XA07: 5 Days Private Xi'an & Luoyang Tour

You will spend the whole morning to visit the amazing Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum which is believed to be the most significant archeological excavation of the 20th century in the world. Thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers with distinct expressions on each face and war horses were orderly arranged in battle formations, reflecting the mighty forces and advanced manufacture of the Qin Dynasty more than 2,200 years ago. The Bronze Chariots and Horses and the exquisite bronze weapons displayed in the museum will also leave a deep impression on you.

In the afternoon, we will continue to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the seven-storey square cone-shaped pagoda was used to house the Buddhist statues and sutras brought back from India by the master Xuanzang. It is not only a Buddhist masterpiece but also regarded as one of the landmark constructions of Xi'an City.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today's sightseeing tour will start from Shaanxi History Museum, which boasts large collection of historical items reflecting Chinese culture and history from the prehistory period to the mid-20th century. It is also the first modernized museum in China, so you can have an easy access to enjoy these rare exhibitions through the advanced facilities. Then a local family visit with a home cooked lunch will be specially arranged for you to have a close touch with the daily life of the local people and taste authentic home-made dishes. We can also arrange Chinese food cooking class in the local family for free if you would like to have a try.

In the afternoon, you will continue to visit the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosque in Xi'an, the Great Mosque. Though an Islamic mosque, it was constructed in the traditional Chinese architectural style. Therefore, the buildings are pavilions with painted columns and flying eaves rather than domes and minarets. Surrounding the mosque is a local prosperous food street, the Muslim Street, where many delicious local foods and interesting souvenirs could be found.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Home-cooked lunch

After breakfast, you will take a high-speed train to Luoyang for about 2 hours. Upon your arrival, your local guide and driver will transfer you to visit the Longmen Grottoes. The entire carving work here has lasted over 1400 years in more than 10 dynasties, beginning from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD), flourishing in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and ending in the late Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD). There are altogether 2,300 caves and niches filled with countless Buddha statues and inscriptions in the Longmen Grottoes.

You will then visit the White Horse Temple, which is the first temple invested and built by the court after Buddhism was introduced into China about 1,900 year ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). Later, it became the center of China's Buddhist activities. The last stop of today is the Royal Chariot and Horse Pits of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Based on these archeological discoveries, a museum was built to display the giant horses and chariots sacrificial pits of over two thousand years ago.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, you will go to visit the Shaolin Temple to have a Kung Fu tour. Situated among the dense forest at the foot of Songshan Mountain, it was originally built in 495 during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 AD), and was greatly expanded when Bodhidharma, a famous Indian monk and the patriarch of Chinese Zen, came to impart Zen Buddhism in China. Besides its long history, the temple is much more famous for Shaolin martial arts and you can watch a performance while visiting. When the private tour is finished today, your guide and driver will see you off at the airport. Please board on your flight for the connecting trip on time!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast