Dengfeng to Luoyang, Henan: A 5-Day Trip to Admire the National Beauty of Peonies

I've always heard that Luoyang's peonies are unrivaled under heaven. As a photography enthusiast, how could I not go and see them?

I confirmed the blooming period, invited some friends, prepared a travel plan, and set off.

When it comes to travel, the most important thing is preparation. The more prepared you are, the less likely you'll find yourself standing clueless after getting off the train, wasting time and money... The idea of a spontaneous trip sounds exciting, but it requires time, energy, money, and a strong heart to pull off. Of course, if you find it troublesome, you can join a tour group or find someone like me to arrange everything for you. O(∩_∩)O

As a photography enthusiast and travel lover, I really enjoy the sense of control that comes from planning and executing my own itinerary. I also dislike being constrained by shooting times, so I tend to prefer traveling solo.

The peony blooming period in Luoyang is slightly earlier than in Beijing, and it's very short—from bud to withering, it's only about a week, with full bloom lasting just two or three days. Different varieties of peonies, as well as those in shaded or sunny spots, bloom at different times, so it's hard to see all peonies in full bloom at once. I chose to go a week after Qingming Festival after asking a local friend, and the result was good. Although the peonies in Wangcheng Park were already fading, those at Baima Temple (White Horse Temple) and the Sui-Tang City Ruins Botanical Garden were in full bloom.

Before departure, I planned three routes and finally chose Route 3 because I wanted to see more peonies. In the end, my goal was perfectly achieved: I photographed peonies until I was aesthetically fatigued—I probably won't want to see any peonies for at least two years... _(:з)∠)_

Here, I'll list all three alternative routes for your reference:

April 9 (Friday):

Beijing → Luoyang K1363 Beijing West 22:06 → Luoyang 8:01

April 10 (Saturday): Drop luggage at hotel → Tianzijia Liu Museum → Sui-Tang Ruins Park (Tiantang Mingtang Scenic Area + Botanical Garden) → Luoyi Ancient City (night view)

April 11 (Sunday): Luoyang → Dengfeng → Songyang Academy of Classical Learning → Songyue Temple Pagoda → Dengfeng → Shaolin Temple → Luoyang

April 12 (Monday): Shenzhou Peony Garden → Baima Temple (White Horse Temple) → Guanlin Temple → Lijing Gate

April 13 (Tuesday): Longmen Grottoes → Longmen Railway Station G808 18:21 → Beijing West 21:35

Route 2:

April 9 (Friday): Beijing → Luoyang K1363 Beijing West 22:06 → Luoyang 8:01

April 10 (Saturday): Drop luggage at hotel → Longmen Grottoes → Guanlin Temple → Lijing Gate

April 11 (Sunday): Shenzhou Peony Garden → Baima Temple → Tianzijia Liu Museum → Luoyi Ancient City (night view)

April 12 (Monday): Luoyang → Songshan Shaolin Temple → Songyang Academy of Classical Learning → Zhengzhou

April 13 (Tuesday): Zhengzhou → Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden → Kaifeng

April 14 (Wednesday): Kaifeng Prefecture → Daxiangguo Temple → Kaifeng North Station G1559 15:16 → Beijing West 19:37

Route 3:

April 9 (Friday): Beijing → Zhengzhou G529 Beijing West 8:34 → Zhengzhou East 11:10 → Dengfeng → Drop luggage at hotel → Songyang Academy of Classical Learning → Zen Shaolin Music Ceremony → Stay in Dengfeng

8:30-11:30: Beijing → Zhengzhou East

11:30-13:30: Take bus from Zhengzhou East (opposite bus station) to Dengfeng, about 1.5 hours

13:30-14:30: Check in at Dengfeng DF Element Hotel, drop luggage, have lunch

14:30-15:30: Go to Songyang Academy of Classical Learning (Dengfeng Bus No. 2 direct, about 40 minutes)

15:30-18:00: Visit Songyang Academy of Classical Learning

19:00-21:30: Go watch the Zen Shaolin Music Ceremony (taxi round trip)

April 10 (Saturday): Dengfeng → Shaolin Temple → Pagoda Forest → Luoyang → Luoyi Ancient City (night view)

8:00-9:00: Go to Shaolin Temple (minibus if available at the bus station, otherwise taxi QAQ)

9:00-13:00: Visit Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest

13:30-15:30: Go to Luoyang (bus)

15:30-17:00: Check in at hotel, drop luggage, rest a bit

17:00-20:00: Visit Luoyi Ancient City, have dinner, photograph night scene

April 11 (Sunday): Guanlin Temple → Tianzijia Liu Museum → Sui-Tang Ruins Park (Tiantang Mingtang Scenic Area + Jiuzhou Pond Scenic Area)

8:00-8:50: Depart for Guanlin Temple (Bus 69/K69 direct, about 40 minutes)

9:00-11:00: Visit Guanlin Temple

12:00-13:00: Go to Tianzijia Liu Museum (Bus 55/K55 direct, about 1 hour)

13:30-15:00: Visit Tianzijia Liu Museum

15:00-15:30: Go to Sui-Tang City Ruins Park (Bus 52/81/K81 direct, 30 minutes)

16:00-20:00: Visit Tiantang Mingtang Scenic Area (photograph peonies at Jiuzhou Pond, beautiful night view at Tiantang Mingtang)

April 12 (Monday): Shenzhou Peony Garden → Baima Temple → Lijing Gate

7:30-8:00: Go to Shenzhou Peony Garden (taxi)

8:00-9:30: Visit Shenzhou Peony Garden

9:30-14:00: Visit Baima Temple (opposite Shenzhou Peony Garden)

14:30-15:00: Go to Lijing Gate (Bus 58 direct, about 40 minutes)

15:30-20:00: Visit Lijing Gate Ancient City area, have dinner, photograph night scene

April 13 (Tuesday): Longmen Grottoes → Longmen Railway Station G808 18:21 → Beijing West 21:35

9:00-10:00: Go to Longmen Grottoes (Bus 53/K53/81/K81 direct, about 1 hour)

10:00-15:00: Visit Longmen Grottoes

15:30-16:00: Go to Longmen High-Speed Rail Station (Bus 167, about 30 minutes)

18:00~: Return to Beijing

I basically followed this route, but made some adjustments.

Early in the morning, I left Beijing. After stuffing a tripod and camera lenses into a large suitcase, there wasn't much space left. A light pack is better for someone with my small frame.

The train station in the early morning has its own beauty—no wonder Beijing's Railway Museum is so popular. I took out my phone and snapped a couple of photos before boarding.

The train arrived in Zhengzhou East at noon. The exit was long, with signs leading to the long-distance bus station. Dragging my suitcase, I struggled forward, and then someone stopped me.

"Where are you going?" "Dengfeng!" "Come on, come on! Leaving right away!" "Are you a regular long-distance bus? I want to take a bus." "You want to go to Dengfeng, right? Come on!" ...

After charging me 120 yuan, they pushed me into a taxi... Where was the promised bus?! ... After asking around and checking, I found that the bus station opposite Zhengzhou East Station indeed had no buses to Dengfeng; I would have to go to the main bus station, which meant crossing the entire Zhengzhou urban area... I comforted myself that at least it saved time, but when I asked the taxi driver how much it cost to go to Dengfeng, he said 50... Damn... I got ripped off by the tout...

Oh well, money is just a worldly possession. I arrived in Dengfeng at 2 PM, checked into the hotel, dropped my luggage, and was starving. I went to have a big meal first.

Near the hotel, there was beef soup. In such a dry region as Henan, why is everything soupy or brothy? I can't understand how this food culture developed... But it was really delicious—maybe because I was hungry. The flatbread was also fragrant.

After eating, I took the bus to Songyang Academy of Classical Learning. The roads in Dengfeng are well-paved, but the bus stops didn't even have signs. Luckily, I didn't board the wrong bus.

Songyang Academy of Classical Learning is located in the Zhongyue Songshan Scenic Area. It charges a separate ticket at 30 yuan. It's a 4A-level scenic spot and one of the Four Great Academies of the Song Dynasty.

Because it's not on the same route as Shaolin Temple and the site is small, there are few tour groups—only a few independent travelers and locals wandering around, or students doing activities. The academy is really not big, and the backyard was under renovation and not open to the public. But the scenery was nice, antique, and very quiet. Two ancient cypress trees were over a thousand years old, weathered but still standing. The entire academy gave off a strong cultural atmosphere, which I really liked. I happened upon a group of elementary school students doing an activity, dressed in student attire, listening to their teacher tell the story of "Cheng Men Li Xue" (standing in snow to show respect for the teacher). I stood at the door and listened for a while.

After leaving the academy, I bought a local specialty baked flatbread (shaobing) with egg and tofu skewers. The flatbread cost 2 yuan each, bigger than my face, and very fragrant. I ate half and saved the other half for breakfast the next day.

Back at the hotel, I took a short nap and then headed to Zhaojian Mountain Residence to watch "Zen Shaolin Music Ceremony." I really enjoy watching performances that blend various local cultures, and I specifically arranged to stay in Dengfeng for one night for this show.

I had to take a taxi there, which cost a lot. It's really frustrating that such a large-scale performance, created by famous people and with a high-end hotel, has no public transportation... Wouldn't it be nice to run a shuttle bus?

Overall, the performance was worth the 199 yuan ticket, but not worth staying an extra night to see it—I was a bit disappointed. The hour-long show was divided into six segments, essentially six 10-minute grand song-and-dance numbers. The stage was fantastic—a huge stage in the Songshan Valley. The sound system was the best I've ever heard for any show, and the lighting and choreography were good... But where was the plot?! The theme?! Beautiful as it was, it lacked soul. By the second half, I was nodding off... The worst part was a segment featuring a shepherdess, driving a flock of live sheep from one end to the other, lasting less than 2 minutes. Then we had to smell sheep dung for an hour... Alas, a performance that's neither here nor there—like chicken without flavor, not worth abandoning.

After the performance, I called a taxi to pick me up and take me back to the hotel. The hotel was close to Dengfeng Bus Station, not in the city center.

The hotel was called DF Element Hotel, and the conditions were good. I had a great night's sleep.

PS: The taxi driver was nice—he drove me to both the Zen Shaolin Music Ceremony and Shaolin Temple, was very enthusiastic and talkative. If you need his contact info, feel free to message me.

The next morning, I headed to Shaolin Temple early. When I arrived at 8:30, I saw a sea of people—tour groups had already arrived.

From the scenic area entrance to the temple gate, you have to walk nearly 2 kilometers. The electric cart only sold one-way tickets at 15 yuan per person. Oh well, I walked. Tour guides with small flags led their groups swiftly, and I walked briskly to keep up, but I still couldn't catch up with the middle-aged and elderly folks.

Shaolin Temple lived up to its fame—courtyard after courtyard. At the entrance, Mr. Jin Yong's inscribed stone plaque was polished shiny by tourists. Under the huge ancient ginkgo tree, the Tianwang Hall was majestic—it must be beautiful in autumn... A huge wok for cooking weighed 1,300 jin, and it was said that when cooking, young monks had to hang upside down to stir. In the temple's heyday, they had 40 such iron woks. I listened to the guide's explanations from front to back, saw the pits left by monks practicing in the Sutra Library, then slowly walked out while taking photos. The earlier tour groups had already left, so I wasn't in a hurry. If I missed the 10:30 performance, I could catch the 11:30 one—whatever.

Continuing upward, the Pagoda Forest was close and spectacular. There are two types of pagodas here: some were built while the eminent monk was still alive, and others after nirvana (death), both to commemorate their lifelong merits. The current abbot built a pagoda for his master, with carvings of a sedan and a laptop—monks need to keep up with the times, haha.

After the performance, it was already past noon. The show featured children from martial arts schools performing Shaolin kung fu with "hehe haha" sounds and selling calligraphy and paintings. The show was free. The children's basic kung fu was somewhat interesting, but the rest was boring. I had filmed some video, but accidentally deleted it with a shake of my hand. Oh well.

At the gate, I saw a rare light green mountain cherry blossom—very beautiful. Also, the begonia flowers on the mountain were in full bloom, but unfortunately, after waiting a long time, I couldn't capture any magpies or butterflies. Capturing animals is definitely my weak point.

After leaving Shaolin Temple, I inquired about buses to Luoyang and was told they had stopped due to road construction. Then I asked about buses to Dengfeng—no service either. A major 5A scenic spot without public transportation—it's almost impossible to reason with it. I walked 1 kilometer before finding a taxi to return to Dengfeng to catch a bus to Luoyang.

The bus from Dengfeng to Luoyang took 2 hours and cost 25 yuan. I slept the whole way. Upon arrival, my friend picked me up, and I was almost in tears: "It's so hard to get a ride around here!"

My friend said she takes taxis everywhere or rides an electric scooter. Actually, I had researched so many bus routes for nothing—I ended up taking taxis everywhere too, but luckily taxis in Luoyang are cheap.

I checked into the hotel, dropped my luggage, caught my breath, packed my tripod, and headed to Luoyi Ancient City. This is a newly built ancient city scenic area in Luoyang, except for the central ancient pagoda, all buildings are new—similar to Wtown (Gubei Water Town) in Beijing, but free admission. The ancient city's lighting is beautiful, with many pretty young ladies in Tang costumes, their long skirts flowing. The ancient city is also great for photo ops. It's perfect for night photography—if you come during the day, it's just a commercial imitation ancient street.

For dinner, I had a bowl of intangible cultural heritage Jiangshui noodles. They were sour, not particularly tasty, but quite unique.

The hotel was a budget chain, conveniently located but with average conditions. During the Luoyang Peony Festival, hotel prices skyrocket—I won't elaborate.

My friend suggested we go to Wangcheng Park to see peonies, which is close to the hotel, so I adjusted my itinerary.

Wangcheng Park has the most complete variety of peonies in Luoyang, but for some reason, they had set up a bunch of scaffolding and umbrellas, partitioning off areas, which ruined the experience. There were many people, and most peonies had already withered. Combined with an overcast sky, my photos weren't as good as those from later days. There was a beautiful small building among the flowers, but I couldn't go up.

Across the park, there is a Sancai (tri-colored glazed pottery) Museum, very small. I went in for a tour to learn about Sancai culture.

Then I went to Guanlin Temple. This is the burial place of Guan Yu's head from the late Han Dynasty Three Kingdoms period. The front part is a memorial temple, the rear part is a tomb. It is one of the three great Guan temples worldwide and the only one among thousands to be called "Lin" (grove). It is China's only ancient architectural complex combining a tomb, temple, and grove. The tomb is self-explanatory, and the temple is self-explanatory—everyone understands. What is a "Lin"? It turns out that emperors' tombs are called "Ling" (mausoleum), princes' tombs are called "Mu" (grave), commoners' tombs are called "Fen" (mound), and only saints' tombs are called "Lin" (grove). Lord Guan is the Martial Saint, so this place is called Guanlin.

Guanlin is small and somewhat remote; it took over an hour by car. There weren't many visitors—another place where tour groups don't go. Good. I walked slowly from front to back and offered incense to Lord Guan as a sign of respect.

A small lion statue had been tied with a warrior's hair ornament—someone's work, quite amusing.

After leaving Guanlin, it was noon, so I had a meal at Old Luoyang Noodle House. The taste was average.

Next, I went to Tianzijia Liu Museum (Museum of the Six-Horse Chariot of the Son of Heaven). This is a site museum of the Zhou Dynasty king's city. "Tianzijia Liu" refers to the etiquette of the Zhou king riding a chariot pulled by six horses. The museum is small, but the archaeological site is worth seeing.

As dusk fell, I went to the Mingtang Tiantang Scenic Area, which represents Luoyang during Empress Wu Zetian's era. Only a pit left from a pillar base remains; the once majestic buildings have been restored as the two main structures—Mingtang (Hall of Worship) and Tiantang (Heavenly Hall)—resplendent inside. Mingtang was a combined building for court sessions and sacrifices during the Wu Zhou period, while Tiantang was a pagoda for Buddhist worship. Imagine how magnificent the Sui-Tang capital was, with countless sails on the Grand Canal outside the city, a scene of prosperity.

The scenic area ticket is expensive, but if you carefully view the exhibits, it's worth the price. However, the internal guides were perfunctory—they hurried their groups through in less than half an hour with a few words. I ignored them and took my time. I stayed until 7 PM, when the lights came on—perfect for night photography.

The night scene here was indeed beautiful, but by the time I carried my tripod to Yingtian Gate, it was already dark. Yingtian Gate was the main gate of the imperial city, also called Wufeng Tower (Five Phoenix Tower), a building style that continued through the Qing Dynasty's Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, so it felt familiar. However, this gate was even larger than the Meridian Gate, very imposing when lit. Unfortunately, the square was packed with people, and the central flower bed was tacky, so I couldn't take a panoramic shot. I was also too tired to go up the gate. I heard there are good exhibitions and performances on Yingtian Gate, but that's for another day.

I went to Xiaojie Tianfu to eat intangible cultural heritage potstickers, Danzhen Tangyuan (sweet rice balls), and Dan Dan noodles. The potstickers were fragrant, the tangyuan was delicious, and the Dan Dan noodles were so spicy that my tongue was sticking out.

Waking up early, the weather was great, and I felt refreshed. I prepared to battle the peonies again. I rushed to Baima Temple (White Horse Temple). Originally, I planned to first visit the Shenzhou Peony Garden opposite, but when I saw the ticket price of 50 yuan, I chickened out. I bought a 35-yuan ticket for Baima Temple and entered with a large group of devout worshippers to offer incense.

Baima Temple, as China's earliest Buddhist temple and the first ancient temple, has incense offerings so heavy that it's indescribable. The temple is large; besides the traditional area, there are also exotic-style temples like the Thai Buddhist temple. Together with the Qiyun Ancient Pagoda area and Di Gong's Tomb, it took me a whole morning to explore.

There are also large peony gardens in Baima Temple, in full bloom at that time—a pleasant surprise. There was also a cherry blossom path, breathtakingly beautiful.

After leaving Baima Temple, I had a bowl of braised noodles (huimian) at the Old Luoyang Noodle House at the entrance. Unexpectedly, it was cheap and delicious.

In the afternoon, since I still had time, I decided to visit the Luoyang Museum. The Luoyang Museum is large but empty—the first floor was completely empty, and the second floor's exhibits were sparse. Part of it was from the Palace Museum's collection on loan. Only the Treasure Hall was worth seeing. Opposite the museum is the Sui-Tang City Ruins Botanical Garden, which is free on regular days but charges 10 yuan during the Peony Festival—much better value than Shenzhou Peony Garden. I bought a ticket and entered. The botanical garden is large, and the peony area is in the direction farthest from the museum. No choice—I walked...

The peonies here weren't as diverse as those in Wangcheng Park, but the planting area was larger, and the central flower bed had a misting system. The flowers in the mist looked like they were in fairy clouds—beautiful beyond words. The mountain cherry blossoms and other plants were also lovely. I walked, photographed, and admired along the way. The evening light was excellent, and I finally managed to take a few satisfactory photos—a trip well worth it.

In the evening, I ate the water feast (shuixi) at Zhenbutong Restaurant. The taste was decent—not mind-blowing but pretty good, nothing like the bad reviews I'd heard. The Peony Yan Cai (peony bird's nest dish) lived up to its reputation.

After eating, I went shopping at Lijing Gate. The peony flower cakes were tastier than Yunnan's flower cakes. The peony honey candy was great too, and the snacks were not expensive. The Cross Street was bustling with lively activity, much more atmospheric than Beijing's commercial streets. The local specialties weren't expensive; the people of Luoyang are still simple, not overpricing compared to other places. Unfortunately, it was already late, or I would have loved to explore more.

I had walked 25,000 steps the previous day, and when I got up in the morning, my thighs ached. The schedule was relaxed today, so I slept in and left at 10 AM. I had already developed the bad habit of taking taxis everywhere, so I took one directly to the Longmen Grottoes. The entrance gate was 2 kilometers away from the grottoes themselves. Not wanting to exhaust myself before even starting the tour, I bought an electric cart ticket... What a sneaky way to make money.

Longmen Grottoes, being backed by mountains and facing water, has beautiful scenery, but its preservation is quite poor due to extensive damage and looting. Many Buddha statues are missing heads or hands—a real pity. The scenic area is large; on the opposite side, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden (Bai Juyi's garden) are included in the ticket. Tour groups usually only see the main Buddha statue and then rush off, not realizing that these two spots are also highlights—they definitely miss out if they don't go.

Xiangshan Temple is a small temple on the mountain opposite Longmen, very serene. Next to it is a villa once used by Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Song Meiling. It's also a great place to capture panoramic views of the Longmen Grottoes.

Bai Garden is where the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi lived in his later years and where he is buried. The garden has white walls and grey tiles, with bamboo rustling in the wind, a small stream gurgling, and peonies blooming profusely under the veranda—a truly wonderful place. I bowed respectfully three times in front of the tomb; Bai Juyi's life is worthy of respect.

After leaving Bai Garden, I walked to the scenic area exit and took a taxi to Longmen High-Speed Rail Station to return to Beijing. This trip had some regrets, but overall I was quite satisfied. When I came out of Beijing West Station, I instinctively thought of taking a taxi home. But after checking the Didi fare, I decided on the subway instead... _(:з)∠)_

Before going, I researched the local cuisine of Dengfeng and Luoyang:

Dengfeng cuisine: Dengfeng baked flatbread (shaobing), Dengfeng mustard shreds, braised mutton, tea hutu (oil tea), menzi (steamed meat jelly)

Xiaojie Tianfu: Dan Dan noodles / boiled dishes / barbecue, Danzhen Tangyuan (next to Xiaojie Tianfu): small tangyuan, vegetables + bread

Nanguan Small Bowl Beef Soup, Old Luoyang Noodle House (Jiangsui noodles), Guanji Water Feast, Xinghuacun Water Feast

Lijing Gate Cross Street Night Market

In the end, in Dengfeng, I didn't see any of the other items except the flatbread, which was indeed delicious. The Dan Dan noodles at Xiaojie Tianfu in Luoyang were overpowering—spicy, numbing, sweet, and salty—hard to say if they were good or bad. Friends with a mild palate should be cautious. I had the water feast at Zhenbutong, which I think is similar to other restaurants—taste was fine. Jiangsui noodles were very distinctive and worth trying. The braised noodles at Old Luoyang Noodle House were delicious, but the potstickers were not good. For potstickers, go to the intangible cultural heritage shop next to Xiaojie Tianfu. Danzhen Tangyuan was delicious. The peony flower cakes from the Cross Street Night Market were outstanding among local specialty snacks.

I didn't calculate expenses carefully—budgets are meant to be exceeded—but roughly:

Beijing to Zhengzhou train ticket: 309

Zhengzhou to Dengfeng fare: 120

Songyang Academy ticket: 30

Zen Shaolin Music Ceremony: 199 (C area), taxi round trip: 60

Hotel accommodation: 102, Dengfeng DF Element Hotel

Shaolin Temple ticket: 80, taxi round trip: 60, electric cart: 15

Dengfeng to Luoyang bus ticket: 25

Luoyang accommodation: 74 × 3 nights

Wangcheng Park ticket: 25

Mingtang Tiantang ticket: 105

Tianzijia Liu Museum ticket: 25, audio guide rental: 10

Guanlin Temple ticket: 40

Baima Temple ticket: 35

Sui-Tang City Ruins Botanical Garden ticket: 10

Longmen Grottoes ticket: 90, electric cart: 10

Return train to Beijing: 368

Taxi within Luoyang: about 100

Meals: about 150

Total: around 2,200

This concludes my travelogue + guide for Luoyang. Thank you for reading and watching to the end. I hope everyone has a great time in Luoyang.

Some extra tips:

Henan is rapidly developing, with roads being built everywhere, so there's a lot of dust. Luoyang Metro Line 1 just opened, and the public transport system is being improved. The most convenient way to travel is by car. Taxis are cheap—starting fare is 7 yuan—and the attractions are relatively concentrated, so taxis are a good option. Guanlin Temple is relatively remote; you can decide whether to go or not. There are many peony gardens, and peonies are everywhere. Even if you're short on time, you don't need to visit Shenzhou Peony Garden opposite Baima Temple; there are plenty of peonies inside Baima Temple itself. That peony garden is private and expensive—I didn't go in, so maybe it's worth the price after all.

The main attraction in Dengfeng is Songshan Shaolin Temple. I didn't climb the mountain; I only visited Shaolin Temple and the Pagoda Forest. To climb, you can take the cable car up and then hike to Sanhuangzhai, which takes about 3–4 hours and requires a certain level of fitness. The scenery is reportedly okay. You can decide. If you're driving, I suggest taking a detour to Songyang Academy of Classical Learning. If not, forget it—it's not worth going to Dengfeng city specially. The music ceremony is a matter of personal taste.

My friend Xiao Jing in Luoyang accompanied me to many places. She has a great personality, excellent service, and even did some guiding. She's a part-time tour guide with a proper license. If you need a local guide in Luoyang, feel free to message me for her contact info—I won't post it here to avoid sounding like an ad. The same goes for the Dengfeng taxi driver.

Travelogue Table of Contents:

1. Henan Dengfeng ~ Luoyang: Peony Blooming Season, Panoramic 5-Day Detailed Plan with Many Photos

2. Pre-trip Preparation: Route Planning, Confirmation, Booking, Information Research, etc.

3. Day 1: Beijing → Zhengzhou → Dengfeng → Songyang Academy → Shaolin · Zen Music Ceremony

4. Day 2: Dengfeng → Shaolin Temple → Luoyang → Luoyi Ancient City Night View

5. Day 3: Wangcheng Park → Guanlin → Tianzijia Liu Museum → Mingtang Tiantang Scenic Area → Yingtian Gate Night View

6. Day 4: Baima Temple → Luoyang Museum → Sui-Tang City Ruins Botanical Garden → Lijing Gate Cross Street

7. Day 5: Longmen Grottoes → Xiangshan Temple → Bai Garden → Longmen High-Speed Rail Station → Beijing

8. Luoyang Cuisine + Rough Expenses

9. Summary + Some Random Thoughts

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