[Only Henan: 7-Day Inbound Tour to Henan] Longmen Grottoes + Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden + Hulatang (Spicy Pepper Soup) + Shaolin Temple + Martial Arts Performance Workshop + Song Dynasty-Style Tea Whisking Experience

Welcome to China! You have arrived today in Luoyang, the ancient capital. Our company has arranged for a tour guide and driver to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for rest. After settling in, you may coordinate with your tour guide based on your preferences and schedule, and then head out to savor the local culinary delights.

This morning, you’ll savor Henan’s signature dish—Hu La Tang (spicy pepper soup)—and immerse yourself in the local soup-drinking culture. Discover the Henanese culinary philosophy: “Better to go without meat than to dine without soup.” Paired with an array of local snacks, this fragrant, flavorful broth offers an authentic taste of the Central Plains.

After breakfast, head to White Horse Temple (Baima Si), the first state-sponsored Buddhist temple built in China after Buddhism was introduced to the country. It is also the world’s only temple jointly administered by the governments of four nations and enjoys widespread renown across Southeast Asia. As the most internationalized Buddhist temple, White Horse Temple truly deserves its reputation as “the Number One Temple Under Heaven.”

Next, visit the Sui–Tang Grand Canal Culture Museum, which comprehensively showcases the history, culture, and significance of China’s Grand Canal during the Sui and Tang dynasties.

In the evening, explore Lijing Gate and the Yingtianmen Gate ruins of the Sui–Tang Luoyang City. Known as “the First Gate of the Sui and Tang,” Yingtianmen was the main southern entrance to the imperial palace complex of Luoyang, symbolizing imperial authority with its grandeur and majesty.

After breakfast, head to Luoyang Museum. As the saying goes, the best way to get to know a city is to visit its museum. The museum boasts an impressive collection of legendary artifacts, ensuring your visit will be well worth it.

Next, explore the Longmen Grottoes, which have a history of over 1,400 years. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National 5A-level tourist attraction, the Longmen Grottoes are regarded as one of China’s “Three Great Grottoes,” alongside the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang and the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi. Renowned for their grand scale, exquisite craftsmanship, and profound cultural significance, they are hailed as the pinnacle of stone-carving art.

For dinner, savor the Luoyang Water Banquet, a celebrated traditional feast native to the Luoyang area. The name carries two meanings: first, every hot dish is served with broth or soup; second, dishes are presented sequentially like flowing water—each course is cleared before the next is brought out. The banquet features a balanced mix of meat and vegetarian options, diverse flavors, and a wide range of ingredients, offering a harmonious blend of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet tastes that are both comforting and delicious.

In the evening, visit Luoyi Ancient City, home to numerous historical sites. “Luoyi” is the ancient name for Luoyang, which served as the capital for thirteen dynasties, accumulating a rich tapestry of Chinese civilization. At night, Luoyi Ancient City becomes a favorite haunt among locals, lively and full of fun.

Today, we will travel by coach to Dengfeng to visit the Shaolin Temple. As the birthplace of both Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Chinese Kung Fu, it is revered as the “Ancestral Court of Chan Buddhism” and the “Holy Land of Kung Fu.” The temple has earned worldwide fame for the Shaolin martial arts meticulously developed and refined by generations of Shaolin monk warriors. It is often said that “All Kung Fu under heaven originates from Shaolin, and Shaolin Kung Fu reigns supreme.” The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction.

While at the Shaolin Temple, we will not only watch martial monks demonstrate their mastery of the “Eighteen Arms of Wushu” and Shaolin Kung Fu, but also have the opportunity to learn Shaolin boxing under their guidance.

After the tour, we will proceed to the Songyang Academy, one of the Four Great Academies of ancient China and a prestigious institution of higher learning in imperial times. Many renowned poets and philosophers in Chinese history studied here. In the evening, we will stay overnight in downtown Dengfeng.

Today, we will travel by coach to Kaifeng. Upon arrival, our first stop will be Kaifeng Fu (Kaifeng Prefecture Office), the administrative and judicial headquarters of officials in the Northern Song Dynasty’s capital. Here, you can enjoy captivating performances such as the ceremonial opening of the yamen and welcome rituals, as well as reenactments of Judge Bao solving cases.

Next, we will visit the Iron Pagoda of Kaifeng, the tallest, oldest, and best-preserved glazed-brick pagoda in China, long renowned as “The Finest Pagoda Under Heaven.” We will then explore Qingming Shanghe Yuan (Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden), a large-scale Song-dynasty-themed cultural and historical park meticulously reconstructed at a 1:1 scale based on the imperial gardens depicted in the famous painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” It is also the largest complex of Song-style ancient architecture in Central China.

Here, you will have the opportunity to try on traditional Chinese attire and experience Song-dynasty diancha (whisked tea preparation). Under the guidance and demonstration of a tea master, you will prepare your own bowl of whisked tea, immersing yourself in the refined elegance of Song-era culture.

Today, we will first visit the Kaifeng Zhouqiao Archaeological Site, one of China’s Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries in 2022. Due to warfare and frequent Yellow River floods, Kaifeng was buried multiple times throughout history by sediment carried by the river. Here, you can see remnants of bridges and buildings from different dynasties, experiencing the city’s resilience and rebirth amid the tides of history.

Next, we will visit the Henan Museum, a key national-level museum in China. As one of the earliest established museums in the country and among the first batch of nationally co-sponsored museums jointly supported by central and local governments, it houses approximately 140,000 artifacts, including prehistoric relics, Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes, ceramics from various dynasties, and jade objects. These collections possess immense historical, cultural, and artistic value, with some regarded as “national treasures.”

Afterward, enjoy the “Huaxia Ancient Music Performance” within the museum. The Huaxia Ancient Music Ensemble of the Henan Museum was founded in 2000. Based on musical artifacts unearthed in Henan, the ensemble has reconstructed ancient instruments, costumes, musical pieces, and performance settings from the Central Plains region. Through years of artistic practice, it has developed a distinctive brand of ancient music culture. During this performance, you will hear the “voices of history” resonating from several of the museum’s most prized treasures.

Today is your departure day. We will arrange for you to be dropped off at the airport in advance, based on your flight schedule. We hope this trip to Henan has left you with pleasant memories. You are warmly welcomed to visit Henan again and discover more of its rich culture and charm.