14 Days in Luoyang

Settle in, then the old city — Lijing Gate, flagstone lanes, and the night market after dark.

1. luoyang lijing gate
2. Luoyang Old Street

A full day along the Yi River cliffs; arrive early or stay for the evening illumination.

1. Longmen Grottoes

A second, slower pass through the east-hill grottoes, then a riverside evening back in the old city.

1. Longmen Grottoes
2. Luoyang Old Street

China's first Buddhist temple in the morning, the underground tomb exhibits on the north side after lunch.

1. luoyang white horse temple
2. luoyang ancient tombs museum

Tang treasures at the museum, then the rebuilt city axis and the Yingtian Gate night show.

1. Luoyang Museum
2. luoyang yingtian gate

The cypress avenues and tomb grounds of Guanlin, then the peony gardens if you are here in April.

1. luoyang guanlin
2. luoyang peony gardens

A slow day of soup breakfasts and old-city lanes — Luoyang's water-banquet restaurants make the evening.

1. Luoyang Old Street

The Songshan day — the famous monastery, its pagoda forest and a kung fu show; allow the full day.

1. Shaolin Temple

Back into the Songshan area for the quieter sides — slow ridgewalks and the old academy-town streets.

1. dengfeng

A long day south to the Funiu range for cloud seas and the highest summit of the Central Plains.

1. Baiyun Mountain (Luoyang)

Markets, teahouses and a nap — the last excursion block starts tomorrow.

1. Luoyang Old Street

HSR east to the Northern Song capital for imperial parks and the night market, back by last train.

1. kaifeng

The provincial museum's bronzes and jades, and a walk of the old railway quarter on the way back.

1. zhengzhou

A last old-city breakfast and market stroll, then the HSR from Luoyang Longmen station for departure.

1. Luoyang Old Street