China Tour from Wellington

On the day of departure, please make your own way to the airport and board the flight to Beijing. You will land in Beijing in 14 hours.

Currently there is no direct flight from Wellington to Beijing, so you will have to make a connecting itinerary. Please double check the arrival date of the flight and confirm it with your travel consultant ahead of time.

At Beijing’s airport, our guide will meet you outside the customs. The driver will transfer you to the hotel and help you check in. You will be free for the rest of the day to relax or explore around independently.

Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)

Your China tour from Wellington will begin with a visit to the Tiananmen Square. Walk through the world’s largest city square to reach the Forbidden City, the world's largest imperial palace complex - capable of holding over 8,000 rooms - left by dynastic China. Inside, you will also check out the Treasury Gallery; originally the palace for Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736 - 1796)’s retirement, it has been repurposed to exhibit cultural relics since 1958. Just as the name suggests, it shows you sacrificial vessels, apparels, ornaments, daily items among other treasures and curios crafted with priceless materials - all personal belongings of the royal families of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Our guide will make sure you won’t miss the Three Chained Seals, which was incredibly carved out of a single stone; even the stone, the soft tianhuang stone unique to China, is a treasure itself.

Enjoy an a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) at a popular restaurant with authentic Chinese cuisine served, including Peking Duck. Next, we will head to Yonghe Temple, the lamasery once ruled directly by the Qing government, and then Temple of Heaven, the religious building complex where Ming and Qing emperors worshiped Heaven.

Spend a special evening in Liyuan Theatre watching a live Beijing Opera Show, after seeing the artists preparing for it in the dressing room, like how they “paint” makeup on their face.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch

Today's itinerary starts with the ancient wonder of the Great Wall (Mutianyu section), the giant stone dragon that winds along mountain ridges. A round-trip ride to ascend and descend by cable car will be arranged to save efforts and avoid crowds. Moreover, we will clink glasses of red wine on the wall, hoping to impress this moment on your memory. Lunch is not included today, as there isn’t any restaurant we can speak highly of; it’s your choice to take some fast food or try your luck at a restaurant, which our guide of course would be glad to recommend.

On our way back to the downtown area, we will have a photo stop at the Olympic National Stadium, well-known as the Bird's Nest. Next, you will weave through residential hutong alleys via rickshaw to experience local life, followed by a visit to a courtyard house sitting in an alley.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, we will explore Panda House in Beijing Zoo and the UNESCO-lauded Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China.

After lunch, you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. On your arrival, our Xi'an’s guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free. You can either have a good rest to replenish energy for your tour in Xi'an or get familiar with the city by walking around.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Local Lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an (5 stars)

Today's schedule starts with a visit to an archeological find that once shook the world, the underground Terracotta Army, funeral objects of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC) - the first emperor of imperial China. There are over 8,000 lifelike pottery soldiers and horses, built to mimic and suggest the strong military power during the emperor’s reign. How the army was discovered is also interesting, and you will learn about it as we visit the discoverer’s home. What’s more, you will craft a mini warrior - a souvenir for you - in a workshop, using the same clay soil as in the warriors you’ve seen, with the help of a mold and a teacher.

Continue on to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. At night, you will be taken to a fantastic Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show accompanied by a Dumpling Dinner.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dumpling dinner

Please note:
Guests visiting in January, February, March and December need to arrange the dinner and evening activity on their own for this day, since the theater is usually not open at these times.

Start today with a morning walk in the City Wall Park, where locals intriguingly exercise each in their own way - you will also do some stretching, by learning Tai Chi martial art from a master. We will then ascend the City Wall, a landmark of Xi’an that has stood there witnessing historical vicissitudes for over six centuries. There are a total of 18 gates open to inside the wall, of which four pointing to north, south, east and west are the oldest, while the others were only carved later since the establishment of the Republic of China (1912 - 1949), to facilitate commuting between the old and new districts. On the top of the wall - both walking and biking (bike rental fee is not included in our price) are fun, you will find different perspectives to spot life happening on either side, as well as enjoy a sweeping cityscape.

This afternoon, you will fly to Chongqing to embark on your luxury cruise along the Yangtze River. The ship we select for you is the 5-star Century Cruise Ship, on which you will enjoy a buffet dinner and a welcome party thrown by the Captain.

► About the Century Cruise Ship:
Rooms of the ship we will arrange for you enjoy a private viewing balcony and bathroom; whether to have double or twin rooms, the choice is yours. The restaurant offers both Chinese and western food - apart from eating meals with daily changing theme, you can also order snacks from it whenever you want day and night. If you want to kick back and relax, the sundeck and a versatile bar are there for you. There are also various recreational activities to engage yourself in - you can watch a variety show, play board games or cards with friends, and karaoke; for knowledge seekers, you might want to read at a library or attend a lecture introducing the Yangtze River; there is even a gym for you to work out.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Century Victory (5 stars)

Warm up your body by doing some Tai Chi before breakfast. At 8:30 am, we will go ashore to visit Fengdu Ghost City, the Chinese-version hell. Legend has it that the ghost city is where the soul of the dead goes. Described in many Chinese literary works, colored by the ruling class in the past, the bones of the story about it have been fleshed up. It’s a reality born from philosophy and creativity: two thousand years of history has blended Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and ghost culture from folklore into an organic whole, which, after combining arts of architecture, sculpture, and painting, gave birth to the “Ghost City” that the world knows today.

After lunch onboard, you will have a whole afternoon’s leisure time to do whatever activities mentioned above to please yourself.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we are sailing into the most wonderful part of the Yangtze River - the Three Gorges. First, it’s the magnificent Qutang Gorge; next, the tranquilly sublime Wu Gorge. At the Wu Gorge, a side onshore trip to Shennv Stream is in store. The surrounds will be enveloped in darkness at night as it cruises down the Xiling Gorge, the last section before reaching your destination.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Time to disembark. After breakfast, you will leave the ship for Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydro system in the world. Later, hop on a bus offered by the cruise company to Three Gorges Tourists Center and meet our guide, who will take you to the railway station for an eight-hour ride on high-speed train with first class seats to Shanghai. On arrival, meet our local guide and transfer to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World (5 stars)

Your tour in Shanghai will start with Shanghai Museum to learn about Chinese history through invaluable bronze ware, ceramics, paintings, among other artworks. Next, go to Yu Garden, once the private garden of a government official during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Nearby is the famous Yuyuan Bazaar, a busy shopping street with stores housed in traditional buildings. At noon, have an a la carte farewell lunch (valued at CNY150 per person and included in our price) at a popular local restaurant.

In the afternoon, soar up via the fastest elevator in the world to Duo Yun Bookstore, 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower, where you get to savor panoramic views of Shanghai. Then, stroll along the Bund to appreciate resplendent architecture, built in the colonial days of the city. What's more, we will arrange a cruise over the Huangpu River for you to enjoy different sceneries on both sides of the river.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

There are two airports in Shanghai. Most international flights leave from Pudong International Airport (PVG). After breakfast at the hotel, please go to Pudong International Airport independently. You can take a taxi to PVG and it will cost about CNY 200. Wish you have had a happy trip with us!

As Shanghai and Wellington are not directly linked by flight, you might need to consult flight tracking websites or apps to make a connecting plan.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast