3-Day Henan History and Culture Tour: Luoyang + Shaolin Temple + Kaifeng (Shaolin Kung Fu Show)

Welcome to Luoyang. Located in western Henan Province, east of Xi'an, Luoyang is one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals. It served as the capital of thirteen dynasties and was the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road. During the Tang Dynasty, Luoyang flourished as the Eastern Capital, rivaling the Western Capital Chang'an (present-day Xi'an). In 684 AD, Wu Zetian, China's first and only female emperor, officially made Luoyang the capital and gave it an imposing name—"Shendu" (the Divine Capital). Even today, the architectural style of Luoyang's most famous site, the Longmen Grottoes, is deeply influenced by the era of Wu Zetian. In addition, Luoyang is known as the "Peony City." If you visit in spring, you can witness the moving sight of a city covered in flowers. This morning, our experienced guide will take you to the Longmen Grottoes in the southern suburbs of Luoyang. [Longmen Grottoes] is hailed as the foremost of China's Four Great Grottoes, housing the largest and most exquisite stone carving art treasures from the Northern Wei to the Tang Dynasty (316–907 AD). In 2000, the Longmen Grottoes were inscribed on the World Heritage List. Carved into the steep limestone cliffs on both banks of the Yi River, the Longmen Grottoes preserve more than 2,300 caves and niches across the East and West Hills, stretching for about 1 kilometer. Here you can admire nearly 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas, and over 2,800 inscriptions—all masterpieces of Buddhist-themed art. They represent the "highest peak of Chinese stone carving art" and constitute the world's largest and most extensive treasure house of stone carving art. The tour focuses on the West Hill Grottoes, and the most breathtaking is Fengxian Temple, where the 17.14-meter-tall Vairocana Buddha has a kind face and a faint smile. Folk tradition often associates it with the image of Wu Zetian, and it is therefore praised as the "Mona Lisa of the East." On both sides of the Buddha are four pairs of attendant statues: disciples, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, and warriors, creating a magnificent scene. You will also pass the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, where 15,000 small Buddha statues are densely carved, the smallest only 2 centimeters tall—very impressive. Carved in 680 AD during the Tang Dynasty, it is one of the grottoes with the most complete statue combinations at Longmen. In addition, do not miss the Three Binyang Caves, carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty and ordered by Emperor Xiaowen in memory of his father; another highlight is the Prescriptions Cave, which contains more than 140 inscriptions recording treatments for various diseases; finally, be sure to visit the Guyang Cave, whose ancient and exquisite statues are awe-inspiring. Recommended Tour Route at Longmen Grottoes (West Hill Highlights Route) North Gate → Yuwang Pool → Qianxi Temple → Three Binyang Caves → Three Buddha Niches on the Cliff → Ten Thousand Buddha Cave → Lotus Cave → Fengxian Temple → Guyang Cave → Prescriptions Cave → South Gate, about 2–3 hours in total. If time permits, you can also cross the bridge to the East Hill Grottoes on the opposite bank of the Yi River to continue sightseeing. After visiting the Longmen Grottoes, you will head to the [Luoyang Ancient City], centered on the iconic Lijing Gate. First built in the Jin Dynasty (1217 AD), Lijing Gate was the west gate of ancient Luoyang and is known as the "First Gate of the Central Plains." It has a long history, and folk sayings go, "If you don't visit Lijing Gate, your trip to Luoyang is in vain," and "Luoyang's peonies are the finest under heaven, and Lijing Gate's tower is unmatched in the world." Stepping into the ancient city, you will find old streets lined with gray bricks and tiles, historic residences, lively food streets, and distinctive shops that vividly display the bustling market life of ancient Luoyang. You can slow down, taste a bowl of authentic Bufan Soup, bite into a flaky peony flower pastry, or pick out a few souvenirs you like. Adding to the ancient charm, young people in ruqun skirts and hanfu can now be seen everywhere in the old city—in small groups, strolling with fans or smiling by the railings, as if you might accidentally travel back together to that elegant ancient China. After the tour, return to your hotel in Luoyang to rest. Optional Experience: Empress Wu Banquet—A Palace Feast That Takes You Back to the Tang Dynasty If you want to experience the ultimate luxury of the glorious Tang Dynasty, this banquet inspired by China's only female emperor is not to be missed. It is not just a meal but a multi-sensory immersive experience—presented in the form of a Luoyang Water Banquet, with exquisite dishes appearing one after another amid melodious palace music. The highlight of the banquet is the stunning Peony Swallow Vegetable—a finely crafted "peony flower" that slowly blooms in the soup, said to be Wu Zetian's favorite dish. You can choose to take your seat in traditional Tang Dynasty clothing and dine to live palace music and classical dance. Amid the clinking of cups, the music of strings and bamboo, and the fluttering dance sleeves, it feels as if you have turned around and traveled back to the golden age of the "Divine Capital." Practical Tips Price: 298–398 yuan per person. It is recommended to book through official channels, and during holidays you must book in advance. Show times: Lunch about 12:00–13:30, dinner about 19:00–20:30 (it is recommended to confirm the day's schedule before going). Xigong Flagship Store (Water Banquet Garden): Second floor, Water Banquet Garden Flagship Store, intersection of Wangcheng Avenue and Jiudu Road, Xigong District (the most mature and consistently well-reviewed location). Old City Cross Street Store: Near the intersection of Zhongzhou East Road and North Street, Old City District (convenient after visiting Luoyi Ancient City or Lijing Gate).

After breakfast, you will head to the [Luoyang Museum], immersing yourself in the grandeur and glory of this ancient capital of thirteen dynasties. The museum houses over 100,000 cultural relics, with more than 1,000 precious artifacts selected for permanent exhibition, showcasing the civilization from the Xia and Shang dynasties to the Sui and Tang, and then to the Northern Song. Strolling through the "Heluo Civilization" large-scale general history exhibition on the first floor, you will follow the timeline from prehistoric times to the Five Dynasties and Northern Song, as if traveling through centuries of history. Afterwards, you can leisurely walk into the second-floor exhibition halls, focusing on the Treasures Gallery and the Tang Sancai Gallery, which display many of the Luoyang Museum's "treasures of the museum." Black-glazed Tang Sancai Horse (Tang Dynasty): Entirely black and shiny, it is one of only two surviving black-glazed Tang Sancai horses in China, with snow-white hooves, vigorous and powerful. Clay Buddha Face (Northern Wei): Unearthed from the Yongning Temple site, only half of the face remains, yet it has smiled for a thousand years, known as the "Mona Lisa of the East." White Jade Cup (Cao Wei): Plain and unadorned, warm and smooth as congealed fat, reflecting the Cao Wei period's style of "great simplicity." Gilt Bronze Feathered Man (Eastern Han): The feathered man kneels with wings spread high, full of the Han Dynasty's romantic imagination of immortality. Gold and Silver Inlaid Bronze Ding (Warring States): Geometric patterns inlaid with gold and silver threads, the exquisite craftsmanship is breathtaking even today. Afterwards, you will drive to the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou (about 74 kilometers from Luoyang, about 70 minutes by car). [Shaolin Temple] is the ancestral temple of Chinese Zen Buddhism and the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu, enjoying the reputation of "Holy Land of Kung Fu." Upon arrival, you will first enjoy a 30-minute Kung Fu performance at the Shaolin Martial Arts Hall, experiencing the true skills of Shaolin warrior monks, combining hardness and softness. Next, you will visit the majestic architectural complex of Shaolin Temple. The entire temple is arranged along the central axis with seven main halls. Among them, a huge black plaque with golden characters hangs inside the mountain gate—the three large characters "Shaolin Temple" were personally inscribed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. The center of the temple is the Mahavira Hall, where monks chant sutras daily and hold major ceremonies. On the floor inside the hall, there are nearly 50 small pits, said to be footprints left by monks practicing martial arts over generations. Afterwards, you will visit the Pagoda Forest, the largest and longest-lasting ancient pagoda group in China, known as an "ancient architectural art museum." There are more than 240 brick and stone tomb pagodas from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, burying eminent monks, abbots, and enlightened monks of past generations. It is well worth seeing. After the tour, you will head to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, to check in and rest.

After breakfast, you will head to Kaifeng in eastern Zhengzhou (about 80 km away, about 1.5 hours by car). Kaifeng was once the capital of eight Chinese dynasties and has a history of more than 4,100 years. It was especially prosperous during the Northern Song Dynasty. As "Dongjing Bianliang," it enjoyed the reputation of "Bianjing's splendor unmatched under heaven." It is also the core carrier of "Song culture," praised as "one city, half of Song history," and the place that inspired the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. After arrival, your first stop will be Longting Park. This is one of Kaifeng's famous historical and cultural landmarks and an excellent place to view the ruins of the Song Dynasty imperial city and the scenery of Pan and Yang Lakes. Longting Hall is located in the center of the park and was once the core building of the Northern Song imperial palace. It faces south and is built on a 13-meter-high blue brick platform, magnificent in scale. You can cross the Jade Belt Bridge, climb the main Longting Hall, and overlook the entire city of Kaifeng. The most magical feature of Longting Park is the "palaces upon palaces" wonder. Beneath the ground are six ancient city sites from different periods, including palace city remains from multiple dynasties, which is extremely rare in the history of world urban archaeology. Next, head to the thousand-year-old "No. 1 Pagoda under Heaven" - Kaifeng Iron Pagoda. The Iron Pagoda was built in the first year of Huangyou of the Northern Song Dynasty (1049 AD), nearly a thousand years ago, and is China's most complete existing glazed brick pagoda. The Iron Pagoda is 55.88 meters high, octagonal and thirteen stories, entirely built of brown glazed bricks. From a distance, it looks like cast iron, hence the name "Iron Pagoda." The outer walls of the pagoda are carved with more than 50 exquisite patterns - flying apsaras, subduing dragons, qilin, and musicians playing instruments, all lifelike. Afterward, you will explore Kaifeng Prefecture, known as the "No. 1 Prefecture under Heaven." This was the highest administrative institution of the Northern Song capital Dongjing Bianliang and is also a "living museum of Song Dynasty judicial culture." Entering Kaifeng Prefecture, you can visit its magnificent halls, garden landscapes, and the prison area that displays the ancient judicial system. Main highlights of Kaifeng Prefecture Main Hall (Great Hall): The central hub of Kaifeng Prefecture, where the prefect tried major cases and issued government orders. Bao Qingtian's line, "Who is below the hall, beating the drum to cry injustice?" seems to still echo here. Plum Blossom Hall: Located on the west side of the prefecture office's central axis, this was where Bao Zheng rested and handled daily affairs, symbolizing his character of "purifying the heart to govern fundamentally and standing upright through the straight path." Prison Area: Located in the southeast corner of the prefecture office, it includes the prison office, prison god temple, death cell, water cell, dry cell, etc., truly recreating the prison layout, instruments of torture, and prison administration of the Northern Song Dynasty, allowing people to intuitively feel another side of ancient justice. After the tour, your 3-day Henan history and culture tour will come to an end. Our driver will take you to Zhengzhou Railway Station/Airport, making it convenient for you to take a subsequent high-speed train or flight to your next destination.