Tainan 2-Day Tour
Chihkan Tower + Garden Night Market + Danzai Noodles
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
Longmen Grottoes (West Hill + East Hill special caves) + White Garden (Bai Juyi Tomb) + Xiangshan Temple + almond tea afternoon tea
Longmen Grottoes
The Longmen Grottoes are an outstanding example of Chinese Buddhist art, located 12 kilometers south of Luoyang City, Henan Province, between Xiangshan and Longmenshan mountains on both banks of the Yi River. Here, there are over 100,000 statues of Sakyamuni Buddha and his disciples, with sizes ranging from 25 millimeters to 17 meters, many of which were once painted. The grottoes are carved into limestone cliffs, including external rock reliefs and internal artificial caves. The Yi River flows northward between the two mountains, and the area was once known as Yique ('Gate of the Yi River'). The alternative name 'Longmen Grottoes' (Dragon Gate Grottoes) derives from the two peaks that control the flow of the Yi River, resembling the 'Chinese city gate towers' that once marked the southern entrance to Luoyang. Within the grottoes area, there are also nearly 2,500 steles and inscriptions, hence it is known as the 'Forest of Ancient Steles,' as well as over 60 Buddhist pagodas. The grottoes are situated in a beautiful natural environment, carved along 1 kilometer of cliffs on both banks of the Yi River. Among them, 30% of the grottoes were carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty, 60% during the Tang Dynasty, and less than 10% from other periods. Beginning in 493 AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty, donors included emperors, Empress Wu Zetian, imperial family members, other wealthy families, generals, and religious groups. In 2000, the site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for the perfection of its art forms and its embodiment of the essence of Tang Dynasty culture, hailed as an 'outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity.'
Longmen Grottoes - Xiangshan Bai Garden
Bai Garden is the tomb garden of Bai Juyi, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, located on Pipa Peak of Longmen East Mountain in Luoyang City, covering an area of approximately 44 acres. It is a cultural and natural landscape within the Longmen Grottoes scenic area, hidden among the mountains and forests, imbued with a sense of ethereal charm and Taoist spirit. It is also the only theme park in China dedicated to commemorating Bai Juyi. Bai Juyi lived in Luoyang for 18 years in his later life. Although honored as "Shaofu" (Junior Tutor), he lived a life of poverty, with a great love for drinking and poetry. He built Xiangshan Temple and developed Bajie Beach in Longmen. He had a special affection for the landscapes of Longmen, and was buried here according to his wishes after his death. Many delegations from countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, as well as from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, come to Bai Garden to commemorate, trace their roots, and pay respects to their ancestors. In 1988, the Japan-China Cultural Promotion Association erected a stele here, with inscriptions written in both Chinese and Japanese. In 1995, Japan donated cherry blossoms and erected a stele in Bai Garden. In 1999, South Korea erected a stele here, and in 2000, Singapore also erected a stele.
Xiangshan Temple
Xiangshan Temple is located on Xiangshan Mountain on the east bank of the Yi River within the Longmen Grottoes scenic area in Luoyang City, Henan Province, facing the West Hill of the Longmen Grottoes from afar. It was first built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and later, Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty spent her summers here. It is famous because Bai Juyi, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, often resided here in his later years and called himself 'Hermit of Xiangshan'. The temple is built against the mountain, boasting beautiful scenery, and is an important part of the Longmen Grottoes, as well as a prime example of the integration of Buddhist culture and natural landscapes.
2
Erlitou Xia Capital Site Museum + Yanshi Shang City Museum (reservation) + Zhou Royal City Tianzi Jia Liu Museum + Wangcheng Park peonies
Erlitou Xia Capital Site Museum
The Erlitou Xia Capital Site Museum is a museum primarily dedicated to exhibiting archaeological artifacts of the Erlitou culture. The Erlitou culture is a Chinese Bronze Age culture, which Chinese researchers believe may have been the capital of the proto-historic Xia Dynasty. The museum is located in Sijiaolou Village, Dianzhuang Town, Yanshi District, Luoyang City, Henan Province, approximately 300 meters north of the Erlitou Site Protection Area and south of Gucheng Expressway. The museum was jointly constructed and is managed by the Luoyang Municipal Government and the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The museum covers an area of approximately 246 mu (about 16.4 hectares), with a total building area of 31,781 square meters. It comprises four sections: public area, business area, administrative area, and the Early China Research Center. The overall structure is steel, with a total height of 22.9 meters. The architectural design of the museum was completed by Professor Li Li's team from Tongji University. The museum building extensively uses rammed earth and bronze decorations. The surrounding extended buildings and the first-floor exterior decorative surface of the museum all use rammed earth, with a total of 4,000 cubic meters of rammed earth used. Above the first-floor rammed earth decoration, the inner and outer facades and the roof of the museum's second floor are adorned with aged bronze decorative panels, covering a total area of over 30,000 square meters. The inner and outer facades of the museum's second floor feature 22,983 bronze panels, and the roof has 4,659 bronze panels. The museum houses five permanent exhibition halls, with Halls 1, 2, and 3 on the first floor, and Halls 4 and 5 on the second floor. The second floor also features two temporary exhibition halls.
Luoyang Zhou Wangcheng Museum of the Son of Heaven's Six-Horse Chariot
The Luoyang Zhou Wangcheng Museum of the Son of Heaven's Six-Horse Chariot is a specialized museum established based on the large chariot and horse pit site from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, discovered in the early 21st century. It primarily showcases the magnificent chariot procession of the Son of Heaven (Zhou Tianzi) driving six horses and related cultural relics. It is one of China's major archaeological discoveries, holding significant importance for the study of Zhou Dynasty rituals and chariot and horse systems. The museum is located in the center of Luoyang City, and its underground exhibition hall is the in-situ protected chariot and horse pit site, visually presenting a real scene from over 2000 years ago.
Wangcheng Park
Wangcheng Park is located in Luoyang City, Henan Province. It is China's only park built on the ruins of a Zhou Dynasty royal city, and also Luoyang's largest comprehensive park. The park preserves the ruins of the royal city from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, serving as an important embodiment of Luoyang's profound historical and cultural heritage. The park boasts beautiful scenery and rich vegetation, especially renowned for its peonies. The annual Peony Culture Festival held every spring attracts numerous visitors. Additionally, the park features Luoyang Wangcheng Zoo, an aquarium, and an amusement park, integrating historical culture, natural scenery, popular science education, and leisure entertainment, making it an excellent destination for citizens to relax and for tourists to experience Luoyang's culture.
3
National Peony Garden (or China National Flower Garden) + Luoyang Folk Museum + Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum + silver thread crisp souvenir
National Peony Garden
The National Peony Garden is located in the old town of Luoyang City and is a famous attraction for enjoying peonies. The garden boasts a wide variety of peony species, which bloom in a riot of colors during their flowering season, making it an excellent destination for photography enthusiasts and flower lovers. The park is open from Monday to Friday from 08:00-18:00, and on weekends from 07:30-18:30.
Luoyang Folk Museum
Luoyang Folk Museum is located on Xinjie Street, Old Town, Luoyang City, Henan Province. It is a museum dedicated to showcasing the folk culture of the Luoyang area. The museum houses a rich collection of folk artifacts, aiming to protect and inherit local traditional culture.
Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum
The Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum, also known as the Luoyang Museum of Ancient Art, is a museum in China dedicated to ancient tomb culture, located in Luoyang City, Henan Province. Through the display of ancient tomb structures, murals, burial objects, and more, the museum reveals the development and evolution of ancient Chinese elaborate burial customs and funerary culture, possessing significant historical and artistic value.
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