9 days / 8 nights · Huangmei / Lushan / Shaoguan / Guangzhou
9-Day Deep Journey to Explore Buddhist Sounds · Includes Danxia Mountain and Yunmen Temple
Huangmei / Lushan / Shaoguan / Guangzhou · 9 days 8 nights · Moderate
Reference Price
$1,230Rise / Person
- Purely for fun, no shopping
- The itinerary can be slightly adjusted
- Includes ticket reservation service
Number of people in a group2–10 people
IntensityMedium
Best seasonApr–Nov
Traffichigh-speed rail + tour bus
Accommodation3-star hotel + Lushan Guesthouse + temple guest quarters(optional)
Departure MonthApril 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
Stay at each stop for more than two days, adding Danxia Mountain and Yunmen Temple in Shaoguan, and Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Shamian in Guangzhou.
Day-by-day itinerary9 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 Huangmei · Wuzu Temple
DestinationEverywhere→ Huangmei
- Meals
- Meals are self-managed
- Accommodation
- Huangmei Hotel
- Transport
- Airport/Station Pickup and Drop-off
- Distance
- Within the city
Daily detailUpon arrival in Huangmei, a private car picks you up at the airport/station and drops you off at your hotel. Afternoon free time.
Huangmei, Hubei is the temple of the Fifth Patriarch of Chan, Hongren. The Sixth Patriarch Huineng wrote 'Bodhi has no tree' here, marking the division between north and south in Chan Buddhism.
Fifth Patriarch Temple: The Dongshan Daoist site where Hongren resides. The Holy Mother Hall and White Robe Hermitage ascend the mountain in layers. The stories of Huineng's rice milling place and the transmission of the robe and bowl are all located here.
Meals: Huangmei fish noodles, E'dong stewed soup.
Tip: Both temples are places for meditation; do not make loud noises; The mountain paths are slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. - D2Huangmei · Sizu Temple
DestinationHuangmei → Lushan
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Huangmei Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Lushan
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailSizu Temple: The site of Master Daoxin. The Pilu Pagoda and Lingrun Bridge were originally built during the Tang Dynasty and are quieter than Wuzu Temple.
Meals: Huangmei fish noodles, E'dong stewed soup.
Tip: Both temples are places for meditation; do not make loud noises; The mountain path is slippery, so wear non-slip shoes.
In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Lushan and stay overnight at Lushan. - D3Lushan · Donglin Temple, Huajing, and Jinxiu Valley
DestinationLushan urban area
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Lushan Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailDonglin Temple: Founded by Huiyuan in the Eastern Jin, the birthplace of the Pure Land school, the stories of Huxi Bridge and Sanxiao Hall are all here.
Huajing and Jinxiu Valley: Classic mountain trails, with sea of clouds and cliff walls in one frame.
Meals: Lushan Three Stones, Jiujiang Fried Noodles.
Tip: The weather on the mountain changes quickly, so bring a light jacket; Sandie Spring has many steps (about 3,000 steps); if your knees are not comfortable, just look at Jinxiu Valley. - D4Lushan · Beautiful cottages and villa complexes, and the Sandie Spring
DestinationLushan → Shaoguan
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Lushan Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Shaoguan
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailMeilu and Villa Clusters: Modern villa architecture, a site of Republic of China history.
Sandie Spring: The waterfall with the highest drop in Lushan, about 3 hours round trip, so physical fitness needs to be checked by yourself.
Meals: Lushan Sanshi, Jiujiang fried noodles.
Tip: The weather on the mountain changes quickly, so bring a light jacket; Sandie Spring has many steps (about 3,000 steps); if your knees are uncomfortable, you can only look at Jinxiu Valley.
In the evening, take the high-speed rail or tour bus to Shaoguan, and stay overnight in Shaoguan. - D5Shaoguan · Nanhua Temple, Yunmen Temple
DestinationShaoguan City Center
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Shaoguan Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailNanhua Temple: The true body of the Sixth Patriarch, the Tang Dynasty Thousand Buddha Kasaya and Empress Wu Zetian's imperial edict are all here. Ancient trees tower above the temple grounds.
Yunmen Temple: Located in Ruyuan County, the ancestral temple of the Yunmen Sect, where the tradition of balancing agriculture and Chan is still present.
Dining: Shaoguan braised pork, stuffed tofu, mountain snail snails.
Tip: The true statue is inside the main hall. Please keep quiet inside and do not take photos of the statues. Vegetarian meals are available inside the temple. - D6Shaoguan · Danxia Mountain and Meiguan Ancient Road
DestinationShaoguan → Guangzhou
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Shaoguan Hotel
- Transport
- High-speed rail / tour bus → Guangzhou
- Distance
- Intercity Transfer
Daily detailDanxia Mountain: World Natural Heritage site, with red sandstone peaks, lined up alongside the Zen Line.
Meiguan Ancient Road: At the border of Guangdong and Jiangxi, the main route from the Central Plains into Guangdong in ancient times.
Meals: Shaoguan braised pork, stuffed tofu, mountain snail snails.
Tip: The real statue is inside the main hall. Please keep quiet inside and do not take photos of the subjects. Vegetarian meals are provided inside the temple.
In the evening, take a high-speed rail or tour bus to Guangzhou and stay overnight there. - D7Guangzhou · Guangxiao Temple, Liurong Temple
DestinationGuangzhou urban area
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Guangzhou Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailGuangxiao Temple: The place where the Sixth Patriarch Huineng was ordained and ordained here. The east and west iron pagodas inside the temple are relics from the Five Dynasties.
Liurong Temple: The flower pagoda inscribed by Su Dongpo is here; the pagoda can be climbed.
Meals: Cantonese morning tea, white-cut chicken, roast goose.
Tip: For morning tea, it's recommended to go between 8 and 10 PM; old establishments require waiting in line; Summer often experiences thunderstorms, so carry an umbrella. - D8Guangzhou · Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian, and the Thirteen Hongs
DestinationGuangzhou urban area
- Meals
- Breakfast: Hotel · Lunch: Local (included) · Dinner: Self-arranged
- Accommodation
- Guangzhou Hotel
- Transport
- City bus Walking
- Distance
- Walking about 4-6 km within the city
Daily detailChen Clan Ancestral Hall: The pinnacle of ancestral hall architecture in Guangdong, featuring wood, stone, brick, and gray sculptures.
Shamian and Shisanhang: The site of a modern concession and former trading house, with arcades and European architecture coexisting.
Dining: Cantonese dim sum, white-cut chicken, roast goose.
Tip: It's recommended to go for morning tea between 8 and 10 PM; old brands require a line; Summers often experience thunderstorms, so carry an umbrella. - D9Guangzhou · Guangxiao Temple and the return journey
DestinationGuangzhou → Drop-off at airport/station
- 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
Daily detailGuangxiao Temple: The place where the Sixth Patriarch Huineng was ordained and ordained here. The east and west iron pagodas inside the temple are relics from the Five Dynasties.
Liurong Temple: The flower pagoda inscribed by Su Dongpo is here; the pagoda can be climbed up.
Meals: Cantonese dim sum, white-cut chicken, roast goose.
Tip: For morning tea, it's recommended to go between 8 and 10 PM; old establishments require a queue; Summers often have thunderstorms, so carry an umbrella. Arrange for shuttle service
to the airport or station according to flight or train schedule, and the tour will end.
Key facts
Departure pointGather in Huangmei, disperse in Guangzhou
Number of people in a groupSmall group of 2-10 people
Recommended monthApr–Nov
AccommodationThree-star hotel Lushan homestay Temple guest hall (optional)
TrafficHigh-speed Rail Tourist Bus
IntensityMedium
Route Overview
Main Zen Patriarchal Route: Wuzu Temple in Huangmei, Hubei; Donglin Temple in Lushan, Jiangxi; Nanhua Temple in Shaoguan, Guangdong (true body of the Sixth Patriarch); Guangxiao Temple and Six Banyan Trees Temple in Guangzhou. Suitable for travelers with a religious background or those seeking a quiet journey.
The entire trip lasts 9 days, following the order "Huangmei Wuzu Temple → Lushan Donglin Temple → Shaoguan Nanhua Temple (true body of the Sixth Patriarch) → Guangzhou Guangxiao Temple": Huangmei / Lushan / Shaoguan / Guangzhou. The pace is arranged as "one city, one segment," with intercity travel mainly by high-speed rail, and flights arranged for segments with travel over 5 hours.
Destinations on this Route
- Huangmei: Huangmei in Hubei is the dojo of the Fifth Zen Patriarch Hongren; the Sixth Patriarch Huineng wrote "The Bodhi tree is fundamentally without a tree" here, marking the division of Zen into North and South.
- Lushan: Donglin Temple is at the foot of the mountain; mountain attractions require a whole day, so it is recommended to stay on the mountain.
- Shaoguan: Nanhua Temple takes half a day; Yunmen Temple or Danxia Mountain require an additional half day to one day each.
- Guangzhou: Guangxiao Temple + Six Banyan Trees Temple take half a day; Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Shamian each take half a day; be sure to reserve one session for morning tea.
Cultural Series
This route belongs to the Zen Patriarchal Temples: In Search of Buddhist Sounds series; other itineraries on the same theme with different durations are also 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
- Meals not listed and personal expenses
- Optional items (cable car, 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.