Zhengzhou 8-Day Tour: Laojun Mountain & Taihang Grand Canyon

Laojun Mountain in Luanchuan, Luoyang, is a sacred Taoist peak of the Funiu range. The golden summit temples rise above the sea of clouds; the Ten-Mile Painting Screen trail offers ever-changing views. Take the cable car up and, on clear days, catch the sunrise over the clouds.

Longmen Grottoes are carved into cliffs along the Yi River, with over 2,000 niches and 100,000+ statues; the Vairocana Buddha at Fengxian Temple is breathtaking. Along with Dunhuang and Yungang, it is a pinnacle of Northern Wei to Tang stone carving.

Shaolin Temple sits at the foot of Songshan's Shaoshi Peak in Dengfeng — the cradle of Chan Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu. The main monastery, Forest of Pagodas and martial-arts shows are highlights; nearby Songyang Academy rounds out a day of heritage.

White Horse Temple in eastern Luoyang, founded in the Eastern Han, is revered as China's first Buddhist monastery. Its pagoda and Burmese/Indian-style halls make it a serene, multicultural heritage site with two millennia of history.

The Red Flag Canal is the 'Artificial Tianhe' carved by Linzhou people in the 1960s — 1,500+ km of cliffside channel, a monument to self-reliance. Youth Cave and the diversion garden tell its story.

The Taihang Grand Canyon spans Shanxi-Hebei-Henan, with the Red Flag Canal cut through the cliffs and sights like Peach Blossom Valley. Scenic shuttles reveal dramatic gorges best in spring and autumn.

Luoyang, an ancient capital for thirteen dynasties and the eastern start of the Silk Road, is also famous for peonies. Beyond Longmen and White Horse Temple, the Sui-Tang city wall light show, Luoyang Museum and old-town night market are highlights.

Luoyang, an ancient capital for thirteen dynasties and the eastern start of the Silk Road, is also famous for peonies. Beyond Longmen and White Horse Temple, the Sui-Tang city wall light show, Luoyang Museum and old-town night market are highlights.