Do Xi’an first as your anchor, add Luoyang for the Longmen Grottoes, and use Zhengzhou as the rail hub for Shaolin and Kaifeng. Five to seven days at a gentle pace suits seniors and return visitors well.
If you have already seen the big cities, this is a natural next step. The region tells the story of early dynasties in a more compact way than a long route across China.
Who is this region for?
It suits culture-minded travellers, return visitors who want a new province, and seniors who prefer gentle sights and fewer flights. It suits less well those who want beaches or mountains.
How should you order the three stops?
Start in Xi’an, move to Luoyang, then finish in Zhengzhou, so you travel in one direction without backtracking. Fly into a larger gateway first, then connect by high-speed rail. Malaysia Airlines said in July 2026 that it serves nine China-region gateways, including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu[1].
From Beijing, the fastest high-speed trains to Xi’an take as little as about 4 hours 17 minutes[2]. From Chengdu, the Xi’an-Chengdu high-speed railway opened on 6 December 2017 and is 510 km long[3]. Schedules change, so check 12306 for your date.
What does Xi’an give you?
Xi’an is the richest stop. Farmers found the Terracotta Army in 1974 near Xi’an[4], and the museum opens 08:30 to 18:00 from 16 March to 15 November, and to 17:30 from 16 November to 15 March[5]. Bring your passport or ID to buy tickets and enter[6].
Read our Terracotta Army guide for the order of the pits. Hours can change, so confirm before your visit.
What do Luoyang and Zhengzhou add?
Luoyang adds the cave temples of the Longmen Grottoes, best enjoyed with a rested morning. Zhengzhou is more useful as a rail hub, with Shaolin and Kaifeng close by, as set out in our Henan region guide.
If a rail connection makes you want a station-side night, read about the Zhengzhou East station overnight.
What should you know about the trains?
Foreigners need a passport to buy long-distance train tickets and to pass the platform gates[7]. Tickets usually go on sale 15 days before departure[8]. Arrive 30 to 40 minutes before departure at major stations[9].
The official luggage limit is 20 kg for adults, though bags are rarely weighed[10]. Pack light if you change hotels at each stop.
How do you handle halal meals and rest?
The Great Mosque of Xi’an stands at 30 Huajue Lane inside the Muslim Quarter[11]. It follows a Chinese temple layout with a pagoda serving as the minaret[12]. Hui Muslims avoid pork[13], so Hui-run restaurants are the easiest start.
Our Xi’an Muslim Quarter stay guide covers noise, food and access. Ask about the kitchen and ingredients each time, because Muslim-owned is not the same as certified.
What should you do next?
Compare Xi’an with Beijing in our history trip guide, then run your draft through the pace checker. Browse the regions topic page if you want to weigh other parts of China.