Enjoy a personal pickup in the morning from your central Xi'an hotel, timed to match your train, for the 1.5-hour high-speed train ride from Xi'an to Luoyang (round-trip second-class train tickets included in this tour). Suggested departure train at around 8:00am.
Bring some food and drinks for the journey, as options on board are limited and prices are high. A meal box is available for purchase on the train.
You are required to do a security check before entering the train station, and there's a 5–8 minute walk from the ticket gate to the platform. There may be long stairs and slopes without an escalator, so it is recommended that you pack lightly.
Upon your arrival in Luoyang, your local tour guide and the driver will meet you at the Luoyang Longmen Railway Station, then drive you to the Longmen Grottoes, which is a treasure house of ancient stone-carving art, with over 100,000 stone statues. Immerse yourself in Chinese history and art with your tour guide's explanations.
Thirteen kilometers to the west of Luoyang, Longmen Grottoes is one of the four largest grotto complexes in China. The cultural relics lie amid green mountains and serpentine rivers. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, the grottoes of differing sizes, carved in different dynasties, are a feast for your eyes. You will spend 2 hours at the Longmen Grottoes.
In the afternoon, the guide and driver will take you on a 1.5-hour drive to Shaolin Temple — the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin martial arts. You can see the Kung Fu show performed by Shaolin monks and explore the temple's historic architecture. You'll spend about 3 hours here.
To make the most of your time at the attractions, we recommend a packed lunch or fast-food option, eaten in the car on the way to Shaolin Temple (meal cost is on your own).
After finishing the sightseeing, your tour guide will see you off at Luoyang Longmen Railway Station for your high-speed train back to Xi'an. Your Xi'an driver will meet you at the railway station and take you back to your hotel.
Note: If your travel date falls during a Chinese holiday period (May 1–5, Oct 1–7, or Spring Festival), train ticket booking may not be available.
Round-trip transfer between your Xi'an downtown hotel and the train station is included in the tour. Round-trip transfer between Luoyang's bullet train station and the Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple is included in the tour. A private guide accompanies you throughout the tour in Luoyang.
Please note: round-trip second-class high-speed train tickets between Xi'an and Luoyang are included in this tour. In case train-ticket booking is unavailable and this impacts your booked tour, travelers are eligible for a full refund.
