The Longmen Grottoes of Luoyang here in Henan Province are among Asia’s greatest works of religious cave art. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, these spectacular Buddhist carvings were hewn from the limestone grottoes more than 1,500 years ago, when Buddhism was spreading eastward into China and gaining favor in the Imperial court.
After touring the Grottoes, sit down to a Buddhist-style vegetarian lunch and then visit the historic Shaolin Monastery, founded in AD 496 and regarded as the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism. Enjoy an exciting martial arts demonstration here at the Monastery where the distinctive Shaolin style of Kung Fu was born. Then continue on with your private car and driver to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, where you’ll check in to the deluxe Sofitel Hotel. Meals B,L,D