Zhengzhou: Private Tour to Shaolin Temple & Longmen Grottoes

According to your tour pickup time, meet with your guide in the lobby of your Zhengzhou hotel and start your day. First, travel by the private car to the Shaolin Temple which will take about 1.5 hours. The Shaolin Temple was built in 495 AD by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty for the Indian monk Batuo. It was from here that Indian scriptures were translated into Chinese and the precepts of Zen Buddhism formed. The Shaolin Temple sits on the slopes of Mount Song, one of the five sacred mountains of China. The original temple structure was simple, but with each succeeding dynasty it became increasingly extensive—many of the current structures date from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Stroll around different halls and courtyards, explore the Pagoda Forest which is a concentration of tomb pagodas for eminent monks and abbots of the temple. There are more than 240 tomb pagodas of various sizes from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618-1911), making it the biggest pagoda forest in China. Witness the real Kungfu performed by Shaolin monks at the theatre. Gain deep insight into the histories and related stories about Shaolin Temple - culture, people and soul. Enjoy a delicious lunch in the local restaurant, then heading to Longmen Grottoes (Approx. 1.5 hours drive). The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving. At the end of the tour, head back to your hotel in Zhengzhou, you also can end your tour in Luoyang.