Luoyang

Tours

Explore the Longmen Grottoes at your own pace with this ticket. You can choose to upgrade your ticket to include a private guide and train station or hotel pickup service. If you book with a guide, you will meet your guide in your hotel lobby or at the train station, and then take a taxi or a private vehicle to the Longmen Grottoes. Explore the grottoes at your own leisure. After the tour, you can choose to spend more time in the grottoes area on your own, or ask the guide to help you find a taxi back to the hotel or take public transportation. If you book an 8 - hour day tour, your guide will tell you historical stories about Luoyang and the Grottoes during the drive after meeting you in the lobby or at the train station. Upon arrival, you will take an electric shuttle bus and explore the Grottoes on foot. The Longmen Grottoes are considered the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art from the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316 - 907). You will admire the cave statues and appreciate the sculpture art, which consists of more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs over a 1 - km stretch. Optionally, you can choose to take a boat cruise at your own expense to enjoy a panoramic view of the grottoes. After visiting the Longmen Grottoes, you will enjoy a delicious local lunch. Afterwards, it will take around a 20 - minute drive to the White Horse Temple, which is considered the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism. It was founded in 68 AD and is regarded as the first Buddhist temple in China. Afterwards, your final stop will be the third highlight of Luoyang, the Luoyang Museum. The museum displays 1,700 cultural relics in five exhibition rooms, reflecting different social development stages such as the Primitive Society (6000 years ago), the Slavery Society (4000 - 3000 years ago), and the Feudal Society (221 BC - 1912 AD). Besides the basic displays, the museum also holds exhibitions of calligraphy, paintings, etc. every year. (It is closed every Monday.) This private tour includes an English - speaking tour guide, transportation by a private air - conditioned vehicle, entrance fees, lunch, and all round - trip hotel transfers. If you only choose the ticket option, it means your booking only includes entry tickets without pickup and drop - off services, and without a guide or a driver.

Shaolin Temple Fungfu Show information The Shaolin Kung Fu Show Theatre is located not far from the main entrance( around 400m ). There are 5 fixed daily performances at the theatre. The kung fu show lasts half hour including a few minutes’interaction on the part of the visitors and the actors. Place : Kung Fu Show Theatre Timetable : Morning Kung Fu Show 10:30 – 11:00 11:30 – 12:00 Afternoon Kung Fu Show 14:00 – 14:30 15:00 – 15:30 16:00 – 17:30 Note: You need line up over there 15 minutes before the show at least to catch the show. There are around 400 seats , indoors 1st Floor and 2nd Floor. So well schedule your visiting time in Shaolin Temple, avoiding losing the exciting kung fu show. The Kung Fu Show is performed by the professional performance team from Shaolin Tagou Wushu School.

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at 9am or Longmen railway station and transfer to Longmen Grottoes. You first will visit the the Longmen Grottoes, which is a treasure house of ancient stone-carving art. Carrying over 1500 years of history, Longmen Grottoes is the carving masterpiece, which went through over 400 years to complete, tracing back to AD 493 of Northern Wei dynasty. Now as the famous tourist site, it shows the bright period of Buddhist culture of ancient China. Then, you will explore the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Martial Arts. Here, your private Kung Fu tour comes to a climax when you see the Kung Fu show performed by Shaolin monks. Besides, Shaolin Temple boasts some traditional valued architecture like the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave and the Shaolin Temple Martial Art Training Center. Among them, the Pagoda Forest is the largest group of ancient pagodas existing in China. In the year of 2010, Shaolin Temple has been included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list. After lunch, your guide will escort you to your hotel/train station. End of our services today.

Explore the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Luoyang with this entry ticket. Admire the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art from the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion. Go to the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. Located on both sides of the Yi River to the south of the ancient capital of Luoyang, Henan province, the grottoes comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs over a 1km long stretch. Admire the almost 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. Learn about the significance of the site, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

According to your tour pickup time, meet with your guide in the lobby of your Zhengzhou hotel and start your day. First, travel by the private car to the Shaolin Temple which will take about 1.5 hours. The Shaolin Temple was built in 495 AD by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty for the Indian monk Batuo. It was from here that Indian scriptures were translated into Chinese and the precepts of Zen Buddhism formed. The Shaolin Temple sits on the slopes of Mount Song, one of the five sacred mountains of China. The original temple structure was simple, but with each succeeding dynasty it became increasingly extensive—many of the current structures date from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Stroll around different halls and courtyards, explore the Pagoda Forest which is a concentration of tomb pagodas for eminent monks and abbots of the temple. There are more than 240 tomb pagodas of various sizes from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618-1911), making it the biggest pagoda forest in China. Witness the real Kungfu performed by Shaolin monks at the theatre. Gain deep insight into the histories and related stories about Shaolin Temple - culture, people and soul. Enjoy a delicious lunch in the local restaurant, then heading to Longmen Grottoes (Approx. 1.5 hours drive). The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving. At the end of the tour, head back to your hotel in Zhengzhou, you also can end your tour in Luoyang.

Following a morning pickup from your accommodation in Luoyang city, meet your private guide and hop aboard your air-conditioned vehicle. Heading directly to Longmen Grottoes. Upon arrival, take the battery bus to start your adventure. Follow your tour guide to admire the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). The Longmen Grottoes comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs over a 1km long stretch.  Afterwards take the boat cruise to enjoy the paranoiac view of the grottoes. Enjoy a 1.5 hours ride to Shaolin Temple. Your tour guide will explain the relate histories and stories along the way, feel free to ask any questions if you have! Once arrive at Shaolin Temple, enjoy a local lunch,  then witness the real Kungfu performed by Shaolin monks at Shaolin Temple theater. Move on to explore the Shaolin Temple which was first constructed in 495 A.D. Later, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-557) had the temple built to accommodate the Indian master Batuo. As Chinese Kungfu also originated from Shaolin Temple, it has been recognized as the origin of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Kungfu. Stroll through the buildings and courtyards with your tour guide, gain deep insight into the history and the Shaolin monks life in the temple. Afterwards, you will explore the Pagoda Forest which is a concentration of tomb pagodas for eminent monks and abbots of the temple. There are more than 240 tomb pagodas of various sizes from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618-1911), making it the biggest pagoda forest in China.  After your tour finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Luoyang.

As the first Buddhist temple in China, White Horse Temple boasts numerous "Firsts": it houses the first ancient pagoda, the Qiyun Pagoda; accommodated the first Indian monk; stored the first Chinese Buddhist scriptures; housed the first translating scripture place, the Cool and Clear Terrace; and welcomed the first Chinese monk, among others. Established in AD 68 of the Eastern Han Dynasty, White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple in China with over 1900 years history. Since then, it spread the Buddhism throughout China and became the cradle of Chinese Buddhism. Till today, it is still a popular place to explore Chinese Buddhism.

Meet your private guide and driver at your Luoyang Downtown hotel, Luoyang Longmen Train Station, or Zhengzhou downtown hotel. Then head directly to Longmen Grottoes. Your guide will tell you historical stories about Luoyang Old Town and the Grottoes on the way. Upon arrival, you can take a boat cruise to enjoy a panoramic view of the grottoes, which comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs over a 1 - km - long stretch. (The cost is on your own and the cruise is not available in winter.) Afterwards, take an electronic bus and explore the Grottoes on foot. The Longmen Grottoes are considered the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art from the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316 - 907). You will admire the cave statues and appreciate the sculpture art. After visiting the Longmen Grottoes, you will have around 1.5 hours of private transfer to Shaolin Temple. Your tour guide will not only explain the temple's history and stories but also share the Buddhist philosophy and its influence in China. Before the Temple tour, you will enjoy a local lunch and watch a Kungfu show performed by Shaolin monks. Shaolin Temple was first constructed in 495 A.D. Later, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 557AD) had the temple built to accommodate the Indian master Batuo. Shaolin Temple is the origin of Chinese Kungfu. It has also been recognized as the origin of ZEN Buddhism and the cradle of Kungfu. Zen Buddhism is the most popular Buddhist sect in China and East Asia. At the end of the day tour, your private guide and driver will take you back to your downtown hotel or Longmen Train Station. NOTE: It will be super crowded during the Peony Festival in April. It will not be enjoyable, and maybe you can't finish the whole tour during this season.

Your driver in Xi'an will pick you up from your hotel lobby around 6:50 am and transfer you to Xi'an North Railway Station to catch the high-speed train G3154 (08:39-10:18) or similar train from Xi'an to Luoyang (approx. 1.5 hours). Upon your arrival in Luoyang, our local guide and driver will meet you at the railway station and take you to the Longmen Grottoes, which is a treasure house of ancient stone-carving art more than 100,000 stone statues here, varying from 2-centimeter to 17.14-meter high, and extending for about 1,094 yards along both banks of Yi River. About 12 kilometers far away from Luoyang city, it is one of the three most valuable Buddhist Cave and rock carvings in China (2 hours). Then, head towards the famous Shaolin Temple (approx. 2.5 hours drive) which is known for Shaolin Kung Fu. You will have a chance to witness the real Kung Fu performed by Shaolin monks. Shaolin Temple is famous not only as one of China's most important Buddhist temples but also as the center of Chinese Kung Fu. First constructed in 495, the temple was mainly designed to accommodate Batuo, a famous Indian monk. Now Shaolin Temple is reputed as "the Number One Temple under Heaven" and was also listed as UNESCO World Cultural & Natural Heritage in 2010 as part of the "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng". The temple is the cradle of the Chinese Zen Buddhism and the Shaolin martial arts. After you visit Shaolin Temple, your guide will take you to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station for train G1933 (19:08-20:38) or a similar train back to Xi'an (approx. 1.5 hours). Xi'an driver will pick you up at Xi'an North Railway Station and transfer you back to your hotel in Xi'an.

Be picked up from your Luoyang hotel or railway station , relax in a chartered car and explore the Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple on your own. You will see the World Heritage Luoyang Longmen Grottoes . The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316AD-907AD). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving.One of the four major grottoes of China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, see the Shaolin Temple .Shaolin Temple was established in 495AD by Emperor Xiaowen in Beiwei Dynasty for the purpose of housing the famous Indian monk, Batuo, who came to Luoyang, the ancient capital for spreading Buddhism at that period. Now Shaolin Temple is reputed as the Number One Temple under Heaven which was listed as UNESCO’s World Cultural & Natural Heritage List in 2010 as part of the "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng. Outside the temple and move on to the next big attraction – Pagoda Forest, a graveyard for the monks through the ages. Enjoy these two sites views , dropped off at your hotel or railway station in Luoyang. We may change the order of the two locations based on the location of your hotel or train station. If you have any special requirements, please let us know. Thanks :)