Luoyang itinerary

Will your flight arrive in the early morning or late afternoon? If you arrive early, you are suggested to take airport shuttle bus line 2 or taxi (50 minutes, CNY100) to Zhengzhou Railway Station, then take regular bus from Zhengzhou Central Bus Station (located on the East Square of the Railway Station) to Dengfeng. The bus departs every 30 minutes and the ride takes about 2 hours. Upon arrival, transfer to a bus or taxi (CNY30) to Shaolin Temple. The suggested visiting time is 2-3 hours. There are regular buses from Shaolin Temple to Luoyang, you can take it after visit and the ride takes around 2 hours. Or you may stay overnight at Dengfeng and go to Luoyang next day.

On the second day, visit the Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple, and then get back to Zhengzhou by bus or train. April is one of the best months to take the trip as the weather is very pleasant at that time.

Thanks Colin; much appreciated.

My flight arrives in the afternoon; at 15:30pm. Would you recommend to stay the 1st night in Zhengzhou and then go next day to see Shaolin temple and from there to Luoyang to visit Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple next day? Or should I go directly to Luoyang and from there do the day trips to the sights?
Is it easy to combine the grottoes and White Horse Temple by public bus?
Any hotel recommendation in Luoyang?

Since your flight arrives in the afternoon, I would suggest you stay in Zhengzhou for the first night. Then go to Shaolin Temple on the seond day and visit the rest of two sites on the last day. There is no direct bus between the grottoes and the White Horse Temple. You can take bus no. 81 from the grottoes to Guanlin Temple Station (20 minutes), transfer to bus no. 58 and get off at Baimasi Station (one hour). The taxi fare is around CNY55. As for the accommendation, you are suggested to stay in downtown area. Most people choose to stay in Xigong district. You may go to a hotel booking website and get more choices of the hotels.