5 Days East Part Silk Road Tour of Xian and Luoyang

Tour Overview

Discover the rich history of Luoyang and Xian, two ancient capitals that witnessed the rise and fall of thirteen Chinese dynasties on this 5-day short Silk Road tour package. In Luoyang, explore the Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, and White Horse Temple, all steeped in cultural and spiritual significance.

Then, head to Xian by high-speed train to marvel at the Terracotta Warriors, walk the Ancient City Wall, and visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This Silk Road trip offers a deep dive into China’s ancient civilization.

Highlights of this tour

Watch a wonderful Kung Fu performance and explore the historic Pagoda Forest in Shaolin Temple.
Marvel at Longmen Grottoes’ Buddhist statues and the Lushena Giant Buddha.
Visit China’s first official Buddhist temple, with diverse Buddhist architecture from India, Burma, and Thailand.
Explore the life-sized statues of the Terracotta Army.
Walk or cycle along China’s largest and best-preserved city wall in Xian.
Discover relics and Buddhist treasures in Xian Museum.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Luoyang-Xian

Travel Length: 5 Days and 4 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, families with kids

Departure: Any day you want

Your tour – quick look

Day 1-3 Arrival, Luoyang Tour, High-speed Train to Xian

Two full-day exploration of the most popular attractions in Luoyang covering Shaolin Temple, Kung Fu Show, White Horse Temple, and the largest and best preserved royal grotto in China – Longmen Grottoes. After the visit, take a high-speed train to Xian.

Day 4-5 Xian Tour, Departure

Follow your tour guide to explore the highlights of Xian such as Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Ancient City Wall, Xian Museum, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Then take a flight for departure.

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Luoyang

Upon arrival, your private driver will wait for you at the airport terminal exit or train station exit by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then you will be driven to the hotel and have a good rest.

Meal: Dinner

Accommodation: in Luoyang

Day 2 Luoyang Highlights Tour
Watch an Exciting Martial Art Performance

Your tour guide and driver will pick you up in your hotel lobby and then drive to Songshan County to start your Luoyang tour at the mysterious Shaolin Temple. It is well-known as the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Martial Arts.

In Shaolin Temple, you have a chance to see the authentic Kung Fu Show performance as the saying goes “All martial arts (Kung Fu) are from Shaolin”. One more highlight of the temple is the Pagoda Forest which is actually the tomb group of great monks who lived and died in Shaolin Temple from the Tang Dynasty to the present years. After the visit, you will be escorted back to the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Luoyang

Day 3 Luoyang to Xian Tour by High-speed Train
Discover the Luoyang Gems from Museum to Grottoes

Today’s tour in Luoyang takes you to White Horse Temple first. Founded in 68 AD, it was the first official temple after Buddhism was introduced to China. The temple boasts more than 100 buildings such as the Heavenly King Hall and the Daxiong Hall. You can also see Buddhist temples in styles such as Indian, Burmese, and Thai inside the temple, showcasing the diversity of Buddhist culture.

One of the highlights of this East Silk Road tour is the Longmen Grottoes, the largest and best preserved royal grotto in China. The grottoes have gone through multiple dynasties from the Northern Wei to the Tang Dynasty, lasting more than 400 years. There are 2345 Buddhist niches here, with over 100,000 statues and more than 2,800 stone inscriptions. Among them, the Lushena Giant Buddha, with a height of 17.14m, is the essence of Longmen Grottoes.

Finishing the visit, you will be transferred to the train station for a high-speed train to Xian. Upon arrival in Xian, meet your local private driver and drive to the hotel for check-in.‌‌

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Xian

Longmen Grottoes Luoyang — Longmen Grottoes

Day 4 Xian Highlights Tour
Explore City Landmarks and Marvel at the Life-sized Clay Warriors

Your private tour guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby in the morning. Then after a short visit to Terracotta Figures Factory which focuses on reproduction of Terracotta figures, you will be directly transferred to begin your Silk Road tour in Xian at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level of sculpture, which is the most significant discovery of the 20th century. The splendid scene and format will leave you with an impressive memory.

After lunch, continue visiting the Xian Ancient City Wall. It is the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China. It was built for the military defense in the ancient time. Since it is cycling the city, visitors can ride a bike around the city wall (optional, at your own expense).

Last, transfer to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a worship place for Buddhists. The pagoda was originally built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang brought back to China from India. Now the Big Wild Goose Pagoda has been built into a big garden, where people can have a retreat.

In the evening, you have the option to enjoy the dumpling banquet for dinner. The dumpling banquet will be both a view and taste feast. After dinner, watch the Tang Dynasty Show, the most favorable night activity for one’s Xian tour. (at your own expense)

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Xian

Xian Tour to Terracotta Warriors — Terracotta Warriors

Day 5 Departure from Xian
Glimpse Xian’s Profound History in the Museum

Your Xi’an tour today will take you to the Xi’an Museum, which consists of the museum, the Tang Jianfu Temple ruins, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, collecting 130,000 cultural relics and showcasing the historical charm of this ancient capital. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is an important heritage of Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty, which has stood firm after multiple earthquakes.

After the visit, be taken to the airport or train station for departure. Your 5-day Silk Road trip comes to an end here.‌

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A

Request a Custom Quote Today

The price varies based on the activity, number of people, date of trip, and selected hotel. Kindly get in touch with us for a precise cost according to your specifications.

What’s included?

4 nights’ accommodation in well-selected hotels;

Meals listed in the itinerary;

Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;

Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

Second-class train tickets and economic-class flights mentioned in the itinerary;

1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

China Travel Insurance.

What’s excluded?

Flight/train tickets to Luoyang / off Xian;

Any optional activities inside the attractions;

Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

Single Room Supplement;

All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

What You’ll Receive at Chinasilkroadtours

At the heart of Chinasilkroadtours is the seamless service offered together by our 1-on-1 travel consultant, meticulous tour operators, expert local guides, and attentive local drivers. Our service is therefore made to be as unique as you are.

1-on-1 Travel Advisor

Your Silk Road experience starts with telling us your travel wishes and your one-on-one travel advisor designing the unique trip for you with their insider expertise.

Once we receive your request, one of our travel consultants will get back to you ASAP, typically within 24 hrs. Your travel consultant will then listen and learn about your travel style, your schedule, your budget, and your aspirations for your Silk Road travel plans. Based on this, she/he will provide you with a custom itinerary or a small group journey that suits your needs perfectly.

Plus, know your trip is taken care of by your 1-on-1 travel advisor with round-the-clock support should you need to alter your itinerary anytime.

Best Local Guides

Our locally-based guides narrate the Silk Road’s history and stories. They also provide with you insider tips, show you all the secret places, and introduce you to the locals.

Our best-selected guides are local people living in the cities along the Silk Road. During your trip, be it a private tour or a small group, they offer more than just things you can learn from the guidebooks, they try to give you a real insight into the Silk Route.

Whether you are traveling with kids or seniors, our guides are very patient and always pay close attention to every detail.

Local Drivers & Vehicles

All our Silk Road tours use well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles. Different types of vehicles, from cars to vans are selected depending on your group size and tour style. We also offer off-road vehicles for desert adventures.

Our experienced local drivers are familiar with the local road conditions of rough terrain, including desert highways and mountainous areas. They can easily navigate the roads, guaranteeing a comfortable and safe journey. Plus, they are well trained in a professional manner, being friendly and helpful.

Handpicked Hotels

Checking in and checking out the accommodations along the Silk Road every year, we hand-pick the best collection of accommodations.

The accommodations we choose include luxury, boutique, or comfortable hotels in major cities, comfortable or basic hotels in remote towns, and caravanserais and camping sites that offer a unique experience.

It’s your decision about where to stay that best suits your tastes and budget. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Silk Road Foods

We also hand-pick restaurants with a variety of local cuisines, from Uyghur cuisine to Shaanxi Cuisine, to enrich your Silk Road travel experience.

Savor authentic Northwest Chinese, Uyghur, and Central Asian cuisines with the signature dishes and snacks. From delicious mutton soups to a wide range of noodles and a taste of the local “bread” like Roujiamo and naan, enjoy an expansive menu featuring local flavors.

Please let us know if you have any dietary allergies or what foods (e.g. Western foods) you or your kids enjoy.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Our 10-day mid Oct Silk Road trip was magical. Lenna at China Silk Road Tours took us through 3 customized our itinerary. We witnessed breathtaking sights along the way, including a Lake in a desert, snow-capped mountains, unreal layer-cake hills, ancient Silk Road ruins, Buddhist grottoes, museums… We enjoy the good meals, nice hotels and comfortable transport with professcional English-speaking guides.
Traveler634605
December 2024
It was a really great Silk Road trip with varying sights and experiences. W love the beautiful alpine mountains..and enjoy the desert experience with camel riding and the full Monti. The
Food arranged was great again. We always like the travel experience, together with different regional cuisines.
Bigg Caesar
October 2024
In Thailand, I run a travel agency. When travelling to the Gansu Silk Road, always use this agency. I think Sophia is an excellent trip operator. quick to respond to messages and attentive to every detail. We are unable to plan quality travel without a competent tour operator. Sally is the best guide as well; she is incredibly knowledgable and pays close attention to every aspect. I’d want to give these two girls a big thank you.
Anothai L
October 2024
Silk Road Tours was able to deliver with both excellence and value—thank you for a wonderful trip! Sophia responded to all requests with excellent suggestions and follow-through. We are a couple of over 60 years old who are very experienced travellers. Our travel style is to find good local guides and/or tours that offer excellent guidance with good value. We were able to travel efficiently with both high speed trains and a comfortable and private car.
Travel745
September 2024
In September, Sophia organised a party of 11 of us to travel the Silk Road from Urumqi to Lanzhou. The vacation was fantastic; the hotel accommodations, the history of each area we visited, and the scenery were all thoughtfully prepared for us. Sophia, thank you!
BYTKWAN
September 2024