7 days / 6 nights · Zhengzhou / Yanshi Erlitou / Luoyang / Anyang / Linfen / Yuncheng
7-Day Ancestor-Searching Tour in China · Complete Route from Erlitou to Yinxu
Zhengzhou / Yanshi Erlitou / Luoyang / Anyang / Linfen / Yuncheng · 7 days 6 nights · Moderate
Reference Price
$1,070Rise / Person
- Purely for fun, no shopping
- The itinerary can be slightly adjusted
- Includes ticket reservation service
Number of people in a group2–8 people
IntensityMedium
Best seasonApr–Jun, Sep–Nov
Traffichigh-speed rail + tour bus
AccommodationFour-star hotel 6 nights
Departure MonthApril to June, September to November
Prices vary between peak and off-peak seasons; the following order confirmation shall prevail · Tickets for highlands and peak seasons need to be booked in advance
Itinerary Details
All routes are for reference only, the actual route is subject to the explanation of customer service
Walk through both the Xia and Shang dynasties: visit Erlitou, Yanshi, Yin Ruins, and the Mausoleum of Yao and Shun all at once.
Day-by-day itinerary7 days in total · daily destination, meals, accommodation and transport
Expand day by day; click a title to collapse. Itinerary for reference and may be adjusted for weather and traffic.
- D1Arrived at Zhengzhou · Henan Museum
DestinationLocation→ Zhengzhou
- Meals
- Meals are self-managed
- Accommodation
- Zhengzhou Hotel
- Transport
- Airport/Station Pickup and Drop-off
- Distance
- Within the city
Daily detailArrive in Zhengzhou from various locations, with a dedicated airport or station pick-up to your hotel. Afternoon free time.
Half a day at the museum + half a day at the mall ruins, plus one day to visit Yanshi Erlitou.
Henan Museum: The main exhibition hall's nine treasures of the main hall, including the Jiahu bone flute, an instrument that can still be played about 8,000 years ago.
Meals: Braised noodles, spicy soup, braised pancakes.
Note: Henan Museum is closed on Mondays, so advance reservation is required; Some sites are open-air, so be sure to shade them in summer.
In the evening, take a high-speed rail or tour bus to Yanshi Erlitou, and stay overnight in Yanshi Erlitou. - D2Yanshi Erlitou · Erlitou Site and Erlitou Xiadu Site Museum
DestinationYanshi Erlitou → Luoyang
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Yanshi Erlitou Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Luoyang
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailErlitou Site
Dining at the Erlitou Xiadu Site Museum
: Yanshi local stew noodles and meat boxes.
In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Luoyang and stay overnight there. - D3Luoyang · Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple
DestinationLuoyang city center
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Luoyang Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailLongmen Grottoes: Carved during the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties, the Vairocana Buddha at Fengxian Temple is the most representative Tang dynasty statue.
White Horse Temple: China's oldest temple, the first government-run temple after Buddhism was introduced to the Central Plains.
Meals: Luoyang water feast, unflipped soup, and noodles.
Tip: It is recommended to visit Longmen Grottoes in the morning, as the light slants onto the Buddha; During the peony blooming season in April, accommodation should be booked early. - D4Luoyang · Erlitou Museum (Yanshi), the ancient city of Luoyang from the Han and Wei dynasties
DestinationLuoyang → Anyang
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Luoyang Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Anyang
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
StopsDaily detailErlitou Museum (Yanshi): Exhibits excavation results from the Xia dynasty capital, about a 1-hour drive from downtown Luoyang.
Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City: The capital site from the Eastern Han to Northern Wei, with a large foundation of the Taiji Hall.
Meals: Luoyang water banquet, Bufan soup, and noodles.
Tip: It is recommended to visit Longmen Grottoes in the morning, as the sunlight slants over the Buddha; During the peony bloom season in April, accommodation should be booked early.
In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Anyang and stay overnight there. - D5Anyang · Yinxu Palace and Ancestral Temple Ruins, Yinxu Royal Tomb Ruins, and M260
DestinationAnyang → Linfen
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Anyang Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Linfen
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
StopsDaily detailYinxu Palace and Ancestral Temple Ruins: Rammed earth foundation and sacrificial pits, oracle bone cellars are located here.
Yinxu Royal Tomb Site and M260: The Simuwu Ding was unearthed, with a very intuitive tomb structure.
Chinese Character Museum: From oracle bone script to bamboo slips and movable type, it thoroughly explains the evolution of Chinese characters.
Youli City and Yue Fei Temple: Within Tangyin County, the hometown of King Wen of Zhou and Yue Fei, you can add along the way.
Meals: Flat rice noodles, Daokou roast chicken, Anyang stew.
Tip: Yin Ruins is divided into two areas: the palace area and the royal tomb area, with shuttle buses in between; The oracle bone inscription pit is strictly guarded and must not be touched. In
the evening, take a high-speed rail or tour bus to Linfen and stay overnight. - D6Linfen · Yao Temple and Tao Temple Ruins
DestinationLinfen → Yuncheng
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Linfen Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Yuncheng
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailYao Temple: A complex commemorating Yao's ancestral temple, with Wufeng Tower and Guangyun Hall as the main structures.
Taosi Ruins: A large city site dating back about 4300-3900 years, featuring the world's earliest observational worship platform.
Hongtong Great Pagoda Tree: A Ming Dynasty migration center. 'Ask me where my ancestors were, Shanxi Hongtong Great Pagoda Tree' refers to this place.
Guangsheng Temple and Feihong Pagoda: At the foot of Huoshan, the glazed pagoda and Yuan dynasty murals are outstanding.
Dining: Beef meatball noodles, Wu Family smoked meat.
Note: The Taosi site is more in its original form; it's recommended to visit the museum before visiting the site; Public transportation in the rural and county areas is sparse. In
the evening, take a high-speed rail or tour bus to Yuncheng and stay overnight. - D7Yuncheng · Mausoleum of Emperor Shun and the return journey
DestinationYuncheng → Airport drop-off / station drop-off
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Not included
- Transport
- Private vehicle for transfer to airport/station
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
StopsDaily detailShun Emperor's Mausoleum: The Shun Emperor's mausoleum temple on Mingtiao Hill, large in scale with ancient cypress trees.
Jiezhou Guan Di Temple: The largest Guan Di temple in the country, featuring the Chunqiu Tower and the "Yi Mingqiu Qiankun" archway.
Dayu Ferry: An ancient ferry along the Yellow River, where you can take a boat to observe the river's flow.
Yongle Temple: Located in Ruicheng County, the Yuan Dynasty mural "Chaoyuan Tu" is the pinnacle of Chinese mural history.
Dining: Yuncheng lamb puffs and Wenxi boiled pancakes.
Note: Photography of the Yongle Temple murals is prohibited; please follow the museum's rules; Scenic spots in southern Shanxi are scattered, so chartering a car saves time.
Dedicated shuttle service based on flight or train schedule to the airport or station, ending the tour.
Key facts
Departure pointAssemble in Zhengzhou, disperse in Yuncheng
Number of people in a groupSmall group of 2-8 people
Recommended monthApr–Jun, Sep–Nov
AccommodationFour-star hotel 6 nights
TrafficHigh-speed Rail Tourist Bus
IntensityMedium
Route Overview
Main Hua Xia Root-Seeking Route: Zhengzhou Shang City and Henan Museum, Yanshi Erlitou Xia Capital, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Han-Wei Ancient City, Anyang Yin Ruins Oracle Bones, Linfen Yao Temple and Tao Temple, Yuncheng Shun Emperor Mausoleum and Guan Emperor Temple. This is a complete route for those looking for the "earliest China."
The whole journey is 7 days, progressing along "Zhengzhou → Yanshi Erlitou → Luoyang → Anyang Yin Ruins → Linfen Yao Temple → Yuncheng Shun Emperor Mausoleum": Zhengzhou / Yanshi Erlitou / Luoyang / Anyang / Linfen / Yuncheng. The pace is arranged as "one city per segment," with high-speed rail as the main mode of intercity travel; segments longer than 5 hours by train are switched to flights.
Destinations on this route
- Zhengzhou: Half a day for the museum + half a day for the Shang City ruins; add one more day to visit Yanshi Erlitou.
- Yanshi Erlitou: A large city from about 3800-3500 years ago, considered by many scholars as the late Xia Dynasty capital; the museum has restored the palace area and the turquoise dragon-shaped artifacts.
- Luoyang: One day for Longmen Grottoes + White Horse Temple, one day for the Han-Wei Ancient City and museum, or add Yanshi Erlitou.
- Anyang: Yin Ruins + China Script Museum fits perfectly in one day; with extra time, you can also visit Tangyin.
- Linfen: Half a day for Yao Temple, half a day for Tao Temple; Hongtong Great Pagoda Tree and Guangsheng Temple can be combined into one day.
- Yuncheng: One day for the Shun Emperor Mausoleum and Jiexiu Guan Emperor Temple in the city, another day for Yongle Palace and Dayu Crossing.
Cultural Series
This route belongs to the He Luo Origins・Hua Xia Root-Seeking series, and there are other options with different durations on the same theme available for comparison.
Costs include
- Accommodation listed in the itinerary (double occupancy)
- First entrance tickets to the attractions specified in the itinerary
- Ground transportation listed in the itinerary (high-speed rail / tour bus / scenic area sightseeing bus)
- Full-time Chinese-speaking tour guide service
- Daily breakfast, and meals specified in the itinerary
- Travel agency liability insurance and travel accident insurance
Cost not included
- Round-trip international airfare between the place of departure and China
- Personal visa and document fees
- Main meals and personal expenses not listed
- Optional items (cable cars, additional boat rides, performances, etc.)
- Tips for guides and drivers (voluntary)
- Single room supplement
Booking Reminder
After confirming the itinerary and dates, pay the deposit, and the remaining balance should be paid 15 days before the trip. Cancellation more than 30 days before departure will get a full refund of the deposit, 70% refund for 15-30 days, 50% refund for 7-15 days, and no refund within 7 days. Popular sites such as Mogao Caves and Sanxingdui require real-name reservation, please submit ID information at least 15 days in advance. Seniors over 70 and children under 12 should be noted in the remarks, and we will adjust the daily walking distance accordingly.