3 Days Best Luoyang Tour with Shaolin Temple Kung Fu Lesson
Must-see & Must-do：
Highlight 1: Take 1-hour of authentic Kung Fu training at a local martial arts school. Learn from skilled masters, immerse yourself in the discipline’s philosophy, and gain insights into the essence of Kung Fu. Perfect for all skill levels!
Highlight 2: Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Kaifeng Millennium City Park, where vibrant gardens, serene lakes, and historical architecture blend harmoniously. This expansive park offers cultural exhibits, delightful pathways, and peaceful spots, ideal for exploration.
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: Stroll through the Pagoda Forest, a unique cemetery of over 250 stone pagodas built to honor Shaolin monks. Each pagoda reflects the monk’s rank and achievements, offering a glimpse into Buddhist history and architecture.
Highlight 5: 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.
Itinerary Quick Look：
Welcome to Luoyang! Upon arrival, our local guide will meet you at the railway station or airport. Afterward, we will escort you to downtown Luoyang and assist you with checking into your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Luoyang at your leisure.
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.
After breakfast, 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.
This afternoon, you will be transferred to a local professional Martial Arts School to attend a one-hour Kung Fu training class. You will learn some Kung Fu styles and boxing techniques with the help of a local Kung Fu coach.
After that, be escorted back 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 back to your hotel in Luoyang.
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.
Later, 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 the tour, your 3-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.
Maya Stewart –
From start to finish, the service was incredible. We had a private driver, comfortable hotels, and an itinerary that matched our interests. We spent extra time at Shaolin Temple because we wanted to see the training grounds — the guide arranged it without any trouble. It’s the flexibility that makes private tours like this so valuable.
Zara Morris –
We booked this 4-day tour as a private family trip, and it was perfect. The Longmen Grottoes were stunning, and our guide knew the best spots for photos. We also loved how the itinerary included cultural activities like tea tasting. Having our own guide and driver made everything stress-free.
Owen Sanchez –
This was more than just sightseeing — it was a deep cultural journey. Our private guide in Kaifeng shared so many stories about the Song Dynasty, making the history come alive. In Shaolin Temple, we were guided to quieter areas where we could really enjoy the atmosphere. The customization was top-notch.
Benjamin Collins –
Our 4-day custom Henan trip was unforgettable. We loved wandering the ancient streets of Luoyang and tasting local snacks. The guide tailored the schedule so we could attend a special evening light show in Kaifeng. Everything felt well-planned but still relaxed.
Theodore Rogers –
Our Henan Discovery Tour felt like a trip designed just for us. In Kaifeng, our guide took us to hidden corners of the old city that weren’t even in the brochure. We enjoyed a peaceful afternoon at White Horse Temple and had a delicious vegetarian lunch nearby. The pace was relaxed, but we still saw all the highlights.
Sofia –
Cette excursion privée de 4 jours dans le Henan a été exactement ce que nous cherchions. Nous avons exploré les anciennes murailles de la ville de Kaifeng à notre rythme, grâce à un programme flexible. Notre guide a ajusté l’itinéraire pour que nous puissions passer plus de temps dans les Grottes de Longmen. Tout, des hôtels aux transfers, a été parfaitement organisé.
Nora Cook –
Amazing private experience from start to finish! We visited Shaolin Temple early in the morning to avoid the crowds and had time to watch the kung fu performance up close. The entire trip was personalized, even including a local noodle-making workshop in Luoyang. Travel by private car was so comfortable.
Chiara –
Questo tour privato è stato esattamente il modo in cui volevo vedere l’Henan: senza affrettamenti, senza grandi gruppi, solo il nostro piccolo gruppo con un guida preparato. Le Grotte di Longmen, il Tempio del Cavallo Bianco e il Tempio Shaolin sono stati tutti fantastici, e i trasporti tra le città sono stati incredibilmente fluidi. Altamente consigliato per i viaggiatori che apprezzano un’esperienza personalizzata.