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China Explorer

16 days Go Beyond Group Tour

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China Explorer

Pairing China's classic sights with a Yangtze cruise, this itinerary brings you closer to the authentic charms of China. Revel in atmospheric ancient towns and hike along the incredible, undulating Great Wall.

  • Included Meals
    Breakfasts: 12 , Lunches: 11 , Dinners: 9
  • Flights
    International flights and current taxes
  • Cruise
    Yangtze River Cruise
  • Group Tour
    Max Group Size: 18
  • Physical Rating 4
    A good level of fitness is required as you can expect to be walking, or taking part in a physical activity like cycling, for longer periods of time on several days throughout the tour, and may be required to tackle some more challenging terrain.
    Learn More
    Extended walking. Physical activities on challenging terrain.
OFFERS
  • Partner Flies Free or Half Price Solo Flight
    Your Partner will FLY FREE, or solo travellers save 50% on airfare. Selected departures. - View Offer
  • Hong Kong Stopover for $75pp
    Enjoy a 3 night stopover in Hong Kong for just $75pp! - View Offer
OFFER
Go Beyond Group Tour
16 DAYS
From $7,280PP
Summer Palace Hike the Great Wall Dujiangyan Giant Pandas Yangtze River Cruise
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Tour Highlights

Our China Explorer tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.

Day by Day Itinerary

Beijing (2N +1N) - Gubei Water Town (1N) - Xian (2N) - Chengdu (1N) - Pingle (1N) - Yangtze Cruise (3N) – Shanghai (2N)
  • Day 1
    Fly To Beijing
    Dinner
    DAY 1: Fly To Beijing

    Fly to Beijing, China's historic capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening.

    Dinner
  • Day 2
    Forbidden City
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 2: Forbidden City

    Begin today in Beijing's symbolic heart with a stroll across Tiananmen Square into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City. Entering through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you will find a complex full of imperial treasures which offers an unsurpassed insight into China's colourful past. Spend the afternoon strolling through the idyllic landscapes of the Summer Palace and admire the Chinese architecture, followed by a walk up Longevity Hill to enjoy the panoramic views. Stop for a photo at the Olympic Stadium.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 3
    Temple Of Heaven and Beijing's Hutongs
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 3: Temple Of Heaven and Beijing's Hutongs

    Arrive early and soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape. Next, visit Yandaixiejie, where you will have some free time to wander around the hutongs. These narrow alleys offer an authentic glimpse of the old Beijing before the emergence of high-rise buildings and modern commerce. Enjoy lunch at the hutongs before driving to the Simatai section of the Great Wall, staying overnight in Gubei Watertown. Ride up to the apex of the Wall by cable car.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 4
    Hike The Great Wall
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 4: Hike The Great Wall

    Travel to the Great Wall at Jinshanling, a section that is much less frequented by tourists than other parts. The stark yet magnificent surroundings allow you to put yourself in the shoes of those who walked this incredible structure hundreds of years ago. Your trek will last approximately four hours as the wall courses through dramatic landscapes and rugged terrain. Later, head back to Beijing and enjoy the evening at leisure.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 5
    Explore Xian
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 5: Explore Xian

    Board a bullet train to Xian, the former ancient capital. On arrival explore the narrow and winding streets of the Muslim Quarter. Sample the delicious, freshly cooked snacks and gain an insight into the city's fascinating culture and significance as the start of the Silk Road. Have a traditional Xian dinner this evening and enjoy an evening at leisure, possibly soaking up the atmosphere at lively Defu Lane.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 6
    Terracotta Warriors
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 6: Terracotta Warriors

    Housed in three immense hangars, the ranks of the Terracotta Army stand sentinel in their subterranean necropolis, constructed to protect China's first emperor in the afterlife. Spend the morning gazing over the ranks of warriors and horses, each one unique, whilst your guide introduces you to these life-like soldiers' fascinating story. Also visit the workshop of the craftsmen who recreate the Terracotta Warriors in the style of their ancient counterparts. Later, enjoy a gentle cycle ride on the beautifully preserved 14th-century city walls that enclose Xian's old town, then enjoy the evening at leisure.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 7
    Pingle Ancient Town
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 7: Pingle Ancient Town

    Jump on the bullet train to Chengdu and drive to Pingle Ancient Town. Dating back to the Han Dynasty, Pingle was a stopping point on the Tea Horse Road. Walk through its maze of tea-house-lined streets before walking through Jinji's dense bamboo forest, then see the forest and gorge from above by crossing Jinji Suspended Rope Bridge.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 8
    Dujiangyan Panda Base
    Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 8: Dujiangyan Panda Base

    Drive to Dujiangyan and visit one of the world's finest panda conservation centres. Here, the pandas are kept in conditions very close to their natural habitat. Later, ascend Mount Qingcheng, the most sacred Taoist mountain in China, by cable car. It is a truly beautiful area with numerous lush, green peaks and secluded temples. Take a stroll among the mystic scenery of Yuecheng Lake then return to Chengdu.

    Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 9
    Ancient Ciqikou
    Breakfast, Dinner
    DAY 9: Ancient Ciqikou

    Drive to Chongqing and visit the charming old town of Ciqikou – there's time to wander the cobbled alleyways and learn about its colourful history. Later, board your Yangtze Cruise vessel.

    Breakfast, Dinner
  • Days 10-11
    Yangtze River Cruise
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAYS 10-11: Yangtze River Cruise

    As you cruise downstream, nature takes over, revealing some of the world's most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. Over the next two days, prepare for one breathtaking panorama after another. Enjoy various shore excursions as well as a side trip to Mt Shuanggui near Fengdu. This is a chance to get a glimpse of life on the river banks.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 12
    Three Gorges Dam
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 12: Three Gorges Dam

    Disembark your cruise vessel and visit the Three Gorges Dam. Next, travel to Yichang then board a bullet train to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the 'Paris of the East'.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 13
    Shanghainese Shanghai
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 13: Shanghainese Shanghai

    Wake to the buzz of Shanghai, and take a breakfast walking tour between modern skyscrapers and traditional streets. Walk through the city's most fascinating districts, marvelling at monuments and rickety buildings before enjoying breakfast as the locals do – sample pancakes, fried bread sticks and tofu. Visit Yu Garden, the old town and a silk factory before taking a stroll along the Bund and enjoying a farewell dinner of authentic Shanghainese cuisine. In the evening, enjoy a cruise along the Huangpu River, serenaded by the neon lights of Pudong.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Days 14-15
    Fly Shanghai To New Zealand
    Breakfast
    DAYS 14-15: Fly Shanghai To New Zealand

    Fly to New Zealand, arriving home the same or following day.

    Breakfast
China Explorer map

Download Tour Dossier & Trip Notes

Accommodation

We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.

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When to go

City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • -8
    2
    -3
  • 3
  • Chengdu
  • 3
    9
    6
  • 8
  • Shanghai
  • 2
    8
    5
  • 74
  • Xian
  • -4
    5
    0
  • 7
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • -6
    5
    0
  • 5
  • Chengdu
  • 5
    11
    8
  • 12
  • Shanghai
  • 4
    10
    7
  • 59
  • Xian
  • -1
    8
    4
  • 10
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 0
    12
    6
  • 8
  • Chengdu
  • 8
    16
    12
  • 20
  • Shanghai
  • 7
    14
    10
  • 94
  • Xian
  • 4
    14
    9
  • 29
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 8
    20
    14
  • 21
  • Chengdu
  • 13
    22
    17
  • 44
  • Shanghai
  • 12
    20
    16
  • 74
  • Xian
  • 10
    21
    15
  • 43
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 14
    26
    20
  • 34
  • Chengdu
  • 17
    26
    22
  • 78
  • Shanghai
  • 17
    25
    21
  • 84
  • Xian
  • 14
    26
    20
  • 60
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 19
    30
    24
  • 78
  • Chengdu
  • 20
    28
    24
  • 107
  • Shanghai
  • 22
    28
    25
  • 182
  • Xian
  • 19
    31
    25
  • 54
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 22
    31
    26
  • 185
  • Chengdu
  • 22
    30
    26
  • 224
  • Shanghai
  • 26
    32
    29
  • 146
  • Xian
  • 22
    32
    27
  • 99
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 21
    30
    25
  • 160
  • Chengdu
  • 22
    30
    26
  • 201
  • Shanghai
  • 26
    32
    29
  • 214
  • Xian
  • 21
    31
    26
  • 71
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 15
    26
    20
  • 46
  • Chengdu
  • 19
    25
    22
  • 119
  • Shanghai
  • 22
    28
    25
  • 87
  • Xian
  • 16
    25
    21
  • 92
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 8
    19
    14
  • 22
  • Chengdu
  • 15
    21
    18
  • 35
  • Shanghai
  • 17
    23
    20
  • 56
  • Xian
  • 10
    20
    15
  • 60
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 0
    10
    5
  • 7
  • Chengdu
  • 10
    16
    13
  • 16
  • Shanghai
  • 11
    17
    14
  • 52
  • Xian
  • 3
    12
    8
  • 24
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • -6
    4
    -1
  • 3
  • Chengdu
  • 4
    11
    8
  • 5
  • Shanghai
  • 5
    11
    8
  • 44
  • Xian
  • -2
    6
    2
  • 6

Pricing & Availability

All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price unless a land only option is selected

2024
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Departure: All
  • Departure: All
1 Room, 2 Guests
  • 1 Room, 2 Guests
  • 1 Room, 1 Guest
    Depart NZStart Date
    Return DateEnd Date
    Price
    Availability

    Additional Price Information

    • Prices include airline fuel surcharge and taxes and are subject to change. Correct as of 1 August 2023
    • Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
    • Customary tipping amount of approximately RMB925pp is paid locally in China.
    • Based on departures from Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch
    • Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available upon request
    • Land only (Beijing - Shanghai) 14 days from $6,380 per person, twin share
    • Single supplement from $1,590
    • Price listed is based on new bookings only

    Group Tour includes

    • 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 8 dinners
    • International flights and current taxes
    • Domestic transportation
    • 4 star accommodation, plus basic guesthouse
    • Touring with guides and entrance fees
    • Visa fees for New Zealand passport holders

    Important Information For Your Tour

    Before Booking
    Travel Protection, Booking Conditions
    and more
    Before you go
    Passports & Visas, Travel Guides & Packing Lists, Holiday FAQ’s and more

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