All Inclusive Luoyang Private Day Tour to Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes
Description
Embark on this exclusive private day tour from Luoyang to explore two of China’s most culturally significant landmarks: Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes. Dive into the heart of Chinese martial arts and Zen Buddhism at Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu: witness a breathtaking live kung fu performance showcasing masterful martial arts stunts, uncover the temple’s 1,500-year legacy of history and spiritual culture, and marvel at China’s largest Pagoda Forest, a sacred memorial to revered monks. Then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Longmen Grottoes, a masterpiece of Chinese Buddhist art spanning over 400 years of carving: wander this spectacular cliffside complex and gaze at thousands of exquisitely crafted Buddhist statues chiseled into limestone crags, a testament to the golden age of Tang Dynasty art and religious heritage. This private tour covers all entrance fees, lunch, English-speaking guide and seamless private vehicle transport—no extra costs, no hassle.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your professional English-speaking guide and driver will pick you up from your Luoyang hotel punctually, kicking off your exclusive day tour to two of Luoyang’s unmissable cultural treasures. Morning: Longmen Grottoes (UNESCO World Heritage Site) First stop: Longmen Grottoes, a 1,500-year-old Buddhist art masterpiece carved over 400 years from the Northern Wei to Tang Dynasties, embodying the peak of ancient Chinese stone carving art.
Follow your guide to take an electric shuttle (included) into the scenic area, where you will visit key spots such as Fengxian Temple (home to the iconic Vairocana Buddha statue), Binyang Caves and Lianhua Cave. Your guide will share in-depth historical stories behind each cave and statue, and lead you to the best photo spots to capture the grandeur of these cliffside carvings. After the guided tour, you can choose to take the electric shuttle again or a boat ride (optional) to admire the stone carvings from different perspectives, savoring their charm once more. Noon: Local Lunch & Transfer to Shaolin Temple After exploring Longmen Grottoes, we will head to Shaolin Temple (about 1.5-hour drive). En route, you will enjoy a delicious local lunch (included), and your guide will introduce the history of Shaolin Temple to prepare you for the next stop.
Afternoon: Shaolin Temple & Kung Fu Performance Upon arrival at Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism with a 1,500-year history, you will first visit the main temple area, where you can see ancient halls, Buddhist relics and feel the solemn Zen atmosphere. The highlight of the afternoon: enjoy a spectacular Shaolin Kung Fu performance, where monks showcase amazing martial arts moves, including fist techniques, weapon skills and Qigong, displaying the power and grace of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Next, explore China’s largest Pagoda Forest, a sacred complex of over 240 pagodas that serves as the final resting place for revered Shaolin monks, witnessing the temple’s long-standing legacy. Afterwards, your guide and driver will send you back to your Luoyang hotel safely, concluding your wonderful day tour.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up from your hotel in Luoyang city, please offer the hotel information when make booking
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Reviews(3)
Nice tour. Our guide was very informative about the history and sites we visited. Very well organized, friendly, and engaging in conversation. The only negative was the cost of $400 for two people, I felt like that was expensive for the tour we received. Other than the price the tour was very enjoyable
Wonderful tour, both sites are fascinating and the Shaolin Temple was a lot more engaging than we expected. Our guide was Lisa, she is an absolute pro and also so welcoming and warm. She is a local and her pride in the area shows! Longman grotto is beautiful and interesting although be preparing if the day is hot. We expected the Kung Fu show to be fun ( it’s a blast!) but we were very pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the temple is. Ancient trees, wild sculptures, and the rich history of the beginning of Chan Buddhism (do you know why the Shaolin monks only salute with one hand? I didn’t.) A wonderful day with a good driver, good van, an exceptional guide, and no time wasting stops or janky restaurants. In fact the vegan meal at the temple was a highlight (they serve meat as well but we decided to eat like the monks :) Highly recommended.
Really helpful and proffessional guide.I could exchange some money and I could learn more about the history of two world famous monuments in one day. As usual the chinese are more centered in eating lunch than letting you visit the actual monuments,so you must kindly remind them that you have paid so much money for visiting and not for eating.
