Embark on a remarkable journey through China’s rich history and vibrant culture! Begin in Beijing with visits to Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the iconic Great Wall. Travel by bullet train to Xi’an to marvel at the Terracotta Warriors. Discover Chengdu's charming streets and meet pandas at the renowned research centre. Cruise the stunning Yangtze River, explore the Three Gorges, and end in Shanghai with its dazzling skyline and historic landmarks. Experience China like never before!
Activity Level 3
Early Booking Discount - Book by 11 Oct, 2025 and save an extra $100 per person
Home pickup/return within the Auckland metropolitan area.
Services of a Travelwise Holidays Tour Leader and local Chinese Tour Guides in each city.
Economy class airfares Auckland/Shanghai/Beijing and Yichang/Shanghai/Auckland on China Eastern Airlines Group.
High Speed Trains Beijing/X’ian, X’ian/Chengdu & Chenhdu/Chongqing.
Pre-paid gratuities and all applicable port charges.
Incredible sightseeing throughout China including - Beijing, a Duck banquet welcome dinner, Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City and iconic Summer Palace. Beijing Acrobatic Show, a Rickshaw tour in the old city neighbourhoods and the awe-inspiring Great Wall. Xian’s City Wall, a Tang Dynasty show, the Old City and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors, the Circle Vision Movie and Bronze Chariot. A traditional Dumpling Feast. Chengdu, ancient Jinli Street, the renowned Panda Breeding and Research Centre in Chengdu. A tea house in People’s park, Broad and Narrow Alley, a Sichuan Cuisine experience. Chongqing, visit Hongya Cave. Tour Yichang city. Shanghai, tranquil Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum ancient Chinese art collection, People’s Square and Nanjing Road - shopping area. Visit ancient water town Zhujiajiao. Savour Nanxiang steamed buns in Chenghuang Temple and a farewell dinner and river cruise.
A 3 night Yangtze River Cruise on Hua Xia Goddess No:2 Ship. Shared twin-bedded ‘Standard’ cabin with private facilities. Crew shows onboard. Free WiFi. Captain’s welcome reception and all meals onboard are included; VIP restaurant dining each evening.
Three included shore excursions - Lesser Three Gorges and Fengdu, Snow Jade Cave, Three Gorges Dam.
Travelwise Holidays documentation and travel bag.
SAT 11 APR - AUCKLAND/SHANGHAI/BEIJING
Depart Auckland on China Eastern Airlines at 9.00pm.
SUN 12 APR - BEIJING
Arrive in Beijing at 10.25am. The dynamic capital of the People’s Republic of China. Once the imperial city of Mongol, Ming and Manchu emperors. Transfer to the hotel for a rest day. Tonight experience a famous Beijing Duck banquet welcome dinner. Stay Novotel Peace Hotel or similar, Beijing 3 nights. Included: D
MON 13 APR - BEIJING SIGHTSEEING
Tour Tian’anmen Square, the expansive Forbidden City, and the iconic Summer Palace. The Forbidden City is the largest palace complex in the world and 24 Chinese emperors resided there. In the evening, witness the mesmerising Beijing Acrobatic Show. (Due to the daily visitor limit at the Forbidden City, we cannot guarantee entry for a visit. If entry to the Forbidden City is not possible, we will visit Jingshan Park and the Prince Gong's Mansion instead. Included: B, D
TUE 14 APR - BEIJING, THE GREAT WALL
Enjoy a Rickshaw tour through Hutong, exploring the enchanting old city neighbourhoods and visit a local family. Experience the awe-inspiring Great Wall. A marvel that was built over centuries by China’s emperors to protect their territory. It stretches for thousands of miles along China’s historic northern border. (Most of the ascent to see the Wall is achieved by using a Ski-lift type cable way, but with some uneven surface walking today. Included: B, L
WED 15 APR - BEIJING/XI’AN
Take a bullet train to Xian, an ancient imperial capital and the eastern departure point of the Silk Road. It has long been an important crossroads for people from throughout China. Visit Xian’s City Wall, one of the oldest, largest and best preserved city walls in China. It encloses an area of about 14 square kilometres. Enjoy a Tang Dynasty show this evening. Stay Mercure Xi’an Bell Tower Hotel or similar, Xi’An, 2 nights. Included: B, L, D
THU 16 APR - XI’AN SIGHTSEEING
Visit the Old City and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a monument to Buddhist culture and architecture. Later an exploration of the extraordinary Terracotta Warriors, an archaeological marvel dating back over 2,000 years to Emperor Qin Shi Huang's reign. Experience the Circle Vision Movie and Bronze Chariot. Conclude the day with a traditional Dumpling Feast. Included: B, L, D
FRI 17 APR – XI’AN/CHENGDU
Take a high-speed train to Chengdu. Visit ancient Jinli Street, with its preserved Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. Its history can be traced back more than 1800 years. Often describes as "one of the world's most beautiful streets". Now a lovely shopping, dining and entertainment, district. Stay Holiday Inn Express Chengdu Gulou or similar, Chengdu, 2 nights. Included: B, L, D
SAT 18 APR - CHENGDU PANDAS
The highlight today is the renowned Panda Breeding and Research Centre in Chengdu. The giant pandas are a Chinese national treasure. Next, to the tea house in People’s park, to fully enjoy the leisure and cozy life style there, with people sitting together for drinking tea, playing cards or mah-jong. Then visit Broad and Narrow Alley, an ancient block from the Qing Dynasty to experience the local culture and customs of Chengdu. This evening try an optional excursion (own cost) to a face-changing show. Performers wear vivid masks, typically depicting well known characters from the opera, which they change from one face to another almost instantaneously. Included: B, L, D
SUN 19 APR - CHENGDU/YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
Savour a Sichuan Cuisine experience - Learn, Cook, Eat, with no dishes! Take an afternoon bullet train to Chongqing. Visit Hongya Cave - a re-creation of the old stilt houses that once lined Chongqing's riverfronts and now popular shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Early evening board your cruise on China’s longest river. Embark on Hua Xia Goddess No.2 ship (refurbished 2023), for the next 3 nights. Admire the spectacular scenery of the Three Gorges. (Itinerary is subject to change due to river conditions). Cruise - evening meals are in the VIP restaurant. Included: B, L, D
MON 20 APR - YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
Enjoy a shore excursion to the Fengdu Snow Jade Cave - 80% of it’s stalactites are “ as white as snow, pure like jade”, hence the name of the Cave. It is one of the most beautiful caves in China. Enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Reception tonight. Included: B, L, D
TUE 21 APR - YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
Enter the 25 mile long Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty, forest covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. Take an included to the Lesser Three Gorges - you will change to a small sightseeing boat to sail up the Daning River. You will see Dragon Gate Gorge with it‘s ancient plank road in the cliffs and the towering Daning River Bridge. Misty Gorge with it‘s mystic hanging coffins in the cliffs. Emerald Gorge where you may see monkeys on the green slopes. Included: B, L, D
WED 22 APR - YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE/YICHANG
Disembark your cruise and tour the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest power station. Later visit Yichang city, located in the middle of China, a transportation centre which connects the eastern and the western. Stay Holiday Inn Express Yichang Changjiang, or similar, 1 night. Included: B, L
THU 23 APR – YICHANG/SHANGHAI
Fly to Shanghai this morning. A fabulous, vibrant city and one of the world's largest seaports. Arrive Shanghai at 11.50am. A free afternoon to relax or explore, from your hotel on the fabulous pedestrian street - Nanjing Road. Stay Crowne Plaza Nanjing Road, Shanghai, 2 nights. Included: B
FRI 24 APR – SHANGHAI
Wander the cobbled lanes and arched stone bridges of Zhujiajiao, an enchanting ancient water town just outside Shanghai. With a history stretching back over 1,700 years, this tranquil town offers a glimpse of old-world China—graceful canals, shaded teahouses, and charming heritage architecture. Admire its peaceful waterways,mculture and quiet beauty. Free afternoon in Shanghai. Included: B, L
SAT 25 APR – SHANGHAI SIGHTSEEING/AUCKLAND
Visit the elegant and tranquil Yu Garden - more than 400 years old. In the afternoon we will visit Shanghai Museum, with an ancient Chinese art collection of 120,000 precious works including bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy. It is celebrated around the world. Witness 5000 years of history. See the People’s Square and stroll down Nanjing Road, a pedestrian street and Shanghai's world famous shopping area. Savour Nanxiang steamed buns in the Chenghuang Temple and a farewell dinner then a river cruise this evening. See the incredible Shanghai city lights whilst cruising - an absolute must do in Shanghai. Later transfer to Shanghai airport for your journey home. Check-in late evening at 9.45pm for your China Eastern flight to Auckland. Included: B, L, D
SUN 26 APR – ARRIVE AUCKLAND
Arrive Auckland at 3.45pm.
Deposit: $1,000pp
