, Beijing’s Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven sit within reach of the stone watchtowers of the Great Wall winding across the Yan Mountains at Mutianyu and Jinshanling.
High-speed bullet trains link Beijing with the Terracotta Army and intact Ming city walls of Xi’an, the Giant Panda sanctuaries and teahouses of Chengdu, the limestone peaks of Guilin and Yangshuo along the Li River, and the historic Bund and classical gardens of Shanghai and Suzhou.
Essential cities, cultural heartlands, and coastal regions
China’s historic capital is home to the vast courtyards of the Forbidden City, the lakeside pavilions of the Summer Palace, and traditional hutong alleyways. An hour north of the city, the Great Wall follows steep mountain ridges at Mutianyu and Jinshanling.
Eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road and capital of eleven dynasties, Xi’an is world-famous for the 2,200-year-old Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, its 14-kilometre Ming Dynasty city wall, and the bustling Muslim Quarter.
Shanghai pairs the 1920s Art Deco buildings of the Bund and the leafy French Concession with the futuristic towers of Pudong. Nearby Suzhou and Hangzhou are renowned for UNESCO-listed classical scholar gardens, canals, and West Lake tea plantations.
Cruise between the surreal limestone karst peaks of the Li River from Guilin to rural Yangshuo, and travel west to Chengdu in Sichuan Province to visit the Giant Panda Research Base and sample authentic Sichuan cuisine.
Tailor-made excursions and private local touring
Travel with a private guide to quieter, scenic sections of the Ming-dynasty wall where stone battlements trace dramatic mountain crests.
Enter the imperial palace complex through the Meridian Gate with a historian guide before visiting courtyard residences and the Temple of Heaven.
Examine the three excavated vaults housing thousands of individually sculpted clay soldiers, horses, and bronze chariots guarding China’s first emperor.
Sail past bamboo groves, water buffalo, and towering limestone pinnacles before staying in a countryside retreat in Yangshuo.
Tailor-made routes crafted by NZ travel specialists
Every itinerary is handcrafted to fit your preferred pace, accommodation style, and flight schedule from Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. Explore our popular route frameworks below, or customise them in our interactive studio.
Covers Beijing & The Great Wall, Xi’an, Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou, Guilin, Yangshuo & Chengdu with private local guides
Arrive from Auckland (AKL) and transfer privately to your hotel in Beijing & The Great Wall. China’s historic capital is home to the vast courtyards of the Forbidden City, the lakeside pavilions of the Summer Palace, and traditional hutong alleyways. An hour north of the city, the Great Wall follows steep mountain ridges at Mutianyu and Jinshanling. Includes walk along the great wall of china at mutianyu or jinshanling.
Eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road and capital of eleven dynasties, Xi’an is world-famous for the 2,200-year-old Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, its 14-kilometre Ming Dynasty city wall, and the bustling Muslim Quarter. Enjoy explore beijing’s forbidden city and historic hutongs with time tailored for private specialist-guided monument, palace, and temple visits and evening street-food walks, market tastings, and regional dining.
Shanghai pairs the 1920s Art Deco buildings of the Bund and the leafy French Concession with the futuristic towers of Pudong. Nearby Suzhou and Hangzhou are renowned for UNESCO-listed classical scholar gardens, canals, and West Lake tea plantations. Enjoy view the terracotta warriors in xi’an with time tailored for private specialist-guided monument, palace, and temple visits and evening street-food walks, market tastings, and regional dining.
Cruise between the surreal limestone karst peaks of the Li River from Guilin to rural Yangshuo, and travel west to Chengdu in Sichuan Province to visit the Giant Panda Research Base and sample authentic Sichuan cuisine. Enjoy cruise the li river from guilin to yangshuo with time tailored for private specialist-guided monument, palace, and temple visits and evening street-food walks, market tastings, and regional dining.
Slower-paced stays across Beijing & The Great Wall, Xi’an, Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou, Guilin, Yangshuo & Chengdu
Touch down from Auckland (AKL) with a private transfer to a boutique property in Beijing & The Great Wall. Settle in at an easy pace before explore beijing’s forbidden city and historic hutongs.
Spend 3 nights based in Xi’an with flexible mornings, examine the three excavated vaults housing thousands of individually sculpted clay soldiers, horses, and bronze chariots guarding China’s first emperor.
Spend 3 nights based in Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou with flexible mornings, sail past bamboo groves, water buffalo, and towering limestone pinnacles before staying in a countryside retreat in Yangshuo.
Spend 3 nights based in Guilin, Yangshuo & Chengdu with flexible mornings, travel with a private guide to quieter, scenic sections of the Ming-dynasty wall where stone battlements trace dramatic mountain crests.
Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the ideal times to visit China, bringing comfortable temperatures, clear visibility on the Great Wall, and pleasant walking weather across Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, and Guilin.
Warm, pleasant days across Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai with blooming gardens in Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Crisp, dry air and golden autumn foliage along the Great Wall, paired with comfortable temperatures in Guilin and Yangshuo.
Fewer visitors at major monuments in Beijing and Xi’an, with milder subtropical weather in Guangzhou, Yunnan, and Hong Kong.
Direct flights from Auckland to Shanghai and Guangzhou (plus seasonal Christchurch services), and one-stop connections via Hong Kong or Singapore.
Arrival hubs: Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Beijing Capital (PEK)
Covers Beijing & The Great Wall, Xi’an, Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou, Guilin, Yangshuo & Chengdu with private local guides
Arrive from Auckland (AKL) and transfer privately to your hotel in Beijing & The Great Wall. China’s historic capital is home to the vast courtyards of the Forbidden City, the lakeside pavilions of the Summer Palace, and traditional hutong alleyways. An hour north of the city, the Great Wall follows steep mountain ridges at Mutianyu and Jinshanling. Includes walk along the great wall of china at mutianyu or jinshanling.
Eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road and capital of eleven dynasties, Xi’an is world-famous for the 2,200-year-old Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, its 14-kilometre Ming Dynasty city wall, and the bustling Muslim Quarter. Enjoy explore beijing’s forbidden city and historic hutongs with time tailored for private specialist-guided monument, palace, and temple visits and evening street-food walks, market tastings, and regional dining.
Shanghai pairs the 1920s Art Deco buildings of the Bund and the leafy French Concession with the futuristic towers of Pudong. Nearby Suzhou and Hangzhou are renowned for UNESCO-listed classical scholar gardens, canals, and West Lake tea plantations. Enjoy view the terracotta warriors in xi’an with time tailored for private specialist-guided monument, palace, and temple visits and evening street-food walks, market tastings, and regional dining.
Cruise between the surreal limestone karst peaks of the Li River from Guilin to rural Yangshuo, and travel west to Chengdu in Sichuan Province to visit the Giant Panda Research Base and sample authentic Sichuan cuisine. Enjoy cruise the li river from guilin to yangshuo with time tailored for private specialist-guided monument, palace, and temple visits and evening street-food walks, market tastings, and regional dining.
