Recommended Reasons
This six-day tour of Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes in Henan offers a cultural journey through thousands of years of history, allowing you to deeply experience the unique charm of the Central Plains. This itinerary highlights Shaolin Temple, Henan's most iconic Zen and martial arts sanctuary, and the World Cultural Heritage Longmen Grottoes, allowing you to experience the profound heritage of Chinese civilization. The itinerary also includes renowned attractions such as Laojun Mountain, Luoyi Ancient City, and the Three Gorges of the Yellow River, allowing you to experience the essence of Henan's landscapes and culture in just six days. This self-organized tour from Fujian guarantees quality, with a dedicated driver and guide throughout the entire trip, offering an in-depth tour without detours. It's perfect for travelers who appreciate history, culture, and natural scenery. The vibrant red leaves of the Taihang Mountains and the golden golden leaves of the thousand-year-old ginkgo trees at Shaolin Temple are the most captivating autumn season in the Central Plains, and you shouldn't miss it!
Highlights
- Full Coverage: Explore Henan's most iconic cultural attractions, including Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, Laojun Mountain, and White Horse Temple, allowing you to deeply experience the charm of Central Plains culture.
- Enchanting Autumn Scenery in the Taihang Mountains: Special arrangements include viewing the crimson leaves of the Yellow River Three Gorges and Fenglin Gorge. The thousand-year-old ginkgo trees at Shaolin Temple are in full bloom, bringing the charm of autumn to the Central Plains.
- Upgraded Accommodations: Selected comfortable hotels throughout the tour, with a special upgrade for one night at a local five-star hotel, ensure a comfortable and restful journey.
- Special Dining Experience: Upgrade your group meal to a Yellow River Carp and Chicken Feast and a Luanchuan Tofu Feast, offering authentic Henan flavors.
- Pure Play, No Shopping: Self-guided tours in Fujian, with no shopping stops, ensure a truly carefree trip.
Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrival in Zhengzhou
Depart to Zhengzhou and transfer to your hotel upon arrival. Enjoy the full day at your own leisure. Recommended visits include cultural landmarks such as the Henan Provincial Museum and the Zhengzhou Museum, as well as sightseeing of Zhengzhou's historic and modern landmarks, including the Erqi Memorial Tower and the Zhengdong New District CBD. In the evening, your tour guide will inform you of the meeting time for the following day.
Day 2: Zhengzhou - Dengfeng - Luoyang
After breakfast, proceed to Shaolin Temple, the ancestral home of Zen Buddhism, to visit the Pagoda Forest and enjoy a spectacular Shaolin Kung Fu performance. In the afternoon, explore the World Cultural Heritage Longmen Grottoes, admiring the exquisite stone carvings of Fengxian Temple and the Ten Thousand Buddha Caves. In the evening, stroll along Lijingmen Ancient Street to experience the prosperity of the thousand-year-old imperial capital and the charm of the ancient city, embodying the saying, "If you haven't visited Lijingmen, you've missed your trip to Luoyang."
Day 3: Luoyang - Luanchuan
Spend the day exploring the Taoist holy site Laojun Mountain Scenic Area, taking a cable car ride to admire the magnificent scenery of the Ten-Li Painting Screen and ascending to the summit to visit the magnificent Golden Summit Taoist Temple complex. In the afternoon, explore Luoyi Ancient City for an immersive experience of the Sui and Tang dynasty Luoyang and its ancient charm. Overnight at your Luoyang hotel.
Day 4: Luoyang - Jiaozuo
In the morning, visit the exterior of Yingtianmen Gate and the White Horse Temple, the ancestral home of Buddhism. In the afternoon, we'll visit the "First Gorge of the Yellow River" [Yellow River Three Gorges Scenic Area], where you can take an optional boat tour of the magnificent Gushan Gorge, Longfeng Gorge, and Bali Gorge. Overnight in Jiaozuo.
Day 5: Jiaozuo - Huixian
Visit Yuntai Tianchi [Fenglin Gorge], enjoy the beauty of Emerald Lake by boat, and visit Laojun Beach, Huludao Island, and other scenic spots. In the afternoon, we'll visit Wanxian Mountain Scenic Area, visit Guoliang Village, the Chinese Film and Television Village, and hike the 1,250-meter cliff corridor to experience the awe of this "Ninth Wonder of the World."
Day 6: Huixian - Kaifeng - Return
In the morning, we'll visit Wansui Mountain · Great Song Dynasty Martial Arts City and enjoy spectacular martial arts performances such as "The Three Strikes on Zhujiazhuang." In the afternoon, we'll visit Kaifeng's "City Living Room" [Little Songcheng] and sample century-old Kaifeng snacks such as Lujia Soup Dumplings. Transfer to your flight, concluding your enjoyable Henan trip.
Q&A
A: This tour is ideal for travelers interested in history, culture, and natural beauty. Shaolin Temple, the ancestral home of Zen Buddhism and a renowned martial arts site, attracts martial arts enthusiasts and Buddhist culture seekers. Longmen Grottoes, a World Cultural Heritage site, is a favorite among art lovers and historians. The itinerary also includes natural attractions such as Laojun Mountain and the Three Gorges of the Yellow River, perfect for photography enthusiasts. This tour is especially recommended for families, groups of middle-aged and elderly people, and students on study tours, offering a rare opportunity to deeply experience Chinese culture.
A:We recommend comfortable hiking shoes, as the itinerary includes extensive walking and hiking, including at scenic spots like Laojun Mountain and Wanxian Mountain. Temperatures fluctuate greatly in Henan during autumn, so a windproof jacket and warm clothing are recommended. Photography enthusiasts can also bring a wide-angle lens to capture the grandeur of the Longmen Grottoes and the martial arts performances at Shaolin Temple. We also recommend bringing a thermos, sunscreen, and common medications. Signals may be unstable at some scenic spots during the trip, so please download offline maps and related information in advance.
A: The tour includes five breakfasts and four dinners, with two special meals upgraded: the Yellow River Carp and Chicken Banquet and the Luanchuan Tofu Banquet. Henan's noodles are renowned nationwide, and you can enjoy authentic braised noodles, soup dumplings, and other specialties. At Kaifeng's Little Songcheng, visitors can choose from hundreds of ancient Kaifeng snacks, such as Lujia Soup Dumplings and Grandma Cao's Meat Pie. Group meals are primarily based on northern cuisine, with rice and steamed buns as staples. Please inform your guide in advance of any dietary needs. We recommend trying Henan specialties like Hu La Tang and Daokou Roast Chicken.
