Following a morning pickup from your accommodation in Luoyang city, meet your private guide and hop aboard your air-conditioned vehicle. Head directly to Longmen Grottoes.
Upon arrival, take the battery bus to start your adventure. Follow your tour guide to admire the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). The Longmen Grottoes comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs over a 1km long stretch.
Afterwards, take the boat cruise to enjoy the panoramic view of the grottoes.
Enjoy a 1.5-hour ride to Shaolin Temple. Your tour guide will explain the related histories and stories along the way. Feel free to ask any questions you have!
Once you arrive at Shaolin Temple, enjoy a local lunch, then witness the real Kungfu performed by Shaolin monks at Shaolin Temple theatre.
Move on to explore the Shaolin Temple which was first constructed in 495 A.D. Later, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-557) had the temple built to accommodate the Indian master Batuo. As Chinese Kungfu also originated from Shaolin Temple, it has been recognised as the origin of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Kungfu. Stroll through the buildings and courtyards with your tour guide, gain deep insight into the history and the Shaolin monks’ lives in the temple.
Afterwards, you will explore the Pagoda Forest which is a concentration of tomb pagodas for eminent monks and abbots of the temple.
There are more than 240 tomb pagodas of various sizes from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618-1911), making it the biggest pagoda forest in China.
After your tour finishes, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Luoyang.