2 Days Luoyang Essential Tour: Ancient Capital, Grottoes & Shaolin Kung Fu
Must-see & Must-do：
Highlight 1: Discover the largest of China’s four major grottoes, stretching along the scenic Yi River in Luoyang. Divided into the Western Hill and Eastern Hill Grottoes, it boasts thousands of intricate Buddhist carvings and statues.
Highlight 2: Transfer to White Horse Temple, China’s first Buddhist temple, built during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Known as the cradle of Chinese Buddhism, it features ancient architecture, sacred halls, and three exotic architectural styles.
Highlight 3: Visit the legendary Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Kung Fu and Chan Buddhism. Explore its ancient halls, witness martial arts traditions, and immerse yourself in its spiritual and cultural legacy.
Highlight 4: Explore Luoyang Old Town, a vibrant area showcasing traditional architecture, bustling streets, and local culture. Don’t miss Lijing Gate, the ancient city gate that offers stunning views and serves as a gateway to Luoyang’s rich historical charm.
Highlight 5: Let’s dive into the Luoyang Museum, a treasure trove of ancient Chinese history and culture. Discover exquisite relics, including pottery, bronze ware, and Tang Dynasty artifacts, showcasing Luoyang’s rich heritage as the capital of 13 dynasties.
Itinerary Quick Look：
This morning, your local guide will meet you at the appointed location in Luoyang (hotel, railway station, or airport; tell us in advance).
Luoyang (洛阳), located in the western part of Henan Province, east of Xi’an, is one of China’s Four Ancient Capitals. It served as the Capital for 13 Dynasties and marked the eastern starting point of the Ancient Silk Road. During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), Luoyang flourished as the Eastern Capital, rivaling the Western Capital, Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an). In 684, under the reign of Wu Zetian (武则天), China’s first female emperor, Luoyang became the official capital and earned the title “Divine Capital”. The highlight of Luoyang is the Longmen Grottoes, heavily influenced by Wu Zetian’s era. Luoyang is also known as the “City of Peonies”, and if you visit in spring, you can admire its beautiful peony gardens and parks.
Then, our experienced guide will lead you to the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟), located south of Luoyang city. Recognized as the most outstanding of China’s Four Great Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes house the largest and most remarkable collection of Chinese art from the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316–907). This UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2000, consists of over 2,300 caves and niches carved into steep limestone cliffs spanning a 1 km stretch. Inside, you will discover nearly 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, over 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. These masterpieces, entirely dedicated to Buddhism, represent the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving.
Longmen Grottoes is divided into the Western Hill Grottoes and the Eastern Hill Grottoes, with the Western Hill being the highlight. The most iconic grotto is the Fengxian Temple (奉先寺), dominated by the colossal Vairocana Buddha at its center (17.14 meters tall). This statue, believed to represent Empress Wu Zetian, exudes elegance with its serene smile, earning it the title of the “Eastern Mona Lisa”. Flanking the Buddha are four pairs of figures: disciples, Bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, and warriors. You will also explore Wanfo Cave (万佛洞), named for its 15,000 small Buddha statues intricately carved into its walls, with the smallest being only 2 cm tall. This cave, completed in 680 AD during the Tang Dynasty, is the most complete in terms of statue combinations. Don’t miss the Three Bingyang Caves (宾阳三洞), excavated during the Northern Wei Dynasty and commissioned by Emperor Xiaowen to honor his father. Another highlight is Yaofangdong Cave (药方洞), which features 140 inscriptions detailing treatments for various diseases. Finally, visit Guyang Cave (古阳洞) for an awe-inspiring experience.
Recommended Visiting Route for Longmen Grottoes:
North Gate → Yu Wang Pool → Qianxi Temple → Three Binyang Caves → Cliffside Three Buddhas Niche → Wanfo Cave → Lianhua Cave → Fengxian Temple → Guyang Cave → Yaofang Cave → South Gate. Exploring the highlights of the Western Hill Grottoes takes 2–3 hours. If time permits, visit the Eastern Grottoes across the Yi River.
After that, be transferred to Luoyang Old Town, centered around the iconic Lijing Gate (丽景门). Known for its rich history, the area is famously described by the phrase “Luoyang’s peonies are unparalleled, and Lijing Gate is unmatched in the world”. The Old Town is a lively hub, filled with historic residential buildings, bustling food streets, and charming shops. It offers a vibrant glimpse into the grandeur of ancient Luoyang. Stroll through the streets to savor local snacks or shop for unique souvenirs at your leisure. Adding to the ambiance, you’ll encounter young people dressed in traditional costumes, making it feel as though you’ve stepped back in time to ancient China.
After the tour, be escorted to your hotel in Luoyang.
After breakfast, our guide and driver will take you to the Luoyang Museum (洛阳博物馆), where you can fully immerse yourself in the history of ancient Luoyang, spanning 13 dynasties. With over 1,000 exhibits from various dynasties that once made Luoyang their capital, a stroll through the exhibition halls on the first floor will transport you through centuries of history. Take your time to explore the second floor, which features the Ancient Treasures of Luoyang exhibition and the Tricolor Pottery of Tang exhibition. The Ancient Treasures exhibit showcases prized artifacts, including the Black Glazed Pottery Horse (AD 618–907), Facial Part of a Clay Buddha Figurine (AD 386–557), White Jade Cup (AD 220–225), Gilt Bronze Figurine of a Winged Man (AD 25–220), Bronze Ding Intertwined with Gold and Silver Patterns (BC 475–221), and more. Spend some quiet time admiring these exquisite artifacts, each with its own unique story to tell.
After that, you will be transferred to the Shaolin Temple (74 km, about a 70-minute drive) in Dengfeng City, located east of Luoyang. Shaolin Temple is renowned as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu. Here, you can immerse yourself in an incredible Kung Fu experience.
Upon arrival, you will first enjoy a Kung Fu performance at the Shaolin Martial Arts Hall, lasting about 30 minutes. Afterward, explore the Shaolin Temple complex, which consists of seven main halls along its central axis and seven additional halls surrounding them. The first hall, known as Shanmen or “Mountain Gate” Hall, features a large black tablet inscribed with “Shaolin Temple” in gold, written by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. At the heart of the complex lies the Mahavira Hall, where daily prayers and significant celebrations take place. The floor of this hall contains 50 small pits, believed to be the footprints left by monks practicing Kung Fu.
Next, visit the Pagoda Forest, hailed as the “Museum of Ancient Chinese Pagoda Art.” This area houses over 250 tomb pagodas of varying sizes, dedicated to eminent monks, abbots, and ranking temple monks. The forest, the largest of its kind in China, showcases diverse architectural styles spanning the Tang to Qing Dynasties, offering a visual feast of history and culture.
After the tour, your 2-day Luoyang Tour concludes. Your guide and driver will escort you to the train station (or airport) in Luoyang for your onward high-speed train (or flight) to your next destination.
Thank you for choosing HelloChinaTrip for your Luoyang tour. We are always dedicated to serving you and look forward to welcoming you again for your future trips to China/Asia.
What’s Included
- Guide Service: Professional English-speaking tour guide.
- Attraction Tickets: All entrance fees to the sites listed in the itinerary.
- Transportation: Airport transfers on arrival and departure. Private Vehicle for city sightseeing tours. Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets.
- Accommodation: Hotels are listed in the itinerary.
- Meals: Daily breakfast at the hotel.
- Service fee: planning, handling, operational and communication charges
What’s Excluded
- Visa Fees: Cost of tourist visa if required, depending on the traveler’s nationality.
- Optional Tours and Activities: The cost of all optional activities in the itinerary is not included.
- Single Supplement: Additional charge for travelers who wish to have a private room.
- Tips and Gratuities: Tips for tour guides and drivers, which are optional and at the traveler’s discretion.
- Overtime Service Fees：Additional charges may apply for services requested beyond the scheduled hours.
- Personal Expenses: Shopping, additional meals, snacks, and beverages outside of those specified in the itinerary.
- Tax: Japanese municipal lodging tax and onsen (hot spring) tax, as well as consumption tax on purchases. These taxes are typically not included in the tour package price and are payable on-site as required.
Important Trip Notes for Booking a private China Tour
How do I book a private China tour?
It is very simple to book a private China tour. Select the tour you are interested, and click “Make an Enquiry for Free”. Tell us your demands and likes while submitting the form. During this process, you don’t need to pay immediately. After sending us your requirements, one of our professional travel experts will get back to you within 0.5 to 24 hours. When all the information have confirmed, then you make the deposit. Please feel free to contact the travel expert directly if you have any questions prior to booking.
Extend Your private China Tour
The above itinerary is the sample one that most travelers would go like that. The tour can be customized based on your likes, interests and budget. At the same time, if you want to extend this tour, just tell us your favored destinations and things to do. Our professional travel experts will redesign the trip totally for you and your group at the best price. Tell us your ideas now >>
Transportation
In a private tour, it means you will transfer to the tourist attractions in one city by private vehicle. The private car we selected is spacious, comfortable and air-conditioned. And the driver we use are very experienced. As for traveling between two destinations, we use domestic flights (economy seat) or high speed trains (second class seat, usually less than 6 hours). The local guides and drivers will pick you up at the airport/train stations, and escort you to the hotel.
Grayson Green –
This private 2-day tour was perfectly designed for us. We had plenty of time to admire the Longmen Grottoes without feeling rushed, and our guide arranged front-row seats for the Shaolin Kung Fu show. Every detail was taken care of, and the pace was exactly how we wanted it.
Eleanor Adams –
The customized itinerary made this trip unforgettable. We visited the White Horse Temple early in the morning before the crowds, and the guide even helped us try some amazing local noodles in Luoyang. Traveling in a private car made it so comfortable and stress-free.
Lincoln Baker –
This was more than just sightseeing — it felt like a personal journey through history. Our guide tailored the tour so we could spend extra time at the Shaolin Temple, learning about Kung Fu culture. The flexibility and personal attention made all the difference.
Penelope Nelson –
We loved how this private tour combined the must-see attractions with hidden local gems. Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple were incredible, but we also enjoyed a quiet evening walk in Luoyang’s old streets. Everything was well planned yet felt relaxed and personal.