Discover China

About our China flights

Air New Zealand offers non-stop flights between Auckland and Shanghai, and Air China offer non-stop flights between Auckland to Beijing. Domestic connections are available from Air New Zealand serviced airports.  Our alliance with Air China means both services can be easily booked through either airline with access to reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, such as earning and spending loyalty points and lounge access. You can also book flights to other China destinations. 

On Air New Zealand operated flights to Shanghai, you have a choice of Economy, Economy Stretch, Economy Skycouch™, Premium Economy and Business Premier™. The flight time between Shanghai and Auckland is around 12 hours. 

Note: Economy Stretch may not be available on certain flights.

Did you know that you can create all-inclusive package deals using our site? While you're booking flights, you'll have the option of adding travel insurance. After payment, we'll give you the option of booking accommodation through Expedia.

Visa-free stay opportunities

Great news for Kiwi explorers! From now, until 31 December 2025, New Zealand passport holders may be eligible to visit China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business and family visits.  Additionally, China offers 144-hour visa-free transit options for New Zealand citizens traveling through select Chinese cities. Always verify the latest travel requirements before departure, as visa policies can have specific conditions and may evolve. 

Your guide to China's incredible destinations

From megacities that never sleep to ancient temples where time stands still, China serves up experiences that flip your understanding of the world's largest economy. 

Shanghai - the city that never stops surprising

Shanghai hits you like a time machine with the settings scrambled. Art Deco masterpieces from the 1930s face off against buildings that look like they've been beamed down from the future. The Bund waterfront gives you front-row seats to this architectural showdown, while the Huangpu River adds to the spectacle with constant river traffic weaving between the old and new.

The surprises continue when you explore the tree-lined shopping streets of the French Concession and maze-like pathways of Yu Garden, where classical Chinese design creates an oasis of perfect calm. When night falls, find a rooftop bar and watch the city transform into a jaw-dropping LED light show. 

Hungry? Shanghai's food scene is like a masterclass in Chinese regional cuisine, all packed into one city. Hunt down xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) that let you sip through a straw before you bite down on the deliciousness; explore night markets where every vendor is a culinary artist; and find multi-storey food plazas that blow your mind with tasty choices. 

When it's time to say goodbye to Shanghai, or just because you want a thrill, catch the maglev train to the airport. At 430km per hour, it's the closest you'll get to teleportation.

Beijing - 3,000 years of imperial history

Beijing doesn't just contain history – it immerses you in it. Top billing for imperial sightseeing goes to the Forbidden City, which spreads across 72 hectares and nearly 10,000 rooms, each one holding secrets of imperial power and palace intrigue. You can also lose yourself in the hutongs, ancient narrow alleys where neighbours chat over courtyard walls and elderly men gather for intense chess battles.

Mornings are perfect for tai chi in Temple of Heaven Park, moving slowly alongside locals who've been perfecting these ancient moves for decades. Afternoons belong to the 798 Art District, where contemporary Chinese artists are exploding every assumption about what art should be.

The Great Wall beckons from the city's outskirts. At Mutianyu you can walk along fortifications that defended an empire while enjoying views that stretch forever. For extra excitement, a cable car takes you to the top and a hair-raising toboggan slide brings you back down. 

As for Peking duck – yes, it's mandatory! The whole ritual of paper-thin pancakes, crisp cucumber and sharp spring onions isn't just dinner, it's edible theatre. 

Beyond destinations

Shenyang- where Manchu emperors left their mark

Shenyang surprises visitors who think they know Chinese history. The Shenyang Imperial Palace tells a different story from Beijing's Forbidden City.  This one belongs to the Manchu rulers who conquered China and established the Qing Dynasty. 

Zhaoling Tomb, offering a peaceful resting place for early emperors amid colourful parkland. It's a place where you can feel the weight of history without crowds jostling for selfie opportunities.

The food in Shenyang reflects northeastern China's cold climate through hearty cuisine. Dumplings are big and satisfying and grilled meats arrive sizzling.

Qingdao – a little bit of Germany in China

Qingdao blends German colonial heritage with Chinese culture, seen in its Bavarian-style buildings, castle-like churches, grand Germanic train station and the famed Tsingtao Brewery. 

Sleek modern towers rise alongside the old town's cobblestone streets and European architecture, creating a three-way conversation between German colonial, Chinese contemporary and imperial design.

The beaches of Qingdao rank among China's finest, while nearby Laoshan Mountain offers hiking trails with views that sweep from ancient Taoist temples to endless ocean. After exploring China's intense megacities, Qingdao's relaxed coastal rhythm feels like a relaxing exhale. 

Chengdu - panda paradise and the spice capital of China

Chengdu may be famous for its pandas, but they're only the beginning. The city is the heart of Sichuan cuisine, where the numbing kick of peppercorns and lively hot pot gatherings ignite the senses. Beyond food, Chengdu's teahouse culture runs deep.  Locals gather in People's Park for tea, mah-jong, and street food, turning leisure into an art form. It's community life at its most interesting. 

Dalian - China's favourite seaside escape

Dalian is China's seaside escape.  Xinghai Square, one of the world's largest city squares, flows seamlessly into beaches and waterfront promenades alive with families flying kites, couples strolling or locals exercising.
Golden Pebble Beach delivers pristine coastline with dramatic rock formation and the city's parks and tree-lined streets create a green, breathable atmosphere that makes wandering a pleasure. 

The seafood scene in Dalian is exceptional, thanks to the city's Yellow Sea location. Everything from sea cucumber and jellyfish to scallops and shrimp is on the menu. Spring is all about oysters and autumn is the time for the region's famous hairy crabs.

Zhengzhou - martial arts and ancient mysteries

Zhengzhou serves as your launching pad to the Shaolin Temple, where kung fu masters still practice the martial arts that monks developed centuries ago. 

A must-see in Zhengzhou is the Henan Museum. It displays bronzes that are older than Rome, ceramics from every dynasty and artefacts that prove China was creating art when most of the world was still figuring out agriculture.

Zhengzhou's central location along ancient Silk Road routes makes it perfect for understanding how trade shaped (and continues to shape) Chinese culture. 

Harbin - where China feels surprisingly Russian

Harbin, shaped by Russian refugees and railway builders, feels more like Moscow than Beijing. Central Street's Baroque and Art Nouveau facades set the scene, crowned by Saint Sophia Cathedral's onion domes, one of China's most photogenic skylines.

While Harbin is fascinating at any time of the year, winter transforms the city into something magical during the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Artists carve entire buildings from ice and create intricate frozen landscapes lit by coloured lights. The scale defies belief.  We're talking ice cities, not just a few pretty sculptures.

The Russian influence in Harbin extends to restaurants serving excellent borscht and beef stroganoff alongside Chinese dishes.