From 14-Day Emperors to Skylines
Inclusive Tour
From Emperors to Skylines is a cultural and discovery journey across China, blending imperial heritage, ethnic traditions, and modern cityscapes. It is not limited to one theme, but showcases multiple dimensions of China’s past and present — from ancient dynasties and UNESCO sites to vibrant minority cultures and futuristic skylines.
This 14‑day China Highlights Tour will start in Beijing, continue to Xi’an, then fly south to Kunming, Shangri‑La, and Lijiang, before concluding in Shanghai.
Please arrange your own international or domestic transportation.
Our highlights include:
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the UNESCO sites: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall & Terracotta Warriors;
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the Shaanxi Provincial Museum & bustling Drum Tower Market in Xi’an;
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the Stone Forest Scenic Area & Sani ethnic culture in Kunming;
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Songzanlin Monastery (“Little Potala Palace”) & Napa Nature Reserve in Shangri‑La;
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Dayan Old Town, Dongba Culture Museum & Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang;
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the First Bend of the Yangtze River & dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge;
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the cosmopolitan charm of Shanghai: Yu Garden, the Bund & Shanghai Tower;
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the thrilling Shanghai Maglev Train & shopping on Nanjing Road;
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world‑class performances: Lijiang Impression Show & Shanghai Acrobatic Show;
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different authentic regional cuisines from Beijing, Xi’an, Yunnan & Shanghai.
Download Itineraries
What is included?
1. Meals as listed in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner).
2. Admission fees and guided tours at all attractions listed in the itinerary:
1) Tiananmen Square entrance
2) Forbidden City admission & guided tour
3) Hutong trishaw tour experience
4) Sister school visit
5) Summer Palace admission & guided tour
6) Legend of Gong Fu Show (Shaolin Monk Performance VIP tickets)
7) Great Wall at Mutianyu Section (cable car & tobogganing included)
8) Ancient City Wall admission & tour
9) Tang Dynasty Show & dumpling banquet
10) Terra-cotta Warriors archaeological site admission & guided tour
11) Art Gallery visit & Chinese Calligraphy learning session
12) Big Wild Goose Pagoda Fountain Show
13) Tang Paradise area night lights tour
14) Shaanxi Provincial Museum admission
15) Drum Tower market area tour
16) Stone Forest Scenic Area admission & guided tour
17) Songzanlin Monastery admission & tour
18) Napa Nature Reserve visit
19) Local Tibetan household visits
20) First Bend of the Yangtze River viewing
21) Tiger Leaping Gorge admission & tour
22) Dayan Ancient Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site) walking tour
23) Naxi Village visit
24) Dongba Culture Museum admission
25) Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car & tour
26) Lijiang Impression Show performance
27) Yu Yuan Garden admission & guided tour
28) Chenghuangmiao Bazaar tour
29) Shanghai Tower visit (Pudong district)
30) The Bund waterfront tour
31) Shanghai Acrobatic Show performance
32) Nanjing Road shopping district tour
33) Shanghai Maglev train experience
3. Accommodation for the entire trip
4. Private air-conditioned 15–19-seater coach for all transportation.
5. Professional bilingual (English/Chinese) tour guide service throughout the tour.
What is not included?
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Personal expenses
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International Flights If you would like assistance with booking flight tickets, please contact us via email.
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China visa fee
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Travel insurance
Contact Us for
Prices & Details
Q&A
1. What is “From Emperors to Skyline”?
It is a 14‑day cultural and discovery tour across China, blending imperial heritage, ethnic traditions, and modern cityscapes.
2. Where does the tour start and end?
The journey begins in Beijing, China’s imperial capital, and concludes in Shanghai, the nation’s most cosmopolitan city.
3. What are the main destinations of the tour?
Beijing, Xi’an, Kunming, Shangri‑La, Lijiang, and Shanghai.
4. When is the best time to join this tour?
Spring and autumn (April–June, September–November) offer pleasant temperatures, ideal for both cultural sightseeing and outdoor excursions.
5. What is the best way to travel on this tour?
The itinerary combines flights, comfortable coaches, and cable cars (e.g., Jade Dragon Snow Mountain), ensuring efficiency and scenic experiences.
6. How safe is this tour?
Traveling in China is very safe, with strong public security, convenient transport, and widespread mobile payment. While travel in China is safe and well-supported, travelers are advised to arrange their own travel insurance prior to departure.
7. What are the famous attractions on this tour?
• Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Great Wall (Beijing)
• Terracotta Warriors (Xi’an)
• Stone Forest (Kunming)
• Songzanlin Monastery & Napa Nature Reserve (Shangri‑La)
• Dayan Old Town, Dongba Culture Museum & Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Lijiang)
• Yu Garden, the Bund & Shanghai Tower (Shanghai)
8. What cultural experiences are included?
• Encounters with Naxi, Sani, and Tibetan ethnic minorities
• Dongba pictographic writing system
• Impression Lijiang Show & Shanghai Acrobatic Show
9. What natural landscapes are featured?
• Tiger Leaping Gorge & First Bend of the Yangtze River
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain ecosystems
• Stone Forest karst formations
• Napa alpine grasslands
10. What climate issues should be noted?
• Northern China (Beijing/Xi’an): hot summers, cold winters
• Yunnan (Kunming, Shangri‑La, Lijiang): large day‑night temperature differences, high altitude in Shangri‑La
11. What do you need to prepare for this tour?
• Comfortable walking shoes & layered clothing
• Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
• Mobile payment apps (WeChat/Alipay) and some cash
• Camera for UNESCO sites and scenic landscapes
DAY1 Transit City < Beijing
• Arrive in Beijing and meet local guide for transfer to the elegant Beijing Jiaguo Hotel.
• Rest and prepare for tomorrow’s exploration of China’s magnificent capital.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Beijing
Meals: Dinner
DAY2 Beijing
• Begin at Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square and symbol of Chinese history.
• Step into the Forbidden City, a UNESCO site with nearly 10,000 rooms, once home to 24 emperors.
• In the afternoon, enjoy a trishaw ride through ancient Hutong alleyways, discovering courtyard homes and local life.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Beijing
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY3 Beijing
• Discover the Summer Palace, China’s largest imperial garden, with highlights including the Marble Boat and Long Corridor.
• In the evening, enjoy the Legend of Kung Fu Show at Red Square Theatre, featuring spectacular Shaolin monk performances.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Beijing
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY4 Beijing
• Conquer the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a UNESCO World Heritage site with cable car ascent and thrilling toboggan descent.
• In the evening, savor Beijing Roast Duck, an imperial culinary tradition renowned worldwide.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Beijing
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY5 Beijing < Xi’an
• Fly to Xi’an, capital of 11 ancient dynasties and China’s most historically significant city.
• Explore the Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications in the world.
• In the evening, enjoy a dumpling banquet followed by the Tang Dynasty Cultural Show of music, dance, and costumes.
Traffic: Airplane and car
Hotel: In Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY6 Xi’an
• Discover the Terracotta Warriors, over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers guarding China’s first emperor.
• In the afternoon, practice traditional Chinese calligraphy at a local art gallery.
• End the day at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Tang Paradise, illuminated with stunning night displays.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Xi‘an
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY7 Xi'an < Kunming
• Visit Shaanxi Provincial Museum to explore the region’s rich history, then stroll through Drum Tower Market for souvenirs and local snacks.
• Fly to Kunming, the “City of Eternal Spring,” renowned for its pleasant year‑round climate.
Traffic: Airplane and car
Hotel: In Kunming
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY8 Kunming < Shangri-La
• Discover the Stone Forest Scenic Area, the “No.1 Wonder under Heaven,” with towering limestone pillars and Sani ethnic culture.
• In the afternoon, fly to Zhongdian (Shangri‑La), gateway to Tibetan culture at 3,300 meters above sea level.
Traffic: Airplane and car
Hotel: In Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY9 Shangri-La
• Visit Songzanlin Monastery, the “Little Potala Palace,” and immerse yourself in authentic Tibetan culture.
• Explore Napa Nature Reserve’s diverse ecosystem, then experience warm hospitality in local Tibetan households amid snow‑capped peaks.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY10 Shangri-La < Lijiang
• Drive to Lijiang with stops at the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest canyons.
• Arrive in Lijiang, a charming UNESCO World Heritage town.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY11 Lijiang
• Explore Dayan Old Town, a UNESCO site of canals and Naxi architecture, and visit a Naxi Village to learn about their matriarchal society.
• Discover the Dongba Culture Museum with its rare pictographic writing system.
• Ascend Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car, then enjoy the Lijiang Impression Show performed against the mountain backdrop.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY12 Lijiang < Shanghai
• Fly to Shanghai, China’s most cosmopolitan city and global financial hub where East meets West.
• Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and prepare for three days of urban sophistication.
Traffic: Airplane and car
Hotel: In Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY13 Shanghai
• Explore Yu Garden and Chenghuangmiao Bazaar, then cross to Pudong to ascend Shanghai Tower.
• Stroll along the Bund waterfront, where colonial architecture contrasts with Pudong’s glittering skyline.
• In the evening, enjoy the world‑renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Show.
Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
DAY14 Shanghai <TransitCity
• Spend the morning shopping along Nanjing Road, one of the world’s busiest shopping streets.
• Ride the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s fastest commercial train at 430 km/h, for transfer to the airport.
• Depart with unforgettable memories of your journey.
Traffic: Maglev train and car
Meals: Breakfast
