由 admin Tour Highlights
Source of Kung Fu: Witness authentic Shaolin martial arts at the Shaolin Temple, explore the birthplace of Zen Buddhism.
Double World Heritage Experience: Explore two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one day (Shaolin Temple/Pagoda Forest & Longmen Grottoes).
Journey Through Ancient Capitals: From Zhengzhou (capital of Xia & Shang), to Luoyang (13-dynasty ancient capital), to Kaifeng (Northern Song capital).
Natural Wonders: Hike Songshan Mountain to see the Book Pages Cliff geological marvel, admire the majestic Taihang Mountain range.
Culinary Feast: Luoyang Water Banquet, Kaifeng street food, Shaolin vegetarian cuisine—taste the flavors of Central China.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Gather in Zhengzhou · Enlightenment at Songyang Academy
Theme: Introduction to Central Plains Culture
Morning/Afternoon: Arrive in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan.
Airport/Train Station Transfer Tips:
Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport → City Center: Take intercity rail to Zhengzhou East Station (17 mins) or airport shuttle (≈1 hour).
Zhengzhou East Station (High-Speed Rail) → City Center: Metro Line 1 direct to downtown.
Afternoon (After 14:00):
Henan Museum (Free, requires advance reservation)
Must-see treasures: Jiahu Bone Flutes, Fu Hao Owl Zun, Cloud-Pattern Bronze Jin.
Suggested visit: 2.5-3 hours, Chinese/English audio guides available for rent.
Transfer to Dengfeng (Zhengzhou → Dengfeng):
Option A: Tourist shuttle from Zhengzhou Central Station directly to Shaolin Scenic Area (last bus ≈17:30).
Option B: Intercity bus “Zhengzhou-Dengfeng” from west square of Zhengzhou East Railway Station (≈1.5 hours).
Evening: Arrive in Dengfeng City, check into hotel.
Recommended accommodation area: Along Zhongyue Avenue (convenient dining, near bus station).
Night: Free exploration of Dengfeng night market.
Food recommendations: Dengfeng baked sesame cakes (with tofu skewers/spicy strips), Hui-style noodles, Daoxiao noodles.
Optional experience: Watch “Zen Music Shaolin Ceremony” live show (20:00 session, seasonal).
Day 2: Songshan Shaolin · Cultivating Zen & Martial Arts
Theme: Shaolin Kung Fu & Geological Wonders
Full-day visit to Shaolin Temple Scenic Area (Ticket: ¥100, includes main temple, Pagoda Forest, Sanhuangzhai, etc.)
Morning (Recommended entry before 8:30):
Shaolin Temple Complex: Visit in order – Main Gate, Stele Forest, Mahavira Hall, Scripture Hall, Standing-in-Snow Pavilion (≈1.5 hours).
Kung Fu Performance: Timed shows at Martial Arts Hall (multiple daily shows, recommended 10:30 or 11:30 session).
Pagoda Forest: Explore ancient stupa complex for monks (≈40 minutes).
Noon: Lunch at temple’s vegetarian restaurant or nearby farmhouse restaurants.
Afternoon:
Sanhuangzhai Highlight Hike:
Take Shaolin Cable Car up the mountain (one-way ¥70).
Hiking route: Cable car upper station → Book Pages Cliff (core scenic spot) → Suspension Bridge (round trip ≈2.5-3 hours).
Those with limited energy can hike only to the Book Pages Cliff viewing platform and return.
Cultural Supplement (Choose one):
Chuzu Temple/Dharma Cave (requires hiking, ≈1.5 hours): Birthplace of Zen Buddhism.
Songyang Academy (separate ticket): One of China’s four great ancient academies.
Evening: Return to Dengfeng city center, collect luggage.
Night: Transfer to Luoyang.
Transportation: Bus from Dengfeng Bus Terminal to Luoyang (last bus ≈18:00, 1.5-hour journey) or carpool/ride-hailing.
Overnight in Luoyang:
Recommended accommodation: Old City area (near Lijing Gate) or Luolong District (near Longmen HSR Station).
Night tour recommendation: Luoyi Ancient City nightscape (free, requires reservation) or Cross Street Night Market.
Day 3: Longmen Buddha’s Light · Tracing Luoyang’s History
Theme: Stone Carving Art & Ancient Capital Culture
Morning (Arrive early!): Longmen Grottoes (Ticket: ¥90)
Route (one-way, no backtracking):
West Hill Caves: Qianxi Temple → Three Binyang Caves → Ten Thousand Buddha Cave → Lotus Flower Cave → Fengxian Temple (Giant Vairocana Buddha, 17.14m tall).
Cross Manshui Bridge to East Hill: Scripture Reading Cave → Xiangshan Temple (Chiang-Soong Villa) → Bai Juyi’s Tomb Garden.
Key Tips:
Morning light is best for photography at West Hill Caves.
Total walking ≈4 km, wear comfortable shoes.
Official guides (Chinese/English) can be booked at Northwest Service Center.
Noon: Lunch outside scenic area, recommended “Longmen Li Jia Sandan Mutton Soup”.
Afternoon (Choose one based on interest):
Option A: Luoyang Museum (Free, requires reservation):
Heluo Civilization Exhibition, Tang Tri-Color Glazed Pottery exhibition are excellent (≈2-3 hours).
Treasures: Nail-headed Pattern Bronze Jue, Eastern Han Stone Bixie.
Option B: White Horse Temple (Ticket: ¥35):
China’s first Buddhist temple, includes Chinese, Indian, Thai, Burmese style halls (≈1.5-2 hours).
Evening: In-depth Luoyang Old City Tour.
Starting point: Lijing Gate (can climb gate tower, ticket ¥35).
Walking route: West Street → Cross Street → East Street.
Experiences:
Luoyang Water Banquet dinner (old brands: Zhenbutong, Guanji, Xinghuacun).
Taste snacks: Bufan Soup, Jiang Noodles, Peony Silver Thread Pastry.
Visit intangible cultural heritage shops: Tang Tri-Color, peony paintings, bronze replicas.
Night: Free time.
Optional: Yingtian Gate/Mingtang & Paradise night view (exterior free), or watch “Tang Palace Music Banquet” show (ticket required).
Day 4: Morning Charm of Ancient Capital · Transfer to Bianjing (Kaifeng)
Theme: Time Travel from Luoyang to Kaifeng
Morning: Luoyang cultural supplement (Choose one):
Ancient Tomb Museum (Free, requires reservation): World’s only tomb-themed museum, immersive experience.
Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Heritage Park: Ascend Mingtang/Paradise, overlook Luoyang city.
Guanlin: Burial site of Guan Yu’s head, highest-grade ancient military saint mausoleum.
Noon: Taste Luoyang specialty lunch, recommended “Beef/Mutton Soup + Shredded Pancake”.
Afternoon: Luoyang → Kaifeng (Transport options):
Preferred – High-Speed Rail: Luoyang Longmen Station → Kaifeng North Station (≈1 hour, frequent trains).
Alternative – Bus: Luoyang Bus Station → Kaifeng Central Bus Station (≈2 hours).
Evening: Arrive in Kaifeng, check into hotel.
Recommended accommodation: Near Drum Tower Square or Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden.
Night: Kaifeng Night Tour.
Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden Night Session (Ticket: ¥120, includes “Great Song·Tokyo Dream” show):
Experience Northern Song dynasty market life, watch live water show.
Drum Tower Night Market + Bookstore Street:
Must-eat snacks: Soup Dumplings, Steamed Chicken in a Bucket, Fried Liangfen, Almond Tea.
Experiences: Listen to Yu Opera tea house, browse creative shops.
Day 5: Along the River During Qingming Festival · Song Dynasty Ambiance in Bianliang
Theme: Northern Song Dynasty Cultural Immersion
Morning: In-depth day tour of Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (Ticket: ¥120).
Key Visit Points:
Follow the Painting: Compare with reproduced scenes from “Along the River During the Qingming Festival”.
Timed Performances: Yue Fei Fights Little Prince Liang, Great Song Tokyo Defense Battle (water live-action).
Interactive Experiences: Wear Song-style clothing, try ancient entertainment.
Suggested visit: 3-4 hours.
Noon: Lunch inside the garden, or visit “First Tower” outside for authentic Kaifeng Soup Dumplings.
Afternoon: Kaifeng Cultural Selection (Choose one):
Option A: Iron Pagoda Park (Ticket: ¥30):
“First Pagoda Under Heaven”, Song Dynasty glazed brick pagoda, climb for Kaifeng views.
Option B: Shaanxi-Gansu Guild Hall (Ticket: ¥25):
Qing Dynasty merchant guild hall, famous for “Three Wonders” – wood, stone, and brick carvings.
Evening: Tour concludes, departure.
Return Transportation:
Kaifeng North Station → Nationwide (High-Speed Rail).
Intercity rail to Zhengzhou East Station (≈30 mins), transfer to metro to Xinzheng Airport.
Kaifeng Central Bus Station → Xinzheng Airport (Airport shuttle, ≈1.5 hours).
Practical Information Summary
Estimated Budget (per person)
Tickets: Approx. ¥450-550 (including main attractions & shows).
Transportation: Inter-city trains/buses ≈ ¥300, local transport ≈ ¥100.
Accommodation: Budget ¥300/night × 4 = ¥1,200; Mid-range ¥500/night × 4 = ¥2,000.
Food: ¥150/day × 5 = ¥750.
Total (Budget): Approx. ¥2,800-3,500.
Best Time to Visit
Mid-late April: Luoyang Peony Festival (city full of peonies), but most crowded.
Late September to late October: Pleasant autumn weather, Songshan red leaves, Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Exhibition (late Oct).
Avoid: Mid-period of National Day Golden Week (Oct 1-7), Dragon Boat Festival, Labor Day holidays.
Accommodation Recommendations
Dengfeng: Zenwu Hotel, Songshan Hotel, Zhongzhou Huading Hotel.
Luoyang: Luoyang Christine Hotel, Huayang Plaza International Hotel, Ancient City Walk B&B.
Kaifeng: New Century Hotel Kaifeng, Qingming Riverside Inn, boutique hotels near Drum Tower.
Transportation Tips
Henan has a developed high-speed rail network; book train tickets 5-7 days in advance.
Dengfeng currently has no train station, relies on road transport; use “Yuzhouxing” mini-program to check schedules.
Convenient metro/bus systems within cities; recommend Didi for taxis.
More direct shuttle buses between scenic spots during peak season—inquire at your hotel.
Must-Try Experiences
Shaolin Temple: Watch monks’ morning practice (requires prior arrangement), short-term Zen meditation courses (1-3 day programs).
Luoyang: Hanfu makeup + photo shoot at Luoyi Ancient City nightscape, hands-on Tang Tri-Color crafting.
Kaifeng: Change into Song-style clothing inside Qingming Riverside Garden, experience “Tokyo Defense Battle” water show.
Food Check-ins: Full Luoyang Water Banquet, old Kaifeng Soup Dumpling shops, Dengfeng “Shaolin Eight-Treasure Pastry”.
Booking & Preparation
Ticket Reservations: Longmen Grottoes, Henan Museum, Luoyang Museum require online real-name booking.
Show Tickets: Zen Music Shaolin Ceremony, Great Song·Tokyo Dream—recommend purchasing 2 days in advance.
Essential Apps: Alipay/WeChat Pay (covers 95% scenarios), Baidu/Amap, 12306.
Clothing Advice: Comfortable hiking shoes (Sanhuangzhai hike), light jacket (mountain temperature differences), Hanfu (for Luoyang/Kaifeng photos).
This itinerary perfectly blends the depth of the Zen birthplace, the brilliance of cave art, the grandeur of a 13-dynasty ancient capital, and the vibrancy of Northern Song market life. Five days may be short, but it offers a complete tour of Central Plains civilization. Wishing you a pleasant journey!
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