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China: The Big One

29 days Go Beyond Group Tour

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China: The Big One

This Flexible, slower-paced tour has time set aside for independent exploration. as well as vibrant cities, discover the charms of beautiful Yangshuo, delightful Dali and quaint Lijang. Please note - there is some altitude on this tour.

  • Included Meals
    Breakfasts: 26 , Lunches: 17 , Dinners: 5
  • Flights
    International flights and current taxes
  • Visas
    Visa fees & processing for NZ passports
  • Cruise
    Yangtze River Cruise
  • Group Tour
    Max Group Size: 28
  • Physical Rating 2
    A reasonable level of fitness is required, as you'll be spending time on your feet and doing a bit of walking to cover short distances during your daily sightseeing. There will also be some climbing of steps and climbing on and off of coaches and boats.
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    Walking, some steps and extended time on your feet.
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Go Beyond Group Tour
29 DAYS
From $9,530PP
Beijing Forbidden City Terracotta Warriors in Xian Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Yangtze River Cruise
5 Reviews
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Tour Highlights

Our China: The Big One 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 (4N) - Overnight Train (1N) - Xian (2N) - Guilin (2N) - Yangshuo (2N) - Kunming (2N) - Dali (2N) - Lijiang (3N) - Chengdu (2N) - Yangtze River Cruise (3N) - Shanghai (3N)
  • Day 1
    Fly To Beijing
    DAY 1: Fly To Beijing

    Fly to Beijing, China's historic capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is at leisure.

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

    Stroll across Tiananmen Square and into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City. Next, visit Yandaixiejie Street where there's time to wander the hutongs. These narrow alleys offer a glimpse of old Beijing.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 3
    Huanghuacheng Great Wall
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 3: Huanghuacheng Great Wall

    Visit Huanghuacheng, a particularly scenic section of the Great Wall. Reached by boat it boasts particularly spectacular views from the top. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Qianmen Street and the Dashilan area. In the evening, enjoy an optional Peking duck dinner.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 4
    Imperial Summer Palace
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 4: Imperial Summer Palace

    Explore the beautifully designed grounds of the Summer Palace, including the Long Corridor and the Marble Boat. Spend time strolling along pretty Kunming Lake and walk up wooded Longevity Hill. Make a photo stop at the Olympic Park.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 5
    Temple Of Heaven
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 5: Temple Of Heaven

    Visit the tranquil Temple of Heaven. Later, take the overnight train to Xian.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 6
    Cycling In Xian
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 6: Cycling In Xian

    Start your day with a gentle cycle ride that will take you nine miles around the city wall that enclose Xian’s old town. Also visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 7
    Terracotta Warriors
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 7: Terracotta Warriors

    Spend the morning gazing over the ranks of warriors and horses, while you are introduced to these life-like soldiers' fascinating story. Take a walking tour of the Muslim Quarter and enjoy the evening at leisure.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 8
    Beautiful Guilin
    Breakfast
    DAY 8: Beautiful Guilin

    Fly to Guilin. This afternoon is at leisure – you may wish to stroll around Zhengyang Street.

    Breakfast
  • Day 9
    Hiking In Longji (Optional)
    Breakfast
    DAY 9: Hiking In Longji (Optional)

    Today, there is an option to take a four-hour hike in the stunning rice terraces of Longji. Otherwise, spend more time in Guilin.

    Breakfast
  • Day 10
    Li River Cruise
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 10: Li River Cruise

    Take a gentle cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo. Lined with dramatic limestone cliffs, the serenity of life on the riverbanks is a wonderful sight. Take a walk through this idyllic wonderland and get an insight into life here. There's an option to hike to the top of Moon Hill for epic views.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 11
    Yangshuo Tai Chi
    Breakfast
    DAY 11: Yangshuo Tai Chi

    Start the day with an invigorating session of tai chi, taking a class with a master to learn this ancient martial art. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure or take part in an optional activity.

    Breakfast
  • Day 12
    Kunming At Leisure
    Breakfast
    DAY 12: Kunming At Leisure

    Transfer to Guilin and visit Reed Flute Cave before boading the bullet train for Kunming.

    Breakfast
  • Day 13
    Stone Forest
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 13: Stone Forest

    Meander through the formations of the UNESCO-listed Stone Forest. Return to Kunming to visit Green Lake Park and have an evening at leisure, perhaps enjoying the vibrant Wenhua Alley district.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 14
    Dali's Ancient Town
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 14: Dali's Ancient Town

    Drive to Dali and visit the Three Pagodas and the Old Town. Also stroll along Foreigner's Street and enjoy time at leisure.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 15
    Weibaoshan (Optional)
    Breakfast
    DAY 15: Weibaoshan (Optional)

    Enjoy the day at leisure or take an optional visit to Weibaoshan, one of the fourteen sacred Taoist mountains. Steeped in legend, the mountain features 20 Taoist temples nestled on its forested slopes. Walk up the hillside to see a handful of intricately decorated temples and meet a Taoist priest for a meditation session.

    Breakfast
  • Day 16
    Shaxi Ancient Town
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 16: Shaxi Ancient Town

    Drive to the ancient town of Shaxi, nestled deep in the Himalayan foothills. Learn about the fascinating minority people that reside in the area and enjoy a local lunch. In the afternoon, continue to Lijiang and spend the evening in the historic old town.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 17
    Jade dragon Snow Mountain
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 17: Jade dragon Snow Mountain

    Take a cable car to one of the high meadows and enjoy the vistas. Visit the minority Naxi village and admire the fascinating Baisha frescoes painted during the Ming Dynasty.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 18
    Tiger Leaping Gorge (Optional)
    Breakfast
    DAY 18: Tiger Leaping Gorge (Optional)

    Enjoy the day at leisure or trek to Tiger Leaping Gorge, through dramatic cliffs and down into the gorge itself.

    Breakfast
  • Day 19
    Chengdu Like A Local
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 19: Chengdu Like A Local

    Fly to Chengdu and walk around People's Park. Visit a local tea-house and most interesting of all, Matchmaker's Corner.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 20
    Giant Pandas
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 20: Giant Pandas

    Visit the Chengdu Panda Conservation Centre and see these adorably charming bears up close. The rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy an optional hot pot dinner and a 'face-changing' show.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 21
    Ancient Ciqikou
    Breakfast, Dinner
    DAY 21: Ancient Ciqikou

    Take the bullet train to Chongqing. Enjoy free time in the charming old town of Ciqikou then board your Yangtze cruise vessel.

    Breakfast, Dinner
  • Days 22-24
    Yangtze River
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAYS 22-24: Yangtze River

    A cruise down the Yangtze reveals some of the world's most dramatic scenery. Over the next few days, visit the Three Gorges Dam and enjoy various side trips and shore excursions. Disembark your cruise vessel, travel to Yichang and then take the bullet train to Shanghai.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 25
    Shanghainese Shanghai
    Breakfast, Lunch
    DAY 25: Shanghainese Shanghai

    Wake up to the buzz of Shanghai and take a breakfast walking tour between shimmering skyscrapers and traditional streets. Visit Yu Garden, the old town, a silk factory, stroll along the Bund and cruise along Huangpu River.

    Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 26
    Zhujiajiao (Optional)
    Breakfast, Dinner
    DAY 26: Zhujiajiao (Optional)

    Join the optional day tour to delightful Zhujiajiao, or spend time at leisure in Shanghai. This evening, enjoy the ERA show and a delicious farewell dinner.

    Breakfast, Dinner
  • Days 27-28
    Fly Shanghai To New Zealand
    Breakfast
    DAYS 27-28: Fly Shanghai To New Zealand

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

    Breakfast
China: The Big One 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.

Book With Confidence

When to go

City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • -8
    2
    -3
  • 3
  • Chengdu
  • 3
    9
    6
  • 8
  • Dali
  • 1
    14
    8
  • 14
  • Guilin
  • 5
    12
    8
  • 63
  • Kunming
  • 2
    15
    9
  • 16
  • Lijiang
  • 7
    21
    6
  • 2
  • Shanghai
  • 2
    8
    5
  • 74
  • Xian
  • -4
    5
    0
  • 7
  • Yangshuo
  • 6
    13
    10
  • 53
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • -6
    5
    0
  • 5
  • Chengdu
  • 5
    11
    8
  • 12
  • Dali
  • 2
    16
    9
  • 23
  • Guilin
  • 7
    13
    10
  • 97
  • Kunming
  • 4
    17
    10
  • 16
  • Lijiang
  • 8
    24
    8
  • 6
  • Shanghai
  • 4
    10
    7
  • 59
  • Xian
  • -1
    8
    4
  • 10
  • Yangshuo
  • 7
    13
    10
  • 81
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 0
    12
    6
  • 8
  • Chengdu
  • 8
    16
    12
  • 20
  • Dali
  • 5
    19
    12
  • 28
  • Guilin
  • 10
    16
    13
  • 137
  • Kunming
  • 6
    21
    14
  • 20
  • Lijiang
  • 13
    29
    10
  • 17
  • Shanghai
  • 7
    14
    10
  • 94
  • Xian
  • 4
    14
    9
  • 29
  • Yangshuo
  • 11
    17
    14
  • 114
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 8
    20
    14
  • 21
  • Chengdu
  • 13
    22
    17
  • 44
  • Dali
  • 8
    21
    14
  • 24
  • Guilin
  • 16
    23
    19
  • 247
  • Kunming
  • 10
    24
    17
  • 24
  • Lijiang
  • 18
    33
    13
  • 21
  • Shanghai
  • 12
    20
    16
  • 74
  • Xian
  • 10
    21
    15
  • 43
  • Yangshuo
  • 16
    23
    20
  • 224
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 14
    26
    20
  • 34
  • Chengdu
  • 17
    26
    22
  • 78
  • Dali
  • 12
    24
    18
  • 66
  • Guilin
  • 20
    27
    24
  • 352
  • Kunming
  • 14
    24
    19
  • 97
  • Lijiang
  • 21
    34
    17
  • 56
  • Shanghai
  • 17
    25
    21
  • 84
  • Xian
  • 14
    26
    20
  • 60
  • Yangshuo
  • 20
    28
    24
  • 312
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 19
    30
    24
  • 78
  • Chengdu
  • 20
    28
    24
  • 107
  • Dali
  • 15
    24
    20
  • 178
  • Guilin
  • 23
    30
    27
  • 347
  • Kunming
  • 17
    24
    20
  • 181
  • Lijiang
  • 23
    33
    18
  • 167
  • Shanghai
  • 22
    28
    25
  • 182
  • Xian
  • 19
    31
    25
  • 54
  • Yangshuo
  • 23
    30
    26
  • 293
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 22
    31
    26
  • 185
  • Chengdu
  • 22
    30
    26
  • 224
  • Dali
  • 16
    24
    20
  • 186
  • Guilin
  • 25
    33
    29
  • 231
  • Kunming
  • 17
    24
    20
  • 202
  • Lijiang
  • 24
    32
    18
  • 242
  • Shanghai
  • 26
    32
    29
  • 146
  • Xian
  • 22
    32
    27
  • 99
  • Yangshuo
  • 24
    32
    28
  • 200
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 21
    30
    25
  • 160
  • Chengdu
  • 22
    30
    26
  • 201
  • Dali
  • 15
    23
    19
  • 219
  • Guilin
  • 24
    33
    29
  • 173
  • Kunming
  • 16
    24
    20
  • 204
  • Lijiang
  • 23
    32
    17
  • 207
  • Shanghai
  • 26
    32
    29
  • 214
  • Xian
  • 21
    31
    26
  • 71
  • Yangshuo
  • 24
    32
    28
  • 186
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 15
    26
    20
  • 46
  • Chengdu
  • 19
    25
    22
  • 119
  • Dali
  • 13
    22
    18
  • 158
  • Guilin
  • 22
    30
    26
  • 82
  • Kunming
  • 15
    23
    19
  • 119
  • Lijiang
  • 22
    31
    16
  • 161
  • Shanghai
  • 22
    28
    25
  • 87
  • Xian
  • 16
    25
    21
  • 92
  • Yangshuo
  • 22
    30
    26
  • 83
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 8
    19
    14
  • 22
  • Chengdu
  • 15
    21
    18
  • 35
  • Dali
  • 10
    20
    15
  • 104
  • Guilin
  • 17
    26
    21
  • 66
  • Kunming
  • 12
    20
    16
  • 79
  • Lijiang
  • 19
    30
    13
  • 70
  • Shanghai
  • 17
    23
    20
  • 56
  • Xian
  • 10
    20
    15
  • 60
  • Yangshuo
  • 17
    26
    22
  • 85
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • 0
    10
    5
  • 7
  • Chengdu
  • 10
    16
    13
  • 16
  • Dali
  • 5
    17
    11
  • 33
  • Guilin
  • 12
    20
    16
  • 64
  • Kunming
  • 7
    18
    12
  • 42
  • Lijiang
  • 12
    27
    9
  • 16
  • Shanghai
  • 11
    17
    14
  • 52
  • Xian
  • 3
    12
    8
  • 24
  • Yangshuo
  • 12
    21
    16
  • 69
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Beijing
  • -6
    4
    -1
  • 3
  • Chengdu
  • 4
    11
    8
  • 5
  • Dali
  • 2
    15
    8
  • 15
  • Guilin
  • 7
    15
    11
  • 43
  • Kunming
  • 3
    15
    9
  • 11
  • Lijiang
  • 8
    22
    6
  • 4
  • Shanghai
  • 5
    11
    8
  • 44
  • Xian
  • -2
    6
    2
  • 6
  • Yangshuo
  • 7
    16
    12
  • 44

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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  • Select Month
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 July 2024
    • 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 RMB1,375pp 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) 27 days from $8,780 per person, twin share
    • Single supplement from $2,600
    • Price listed is based on new bookings only

    Group Tour includes

    • 26 breakfasts, 17 lunches, 5 dinners
    • International flights and current taxes
    • Domestic transportation
    • 4 star accommodation
    • 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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