Luoyang lies in the "centre of the loess" near to the south of the Yellow River in Henan province. For several centuries, Luoyang was the center of China, a major cradle of Chinese civilization

Luoyang has Longmen Grottoes, one of the 4 most famous Buddhist grottoes in China with over one hundred thousand Buddha figures in more than twenty three hundred niches carved on the hill; and Songshan Mountain's famous Shaolin Temple - the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu and the number one Buddhist temple in China.

The Six Horses Chariots Museum, a newly excavated emperors' pit where a dozen of chariots and scores of horses were found dating back to 770 BC East Zhou Dynasty. Other valuable bronze and pottery articles were available as well. The pit was discovered by the construction workers recently when they built the city center square.

The Annual Peony Fair in April
The annual Peony Fair is from April 5- May 5 (but the prime time for blossom is between April 10-28). The hotel is much more expensive than other months of the year. A flower of elegance and poise, Peony is emblem flower of Luoyang, and once emblem flower of China during imperial China era.

Over 350 varieties of peony are cultivated in the Suitangcheng Yizhi Botanical Garden. When the flower blooms each April, Luoyang celebrates with a month-long floral display, street entertainment, lantern shows, exhibitions of traditional Chinese calligraphy, painting, photography and symposiums.

Suggested itinerary for a private custom-made tour

Day 1 Arrive in Luoyang / Longmen Grottoes/ White Horse Temple

• Take the high speed train to Luoyang in the morning,Drive to Longmen Grottoes.
• Longmen Grottoes, UNESCO-listed world heritage site in 2000. It is one of the 4 most famous Buddhist grottoes in China with over one hundred thousand Buddha figures in more than twenty three hundred niches carved on the hill. 
• After lunch, visit the White Horse Temple, the very first temple in China when Buddhism was introduced from India; Afterwards, we visit the Six Horses Chariots Museum, a newly excavated emperors' pit where a dozen of chariots and scores of horses were found dating back to 770 BC East Zhou Dynasty. Other valuable bronze and pottery articles were available as well. The pit was discovered by the construction workers recently when they built the city center square.
  Lee Royal Hotel Mudu (L)

Day 2 Luoyang / Kungfu school and Shaolin Temple / Depart Luoyang

• Drive 1.5 hours to the Songshan Mountain, visit a non-governmental Kungfu training boarding school (least visited by tourists), where Shaolin Temple train their Kunfu Monks. we will see kids aged from 4-15 practice Kunfu, and also visit their canteen and dormitory.
• Have vegetarian meal in a restaurant in a nunnery, in the yard under the wisterial flowers.
• Visit the famous Shaolin Temple, the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu and one of the most famous Buddhist temple in China. Now it serves as  a center for Zen Buddhism research and development.
  The temple has been quite touristy but is still worth visiting.
• Take a walk to the Forest of Pagodas in the back of Shaolin Temple. 
• Drive to Zhengzhou, capital city of Henan and depart.
  (B,L)
   
• Please note that the alternative hotels of similar standards will be used if any of the hotels mentioned in the itinerary is unable to provide enough accommodation.