Magnificent China

Experience the very best of China on this comprehensive journey through its most iconic cities, landscapes and cultural treasures. Begin in Beijing, exploring Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall, alongside traditional experiences such as hutong visits and a Peking duck dinner.

Travel by high-speed rail to Xian to marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, walk the ancient city walls and enjoy local culture through calligraphy, dumplings and Tang Dynasty entertainment. Continue to Chengdu to visit the world-famous Giant Pandas, relax in teahouses and sample bold Sichuan cuisine.

Board a four-night Yangtze River cruise, sailing through the spectacular Three Gorges and visiting the monumental Three Gorges Dam, scenic tributaries and cultural heritage sites.

Discover the postcard-perfect scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo, cruising the Li River, exploring rural countryside, visiting tea plantations and enjoying panoramic mountain views.

Conclude in vibrant Shanghai, with visits to classical gardens in Suzhou, traditional old towns, modern city districts and a scenic Huangpu River cruise.

This immersive tour combines China’s ancient history, natural beauty and modern energy for an unforgettable travel experience.

Highlights

• Walk on the Great Wall of China
• Experience the spectacular Terracotta Warriors
• Spend 4 nights on the Yangtze River
• Get up close to the lovable pandas
• Relax with a scenic cruise on Li River
• Explore the Yangshuo countryside
• Soak up the culture in vibrant Shanghai 

Pricing

23 Days

from

$8,730*

per person, twin share

Pricing based on 14, 23 Mar, 18 May, 13 June, 8, 31 Aug Departures

Inclusions

• Return international economy flights, taxes and current fuel surcharges  (unless a land only option is selected)
• All accommodation
• All meals
• All sightseeing and entrance fees
• All transportation and transfers English speaking National Escort (if your group is 10 or more passengers) and Local Guides
• Specialist advice from our experienced travel consultants
• Comprehensive travel guides
• Safe and secure with IATA

The only thing you may have to pay for is personal expenditure e.g. drinks, optional excursions or shows, insurance of any kind, customary tipping, early check in or late check out and other items not specified on the itinerary. 

Itinerary Details

Days One & Two - Fly to Beijing

On arrival in Beijing Daxing or Beijing Capital Airport, you will be met in the arrival hall by your local guide and/or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours.  Together with all the other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will transfer approximately 1 hour to your hotel.  Early check-in is not included. Additional nights before and after your tour can be arranged. Please contact our Reservations team to book. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 2. Late arrivals will receive a box dinner. 

Day Three - Beijing

Walk through Tiananmen Square and into the magnificent Forbidden City. Next, soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven.  Sightseeing here will involve approximately 3-4 hours on foot.  Enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner this evening. 

Day Four - The Great Wall

Rise early this morning and drive around 2-hours northwest of the city to the Juyongguan Pass. Here you can take a walk on the Great Wall of China, appreciating the wall itself and the dramatic scenery.  After walking from the coach to the first section, your group will receive an introduction to the Great Wall’s unique history and a briefing on the different walking routes available, depending on your level of fitness.  Meals: B, L, D You will then have approximately 2.5 hours free time to explore at your own pace. Please note that there are many steps at the wall and certain sections are steeper than others. Later, visit a jade factory before taking a stroll through the exquisite Summer Palace. 

Day Five - Beijing - Xian

This morning, enjoy a leisurely stroll in the warren-like hutongs where you will meet a local family. There will be around 1 hour on foot here. Transfer to the train station and take the speedy bullet train to Xian, a journey of around 5.5 hours.  

Day Six - Xian

Spend the morning viewing the enigmatic ranks of the lifesized Terracotta Warriors. The Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses is located approximately a 1-hour drive outside of Xian. From the bus park to the museum entrance there is a 15-minute walk. There are electric carts offered by private vendors which can be organised at your own cost. There is no electric cart available for the return from the museum exit to the bus park. Within the museum area the warriors can be seen in 3 different ‘pits’, which are active archaeological digs. The site is large and will take about 2 and a half hours to explore. After this, visit the Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Workshop to see smaller models of the warriors being made.  Stop by a brewery to try a selection of local craft beers (non-alcoholic beverages also available) then enjoy a delicious feast of traditional Shui Jiao dumplings and a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.  

Day Seven -  Xian 

Start your day with a lesson in calligraphy, then stroll on the beautifully preserved 14th century city walls that enclose Xian’s old town.  The local guide will give you time to explore the ancient city walls at your own pace. 

Day Eight - Xian - Chengdu 

Board the bullet train for a 4 hour journey to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Tonight, there is an option to see a performance of Sichuan Opera, famous for ‘face-changing’ (time permitting, payable locally).  

Day Nine - Chengdu 

Today you will visit China’s most famous resident, the Giant Panda. Visit the Panda Conservation Centre where you can learn about China’s celebrated bear.  See these lovable creatures in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. It is not guaranteed that you will be able to see the feeding of the younger pandas, as this only happens at the start and end of each day. Sightseeing involves approximately 1 and a half hours on foot and there are electric carts offered by private vendors that can be organised at your own cost. Later, wander through Matchmaker’s Corner in People’s Park where parents search for suitable suitors for their children, and visit a traditional Tea House where you will try traditional Chinese tea.  Stroll down the Wide and Narrow Alley and in the evening, enjoy a delicious Sichuanese meal. 

Day Ten - Yangtze River Cruise 

Travel by bullet train approximately 6.5 hours to Yichang to board your Yangtze River cruise vessel, where you will stay for the next four nights. 

Day Eleven - Yangtze River Cruise 

Visit the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam, and marvel at this incredible feat of engineering.  Disembark the ship and take a scenic 45-minute drive (please note that the coach is not permitted to take photo stops) to the viewing area above the ship locks, where you will be able to appreciate the immense scale of this monumental project. Explore a small museum and a lookout point for further insight into its construction and impact on the region. This excursion includes approximately one hour of walking. Return to the ship and cruise through Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the Three Gorges.   

Day Twelve - Yangtze River Cruise 

 Transfer to smaller vessels for a relaxing 1.5-hour excursion through the Shennong Stream gorges. Though narrower than the Three Gorges, these dramatic waterways offer equally as impressive scenery.  There is no walking involved on this shore excursion, however you will need to get on and off the boat without assistance.  Later, as the cruise ship continues upstream, prepare for breathtaking vistas as you pass through Wu and Qutang gorges.  Visit wendywutours.co.nz 11 Wu Gorge is known for its quiet beauty, with forest-covered mountains and towering cliffs, while Qutang Gorge, the shortest and narrowest, captivates with its sheer rock faces and dramatic landscapes. 

Day Thirteen - Yangtze River Cruise 

Continue cruising along the mighty Yangtze River. Relax onboard or disembark to explore the Xiaoguanshan Folk Culture Park, a reconstructed park featuring ancestral homes, the historic Tianfo Temple, and Huichuan Gate, all rescued from the submerged areas of the Three Gorges Dam. Sightseeing is on foot at a leisurely pace, taking approximately 1-2 hours.  

Day Fourteen - Yangtze River Cruise – Guilin    

Check out of your cabin early this morning and disembark in Chongqing. There are around 200 steps from the coach parking to the cruise dock. Board the bullet train to the beautiful city of Guilin. The journey will be approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes. Later, take a leisurely walk around Ronghu Lake and visit Sun & Moon Pagodas for a spectacular view over downtown Guilin.  

Day Fifteen - Guilin - Yangshuo 

Take a relaxed 4-hour cruise along the Li River to the charming village of Yangshuo, where you will spend 2 nights. Around every river bend is a view to take your breath away as jagged peaks loom over rural scenes of lush greenery, grazing buffalos and local fishermen.  These are small cruise boats usually holding approximately 100 passengers: with an enclosed dining area on the lower deck and an open viewing area on the upper deck. Usually, the boats depart at 9am from the dock located a 1-hour drive from your hotel.  

Day Sixteen - Yangshuo 

Yangshuo sits in an exquisite rural location, surrounded by landscapes of jewel-green paddy fields and dramatic limestone karsts.  Begin your day with an invigorating Tai Chi class led by a local master, followed by a soothing Chinese reflexology massage.  Spend the rest of the morning exploring the countryside then enjoy the afternoon free at leisure. 

Day Seventeen - Yangshuo - Guilin 

Travel back to Guilin, stopping at a tea plantation to explore among the tea bushes, enjoy a tasting and learn about China’s rich tea heritage.  Then ride a scenic cable car up Yao Mountain for panoramic views of Guilin’s dramatic karst landscape.  Sightseeing today is leisurely with around 2 hours on foot. 

Day Eighteen - Guilin - Shanghai 

Today you will fly for 2 hours and 15 minutes to the exuberant city of Shanghai.  Later, spend some time in the city’s Xintiandi area, a vibrant entertainment district made up of traditional 19th century Shikumen architecture.  

Day Nineteen - Suzhou 

Travel approximately 2 hours to neighboring Suzhou, which is renowned for its gardens. Visit one of its finest, the Humble Administrator’s Garden.  Cruise the Grand Canal, before returning to Shanghai to dine on local Shanghainese cuisine. There will be 3-4 hours walking while sightseeing today.  

Day Twenty - Shanghai

Shanghai is China’s great metropolis, where east and west collide. Visit a silk mill, stroll through the classical Yu Garden and old town, then take in sweeping views from Jin Mao Tower.  Later, enjoy a cruise along the Huangpu River.  Sightseeing is approximately 3-4 hours on foot today. 

Day Twenty One - Shanghai

Shanghai is China’s great metropolis, where east and west collide. Visit a silk mill, stroll through the classical Yu Garden and old town, then take in sweeping views from Jin Mao Tower.  Later, enjoy a cruise along the Huangpu River.  Sightseeing is approximately 3-4 hours on foot today. 

Days Twenty Two & Twenty Three - Depart Shanghai

Any time before your flight is at leisure. You will be transferred from your hotel to Shanghai Pudong or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, according to the departure time of your international flight, arriving home either the same or following day.  

Terms and Conditions

Prices include airline fuel surcharge and taxes and are subject to change. Correct as of 1 June 2025

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 is paid locally in China of approximately RMB 1,055 pp (2025 & 2026), RMB 1110 pp (2027).

Based on departures from Auckland Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available upon request

Price listed is based on new bookings only

For further T & C's please visit the Wendy Wu website www.wendywutours.co.nz