China New Zealand Year of Tourism Xi'an
On September 10, 2019 the red carpet fit for an emperor will be rolled out for one thousand lucky New Zealanders visiting Xi’an invited to experience the stately Chang’an Impression Tang Dynasty Welcoming Ceremony in celebration of the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism.
Xi’an City Wall has a long history with an iconic ancient city wall that is the most well preserved in the world. The historical capital “Chang’ an” has a unique charm as the terminus of the Silk Road in Shaanxi Province as a melting pot of culture and religions; home to emperors, courtesans, poets, monks, merchants and warriors, the glory days of Xī’ān (西安; pronounced ‘see-an’) may have ended in the early 10th century, but a considerable amount of ancient Cháng’ān, the former city, survives behind the often roaring, modern city. Xī’ān’s Ming-era city walls remain intact, vendors of all descriptions still crowd the narrow lanes of the Muslim Quarter, and there are enough places of interest to keep even the most amateur historian riveted.
The Army of Terracotta Warriors is one of the top archaeological finds in the world. This subterranean life-size army of thousands has silently stood guard over the soul of China’s first emperor for more than two millennia. Archaeologists believe Emperor Qin Shi Huang expected his rule to continue in death as it had in life. Other places to visit include the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi, Xī’ān City Walls and the Muslim Quarter, as well as pagodas and museums, plus a side trip to nearby Huá Shān.
Get Your Own Invite
Be one of the first 1,000 New Zealand visitors that schedule a trip to Xi’an on 10 September 2019 to secure your place at this once-in-a-lifetime event. From the moment you check in with the airline, the celebration will begin. So what are you waiting for?
contact Edie 021734140
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Will these roadworks affect you?
Don’t expect a quick trip between Cambridge and Tamahere for much of this year, because major roadworks are starting.
Asphalt works on that section of Waikato Expressway will run from March through to late 2026, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says. Motorists are warned to plan for significant delays.
“Unfortunately the pavement, particularly in the slow lanes, has deteriorated faster than expected,” NZTA’s Roger Brady said.
Will these roadworks affect you? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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