6-Day Classic Xi’an & Luoyang Tour with Mount Hua & Shaolin Kung Fu

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Xi'an Arrival
   Explore Han Dynasty Archaeology & Xi'an by Night

   Welcome to Xi'an! Please arrange a flight arriving before noon so there is enough time to visit Hanyangling Museum before continuing into downtown Xi'an for an evening at Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City.

   Note: If your flight arrives later, the sightseeing schedule may need to be adjusted.

   Upon arrival, meet your local guide and driver and head directly to Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty.

   Built around the mausoleum complex of Emperor Jingdi of the Western Han Dynasty, Hanyangling offers a very different archaeological experience from Xi'an's better-known Terracotta Warriors.

   

   Enter the underground exhibition hall, where glass walkways allow you to look directly into excavated burial pits. Inside are miniature terracotta figures, pottery animals, utensils, tools, and other objects placed here more than 2,000 years ago as part of the imperial funerary complex.

   Look closely at the small human figures. Many originally had wooden arms and wore fabric clothing, which decayed over time. Their smaller scale also makes an interesting contrast with the life-size Terracotta Warriors you may see later in Xi'an.

   After the museum visit, continue into downtown Xi'an. Depending on the day's schedule, check in at your hotel and then take a short break before heading out again in the evening.

   Stroll around the South Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and explore the surrounding streets of the Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City, a Tang-themed pedestrian district extending south from the pagoda area.

   Around sunset, the streets begin to light up, and the architecture takes on a different atmosphere after dark. You may encounter cultural performances and interactive

   After the visit, transfer back to your hotel for an overnight stay in Xi'an.

   Vehicle

   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
2. Day 2: Xi'an Historical Tour
   Face to Face with the Terracotta Army & Walk the Ancient City Wall

   Drive east of Xi'an to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses this morning, where you'll explore the three main excavation pits of Emperor Qinshihuang's underground army.

   Follow your tour guide through Pits 1, 2, and 3 and see the life-size clay warriors and chariot horses in military formations. Look beyond the scale of the army and notice the differences in facial features, hairstyles, and armor. Your guide will explain how the figures were discovered in 1974 and how excavation continues today.

   Optional Activity: After visiting the museum, try making a miniature Terracotta Warrior replica yourself at a nearby workshop. Learn how clay is pressed into a mold and shaped into a small figurine. The activity takes about 1 hour at an additional cost.

   

   After lunch, return to downtown Xi'an and visit the Xi'an City Wall. Step onto the ramparts and look across the moat, watchtowers, buildings inside the old city, and modern neighborhoods beyond the wall. If you would like to cover more sections, you can rent a bicycle (optioal, extra fee) with the assistance of your tour guide.

   Later, continue to the Muslim Quarter, composed of many busy food streets and narrow lanes near the Drum Tower. The area is part of Xi'an's historic Hui Muslim neighborhood and is especially known for its beef and mutton dishes.

   Wander past restaurants, food stalls, and small shops and try specialties such as mutton or beef paomo, made with pieces of flatbread served in a rich meat broth. You can also look for grilled skewers, soup dumplings, persimmon cakes, and other local snacks. If you would like to shop, browse stores selling Xi'an and Shaanxi-style souvenirs, including shadow-puppet crafts and paper-cuts.

   After the visit, your private vehicle will take you back to the hotel.

   Vehicle

   Breakfast, Lunch

   4-Star Hotel in Xi'an
3. Day 3: Mount Hua Exploration, High-speed Train to Luoyang
   Hike the World's Most Precipitous Peaks

   Today, you will drive to Mount Hua, about a 2-hour of journey. Upon arrival , take the scenic shuttle bus to the lower station of the North Peak Cableway, then ride the cable car up to North Peak.

   From here, start your hike along ridges, stone stairways, and viewpoints. Huashan is known for its steep peaks and dramatic valleys. The trails around North Peak offer you a wide view across the surrounding mountains.

   Continue to ascend to Middle Peak, East Peak, and South Peak (the highest). Your guide will adjust the walking route and pace according to your fitness level.

   

   After the hike, return to North Peak and ride the cable car down. A bus will then take you back to the visitor center, where the private vehicle is waiting for transfering you to Huashan North Railway Station.

   Travel Note: You may pack some food and drinks, as food options are limited up on the mountain.

   Board a high-speed train to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station (about 1 hour). Upon arrival in Luoyang, meet your local driver and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

   High Speed Train, Vehicle, Cable Car

   Breakfast

   4-Star Hotel in Luoyang
4. Day 4: Shaolin Kung Fu & Ancient Buddhist Temples
   Watch a Live Shaolin Kung Fu Performance

   Drive from Luoyang to Shaolin Temple, which is closely associated with both Chan Buddhism and Chinese martial arts.

   Walk through the main courtyards and halls while your guide explains its Buddhist history and the development of the Shaolin martial arts tradition. Then watch a live Shaolin kung fu performance, featuring martial arts techniques and demonstrations.

   Then move to the Pagoda Forest, a cemetery containing tomb pagodas built for generations of prominent Shaolin monks.

   

   In the afternoon, return to Luoyang and visit China's first Buddhist temple, White Horse Temple. You will admire both Chinese temple courtyards and the international Buddhist buildings influenced by Indian, Thai, and Myanmar Buddhist architecture.

   After the tour, return to your hotel in Luoyang and enjoy the evening at leisure.

   Vehicle

   Breakfast, Lunch

   4-Star Hotel in Luoyang
5. Day 5: Luoyang Culture Tour
   Appreciating Cave Art and Wander Bustling Old Streets

   Begin the day at the Longmen Grottoes, where you will admire thousands of Buddhist niches and carvings.

   The main highlight is the Vairocana Buddha, which is 17.14 meters high and is said to have been carved based on the appearance of China's only female emperor, Empress Wu Zetian. Your tour guide will explain how the grottoes developed across different dynasties during your exploration.

   

   After that, learn about Luoyang’s more than 5,000 years of civilization and its history as a capital spanning more than 1,500 years at Luoyang Museum through ceramics, bronzes, sculptures, and other archaeological finds.

   Later, head to Lijing Gate, a reconstructed landmark at the edge of Luoyang old city area. Walk through the pedestrian streets and lanes, browse small shops, and sample local snacks along the way. If time allows, stay until dusk to see Lijing Gate and the streets illuminated after dark. After the visit, transfer back to your hotel.

   Vehicle

   Breakfast, Lunch

   4-Star Hotel in Luoyang
6. Day 6: Luoyang Departure

   No sightseeing is planned for today, so the morning is yours to enjoy at your own pace.

   After breakfast, pack your belongings and check out. Depending on your flight schedule, your driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport, where you'll board your flight to your next destination. With that, your journey through Xi'an and Luoyang comes to an end.

   Vehicle

   Breakfast