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★ Itinerary · 4 days · 3 UNESCO sites
4-Day Xi'an + Luoyang Itinerary 2026: Tang Capitals and Longmen Caves
A 4-day itinerary covering Xi'an (Tang capital) and Luoyang (Eastern Han/Tang/Song capital), with the UNESCO Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple.
Quick Answer
What is this 4-day itinerary like?
This 4-day itinerary covers 3 UNESCO sites, involves 14 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $680.
Day by day
Four days covers Xi'an + Luoyang: Day 1-2 Xi'an (City Wall, Terracotta), Day 3 HSR to Luoyang (1.5h), Day 4 Longmen Grottoes + Shaolin Temple day trip. Most visa-free for 30 days.
1
Day 1 · Mon
Xi'an old city
City Wall bike ride (¥54 + ¥45 bike) · Bell Tower + Drum Tower · Muslim Quarter food walk · Tang Dynasty show
- 09:00City Wall bike ride
¥54 + ¥45 bike
- 11:00Bell Tower + Drum Tower
Bell Tower + Drum Tower
- 13:00Muslim Quarter food walk
Muslim Quarter food walk
- 15:00Tang Dynasty show
Tang Dynasty show
🏨Stay tonightBell Tower area· B: hotel · L: Muslim Quarter · D: Tang show
2
Day 2 · Tue
Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army day trip (¥120) · Pit 1, 2, 3 + Bronze Chariots · Return: Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- 09:00Terracotta Army day trip
¥120
- 11:00Pit 1, 2, 3 + Bronze Chariots
Pit 1, 2, 3 + Bronze Chariots
- 13:00Return: Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Return: Big Wild Goose Pagoda
🏨Stay tonightSame hotel· B: hotel · L: museum · D: Xi'an
3
Day 3 · Wed
Xi'an to Luoyang
Morning: Shaanxi History Museum · HSR Xi'an → Luoyang Longmen (1.5h, ¥130) · Wangcheng Park + Luoyang Old Town · Evening: Luoyang's famous water banquet
- 09:00Morning: Shaanxi History Museum
Morning: Shaanxi History Museum
- 11:00HSR Xi'an → Luoyang Longmen
1.5h, ¥130
- 13:00Wangcheng Park + Luoyang Old Town
Wangcheng Park + Luoyang Old Town
- 15:00Evening: Luoyang's famous water banquet
Evening: Luoyang's famous water banquet
🏨Stay tonightLuoyang· B: hotel · L: train · D: water banquet
4
Day 4 · Thu
Longmen Grottoes + Shaolin
Longmen Grottoes (¥90, UNESCO) — 100,000+ Buddhist statues · Bus to Shaolin Temple (¥30) · Shaolin Temple + Pagoda Forest (¥80) · Return to Luoyang or Xi'an
- 09:00Longmen Grottoes
¥90, UNESCO) 100,000+ Buddhist statues
- 11:00Bus to Shaolin Temple
¥30
- 13:00Shaolin Temple + Pagoda Forest
¥80
- 15:00Return to Luoyang or Xi'an
Return to Luoyang or Xi'an
✈️DepartureHotel· B: hotel · L: Shaolin · D: airport
If 4 days isn’t quite right
All routes →
Beijing essentials
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.
Itinerary FAQ
How far in advance should I book the main sights?
Book the top restricted-access sight 7 days before, at midnight local time, via the official channel. Same-day tickets are not sold at most major sites.
Is 4 days too long for a first trip?
No — 4 days is the sweet spot. Three days covers the highlights but you will be exhausted. Five lets you add a day trip and an unhurried afternoon without rushing.
Can I do this itinerary without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Install Pleco (offline dictionary) and a translation app before you fly. Metro and attraction signage is in English in major cities; international-hotel staff speak English.
What's the worst time of year to run this exact route?
Golden Week (October 1–7) — every timed entry is impossible to get. Also avoid the Spring Festival rush (late Jan/Feb) and Labor Day (May 1–5). Mid-July to mid-August is hot and crowded with domestic travelers.
How much cash do I actually need?
Almost none. Alipay (linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard) covers 95% of vendors. Carry ¥500–800 in cash as backup for small stalls. Tipping is not expected.
Is this route safe for solo travelers?
Yes. The main risk is traffic — e-bikes and scooters use sidewalks. Stay alert at intersections, especially outside Beijing/Shanghai where drivers may not stop. Solo female travelers report no issues.