Overview

Luoyang is one of the cities where China's industrial base was deliberately built, and it is a useful place for a manufacturing delegation because the founding plants are still in production. China First Tractor and the Luoyang Bearing Group were both established in the First Five-Year Plan of 1953-57, with their own housing districts, schools and hospitals; the machinery and the industrial organisation are both still visible.

This five-day programme combines plant visits with briefings on supply chains, quality systems and the shift to automation, and sets them against the heritage of the same city: the Longmen Grottoes, the White Horse Temple and the Shaolin monastery on Songshan. It is arranged for corporate groups, industry associations and business schools, and the plant visits are always subject to the host companies' own schedules.

Highlights

  • China First Tractor (YTO), established in 1955 as the plant that mechanised Chinese agriculture and still building tractors and harvesters
  • The Luoyang Bearing Group (LYC), founded in the same plan period and one of the country's largest bearing manufacturers
  • The industrial housing and workers' districts laid out around the plants in the 1950s, and what has happened to them since
  • The Longmen Grottoes, a World Heritage site, as the heritage counterweight to the industrial day
  • The White Horse Temple, traditionally the first Buddhist temple in China, founded in 68 AD
  • The Shaolin Monastery on Songshan, and the industrial town of Dengfeng that has grown around it
  • The Luoyang water banquet, the 24-dish sequence of the Tang-era table

Itinerary

Day 1Xi'an to Luoyang: the Xi'an Museum, then the Water Banquet

Morning — The Xi'an Museum
Explore the Xi'an Museum's 110,000 objects, which trace thirteen dynasties, then walk the grounds of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda — a Tang structure that has 'walked' through three major earthquakes without falling.

Afternoon — High-speed Rail to Luoyang
Board the high-speed train east. In an hour and a half the Guanzhong plain gives way to the Central Plains, with mountains rising purple on the horizon: you have entered the heartland of Chinese civilisation.

Evening — The Luoyang Water Banquet
Arrive in Luoyang and sit down to the Water Banquet: twenty-four courses served in sequence, each one broth-based. It is the oldest documented banquet tradition in China and it is extraordinary.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.

Transport: Hotel - Xi'an Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda - Xi'an North - high-speed rail to Luoyang (1.5 h)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2Luoyang: the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple

Morning — The Longmen Grottoes
Walk the cliffside galleries of Longmen, where more than 100,000 Buddhist statues crowd the limestone above the Yi river. The largest figure is monumental, the smallest the size of a fingernail, and the whole cliff was carved over several centuries.

Afternoon — The White Horse Temple
Journey to the White Horse Temple, founded in AD 68 under Emperor Ming and regarded as the source of Buddhism in China. Its halls and pagodas sit among old cypresses and incense.

Evening — Luoyi Ancient City
Explore Luoyang by night: the lantern-lit streets of Luoyi Ancient City and the night market for local snacks and crafts.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.

Transport: Hotel - Longmen Grottoes (Yi river) - White Horse Temple - Luoyi Ancient City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3Luoyang Industry: China First Tractor and the Luoyang Bearing Group

Morning — China First Tractor Factory
Visit the China First Tractor Factory, the plant that mechanised Chinese agriculture, and hear a briefing on how the company has moved into smart agricultural equipment.

Afternoon — Luoyang Bearing Group
Tour the Luoyang Bearing Group (LYC), a precision manufacturer whose products sit inside everything from machine tools to wind turbines, and discuss precision manufacturing and quality systems.

Evening — Free Evening in Luoyi
Free evening in Luoyi Ancient City, with time to walk the reconstructed old town and eat locally.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.

Transport: Hotel - China First Tractor Factory - Luoyang Bearing Group - Luoyi Ancient City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4White Horse Temple, Guanlin Temple,

Morning — White Horse Temple
The White Horse Temple, regarded as the first Buddhist temple in China, holds immense historical and religious significance. Founded in 68 AD during the Eastern Han Dynasty, it is celebrated as the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism. The complex features striking halls, serene courtyards, and sacred statues, offering a tranquil setting in which to explore Buddhist culture.

Morning — Guanlin Temple
Continue to Guanlin Temple, dedicated to Guan Yu, the revered general celebrated for his loyalty and righteousness. The complex is traditionally associated with the burial of Guan Yu's head and features impressive architecture, intricate carvings, and statues that honor his legacy. Exploring here reveals the enduring place of Guan Yu in Chinese folk religion as a symbol of integrity and valor.

Afternoon — Luoyang Museum
Visit the Luoyang Museum, which houses an extensive collection of artifacts chronicling the city's long history as one of China's ancient capitals. The galleries range from prehistoric relics to imperial treasures, offering a comprehensive overview of Luoyang's cultural heritage and its significance in Chinese history.

Evening — Dinner at Zhen Butong Restaurant
Dine at Zhen Butong Restaurant, a culinary institution in Luoyang renowned for its traditional Henan cuisine and especially its Luoyang Water Banquet. The meal showcases local flavors and time-honored recipes passed down through generations, a fitting way to immerse yourself in the gastronomic heritage of Luoyang.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen

Morning — Shaolin Temple
Set out on a day trip to Shaolin Temple, about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive each way. Nestled in the scenic Song Mountains, Shaolin is celebrated as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and of Chinese Kung Fu. As you explore the temple complex, you gain a glimpse into the daily lives of the monks and the history of their martial tradition. A captivating Kung Fu performance brings the discipline and skill of Shaolin to life.

Cultural Insight
Founded in the 5th century during the Northern Wei Dynasty, Shaolin Temple grew into a major center of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, and the monks' training is the source of countless martial arts legends.

Lunch — Near Shaolin Temple
Enjoy lunch at a restaurant near the temple, with a variety of options including vegetarian dishes. This is a chance to sample local flavors while catering to different dietary preferences and to reflect on the morning's sights.

Afternoon — Pagoda Forest
Explore the Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple, a remarkable site made up of stone and brick pagodas that served as tombs for eminent monks. The pagodas display diverse architectural styles and intricate carvings that reflect the temple's long history. Wandering among them is a contemplative experience honoring the monks who devoted their lives to Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu.

Evening — Dinner at Wangfu Restaurant
Return to Luoyang for dinner at Wangfu Restaurant, which offers a refined dining experience with a menu of traditional Luoyang cuisine and interiors reminiscent of imperial China. Indulge in local specialties and savor the flavors of Luoyang in an elegant setting.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Booking Price

Group Size Adult(Age:8-80) Price/p.p Child(Age:4-7) Price/p.p Infant(Age:0-3) Price/p.p
2 PAX from $1776 / /
4 PAX from $1257 / /
6 PAX from $1094 / /
8 PAX from $1008 / /
10 PAX from $1007 / /
20 PAX from $894 / /
30 PAX from $809 / /

Includes

  • Accommodation for 4 nights at a 4-star or equivalent hotel, twin share, with daily breakfast
  • Meals as listed in the daily itinerary (breakfasts and lunches as shown)
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver throughout
  • English-speaking local guide (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian or Japanese on request)
  • All entrance fees for the sites listed, including shuttle buses, eco-buses and cable cars where the site requires them
  • Local handling and coordination service throughout the programme
  • Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day) and audio headsets where group size requires them
  • Travel accident insurance for the duration of the tour

Excludes

  • International air tickets and any domestic flights not listed in the itinerary
  • China visa or visa-free entry documentation fees
  • Meals not specified in the daily itinerary and all beverages/alcohol
  • Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff (suggested USD 8-12 per person per day)
  • Personal expenses: laundry, telephone, minibar, shopping
  • Optional activities and any item not listed under Price Includes
  • Single-room supplement if a traveller requires a room alone
  • Any technical documentation or paid training module provided by a host company is payable locally

Trip Notes

Please read these notes before booking. Plant visits require a visitor list in advance and follow each company's own safety rules, which normally mean closed shoes, no loose clothing and no photography in designated areas. Production lines may be idle or under maintenance on the day of a visit. Groups of 10, 20 or 30 are quoted with one free tour leader and one free national escort included.

Q: Is this tour private or shared?
A: It is a private tour for your own party, with a dedicated English-speaking guide and vehicle.

Q: Are airport transfers included?
A: Yes. Arrival and departure transfers in Henan are included, and your guide meets you with a name sign at the airport or rail station.

Q: Can the itinerary be customised?
A: Yes. Days can be added, removed or swapped, hotel categories upgraded, and business or school visits arranged, all before you confirm.

Q: How do we book and pay?
A: Send us your dates and group size for a same-day quotation. A deposit confirms the booking, the balance is due before arrival, and prices are guaranteed for 7 days.

Quick Inquiry Tailoring is available based on your requirements.