3-Day Zhengzhou to Luoyang Private Tour including Astronomical Observatory, Shaolin Temple and Luoyang Old Street

Attractions: No
Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Overnight in Zhengzhou

Welcome to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province. You will be picked up by local tour guide in Zhengzhou airport or train stations, and escorted to check in to your hotel in Zhengzhou downtown. The rest time is free for you to relax and explore this city of Yellow River.

Attractions: Astronomical Observatory, Shaolin Temple, Luoyang Ancient City
Meal: Not included
Hotel: Overnight in Luoyang

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to visit the Astronomical Observatory near Dengfeng City. It was built by astronomer Guoshoujin in Yuan Dynasty (1271~1368) to observe the shadow of the sun and locations of stars. Based on this Astronomical Observatory, Guoshoujin invented Shoushi Calendar and regulated that each year has 365.2425 days, which is more than 300 years earlier than the universal Gregorian Calendar.

Keep driving about 25km to Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and the cradle of Kung Fu. You will visit the grandiose temples and halls, admire stone carving art, learn about Buddhism culture, and observe the daily living and meditation of monks in the temple. Don’t miss the famous Pagoda Forest, the existing largest pagoda forest in China. When an important monk passed away, their cremains or skeleton would be put into the underground palace, and a pagoda will be built on it. The pagoda’s height, size and number of layers will be decided according to the monk’s Buddhism knowledge, reputation and merits and virtues when during his lifetime. You will also enjoy a magnificent Kung Fu Show in Shaolin Wushu Hall which is performed by martial monks of Shaolin Temple, and usually last for half hour each day.

After the Kung Fu experience, drive about 1.5 hour to Luoyang, one of the greatest ancient capitals of China. Before checking in to your hotel in downtown, you will go to take a leisure walking on the old streets of Luoyang Ancient City to experience local folk culture and hunt for local snacks.

Attractions: Luoyang Museum, Longmen Grottoes
Meal: Not included

After breakfast, start today’s trip with a visit to Luoyang Museum which is nicely designed, new, spacious and less crowded, with a good collection of Chinese artefacts dating from the Neolithic period onwards, such as historical relics, calligraphy, pottery, paintings etc. The best pieces are located in a room called “special treasures” where you find the Tang Tri-color Glazed Potteries and other bronze-copper relics.

After visiting Longyang Museum, drive about 20 minutes’ driving to the iconic site of Luoyang – Longmen Grottoes. Densely scattered along the cliffs on both banks of Yi River, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Longmen Grottoes contains the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). You’ll appreciate the Chinese Buddhist art by visiting the major caves (Fengxian Temple, Guyang Cave, Three Bingyang Caves, etc.) with notable displays of Buddhist sculptures and calligraphic inscriptions.

Lastly, you will be transferred to train station to catch your train to next destination. Your memorable Shaolin Temple Luomen Grottoes heritage tour ends.