5-Day Central Plains Study: the Longmen Grottoes & Ancient Luoyang

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.

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.

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.

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.

Morning — Study Review and Group Presentations
The students work back through the question sheets they have carried since the first day: the chronology of the Longmen carvings, what the White Horse Temple can and cannot evidence about the arrival of Buddhism, why a Chan monastery became a martial institution, and how a 1950s tractor plant and a bearing works now sit in the same economy as the grottoes. Each group presents one answer and has to defend it from the site records.

Late Morning — Farewell Lunch and Transfer
A farewell lunch in the old city, then a final walk through the reconstructed lanes of Luoyi before the group's luggage is loaded.

Afternoon — Departure
Your guide transfers the group to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station for the high-speed train - west to Xi'an or east to Zhengzhou, depending on where the international flight departs - assisting with tickets, luggage and platform.

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch included.