Longmen Grottoes & Shaolin Temple day trip from Xi'an by train

Two UNESCO sites in one day without leaving Xi'an overnight

A private day trip from Xi'an to Luoyang by bullet train, visiting the Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple with an English or Chinese-speaking guide. Hotel pickup at 6:30 am gets you to the train station. After a 1.5-hour ride, a local guide meets you in Luoyang and drives you to both sites before the return train departs. The grottoes hold the largest collection of Northern Wei and Tang Dynasty Buddhist stone carvings in China. Shaolin Temple's Kung Fu show is the highlight of the temple visit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Longmen Grottoes2h
2. Shaolin Temple2h

Visit Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple

• Pick up from hotel at 6:30
• Transfer to Xi'an bullet train station
• Take bullet train to Luoyang (1.5 hours)
• Meet local guide at Luoyang Longmen station
• Visit Longmen Grottoes
• Drive 1 hour to Shaolin Temple
• Watch Kongfu show at Shaolin Temple
• Return to Luoyang Longmen railway station
• Take bullet train back to Xi'an
• Take taxi from Xi'an station to hotel

The experience

You're picked up from your Xi'an hotel at 6:30 am and driven to the bullet train station. The 1.5-hour train ride to Luoyang is fast enough that you leave in the morning and return the same evening: no second hotel, no luggage shuffle. A local guide meets you at Luoyang Longmen station and drives you to both sites by van.

The Longmen Grottoes contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese stone carving from the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316–907), all devoted to Buddhist religion and representing the peak of that craft. It's one of the top three grottoes heritage sites in China. After the grottoes, you drive about an hour to Shaolin Temple, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. The Kung Fu show is the centerpiece of the temple visit and shows why Shaolin earned its reputation as "the Number One Temple under Heaven."

Your guide drops you at Luoyang Longmen railway station for the return train to Xi'an. Once you arrive back in Xi'an, you take a taxi from the station to your hotel. The whole day runs 12 to 13 hours from pickup to return, with the guide and all transport between sites included. You choose whether we book your train tickets or you arrange them yourself at checkout.

What’s included

• Round-trip 2nd class high-speed train tickets from Xi'an to Luoyang (or self-booking option).
• private hotel pickup at 6:30 am and transfer to Xi'an North train station.
• English or Chinese-speaking guide at both the Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple.
• private van transport between sites in Luoyang.

Options for this experience

2 options

Train tickets booked by yourselfUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 07:00Suggested train options are listed below, and you can book them through the official 12306 app, English version. Xi'an Bei (North) to Luoyang Longmen: G1712, 08:25/09:49. Return: G673, 18:18/19:44. Pickup is included.

We take care of booking the train ticketsUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · 07:00includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (1 to 9 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by wendys xian tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see two major heritage sites in a single day without staying overnight in another city. The bullet train makes the distance manageable, and the fixed schedule means both the grottoes and the temple fit inside one departure and return, leaving your other Xi'an days free.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 9 years).

What is the Kung Fu show at Shaolin Temple like?

The Kung Fu show is listed as the highlight of the Shaolin Temple visit. It is a performance held at the temple. The itinerary does not detail the length or specific content, but it is a standard part of the temple experience.

Do I need to book my own train tickets, or does the tour company handle it?

You have a choice at checkout: either we book your round-trip 2nd class high-speed train tickets from Xi'an to Luoyang, or you arrange them yourself. Either way, the pickup, guide and all transport in Luoyang are included.

What happens if I want a return transfer from the Xi'an train station back to my hotel?

Return transfer from Xi'an bullet train station to your hotel is available depending on which option you select at checkout. The base tour includes hotel pickup in the morning. Confirm your return transport preference when you book.

Are entrance fees to the grottoes and temple included in the price?

Entrance fees to the Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple are not included. They cost approximately USD 34 per person and are paid separately at each site.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour involves walking around the grottoes and temple grounds. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. A moderate level of physical fitness is advised. The sites are wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller.