Reading Guideline:
Luoyang Ancient City: Luoyang has built its name as “ancient capital with over one thousand years, city of peony”, famous for Longmen Grottoes, and White Horse Temple.
Luoyang History: Luoyang is an ancient civilized city with a history of several thousand years, reputed as one of the Four Ancient Capitals, since 13 dynasties had used it as the capital. Luoyang is located in the central China, which is the birthplace of China civilization, and has tremendous relics.
Luoyang Highlights: Luoyang has four sites listed as World Heritage, like Longmen Grottoes, and six ancient capital sites.
Luoyang City Flower: Peony is the city flower of Luoyang, with thousands of years of plantation, and so loved by Empress Wu Zetian that it had been in its full flourish. Since then, Peony is widely loved by Chinese. And now The Peony Culture Festival of Luoyang China is held every year in April in Luoyang since 1983, and tourists can see various beautiful peonies in this festival.
Luoyang Location: Luoyang is located in Henan Province, close to Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Taiyuan, Datong, and Beijing.
Longmen Grottoes(龙门石窟), listed as World Heritage, is an art treasury of stone carvings AND Buddhism art in China, located in Luolong district, Luoyang, and carved out of Mountain Longmen and Mountain Xiangshan. Longmen Grottoes is first built in the 5th century, completed after over 400 years, consists of two parts, Xishan and Dongshan, and it has over 2,000 grottoes with more than 10,000 sculptures of Buddhists and 2,800 stone inscriptions. Xishan Grottoes(西山石窟) is the essence of Longmen Grottoes, with Fengxian Temple(奉先寺) and Guyang Cave (古阳洞)as the best.
White Horse Temple(白马寺) is a Buddhism temple with a history of over 1900 years, first built in 68 AD to house Buddhism scriptures, marked it as the first official temple of Buddhism. It gets its name from white horses carrying those scriptures to China from India. White Horse Temple covers an area of 40,000 square meters, and has stone archway, two stone horses, Qiyun Pagoda(齐云塔) several buildings and over 40 stele inscriptions.
Shaolin Temple(少林寺) is located in Dengfeng, about 60 kilometers away from Luoyang. Shaolin Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple, listed as World Heritage, famous for its great significance in China Buddhism, Shanlin Kung fu created by Shaolin monks, ancient Buddhism buildings and pagoda forest.
Mount Songshan(嵩山), is located in Dengfeng, about 70 kilometers away form Luoyang. Mount Songshan, one of the Five Famous Mountains in China, has 72 peaks, with the highest peak of 1512 meters. It enjoys its name as the birthplace of Chanzong, a school of Buddhism in China, and the sacred place of Taoism. In this mountain, a group of religious buildings are listed as World Heritage. Moreover, Mount Songshan has great, splendid mountain scenery, which attracts millions of tourists to come here.
►Must Bring:
Passport, tourist visa, credit card, mobile phone or other electronics , notes of emergency contact, & numbers of emergency calls
►Don’t forget:
book a flight, or a train, and maybe book yourself a hotel according to your itinerary.
►What to pack:
Clothes, medicine, umbrella, sunglass, flashlight, whistle
►Be aware:
no lighter and knife on flight.
►Clothes in different seasons:
Spring and Autumn: sweater, coat, long sleeve shirts, trousers, sneakers
Summer: T-shirt, shorts, sunglasses, hat, sandal, slipper
Winter: down jacket, beanie, mittens, boots.
Luoyang Weather Notes: Luoyang is located in the middle of China, 34°N /112°E, and in the west of Henan province,. It has a hot summer, and a cold, dry winter. December, January and February are cold months, and its cold temperature could be -10℃ to -8℃(14℉-17.6℉). June, July and August happen to be hot summer days, with a temperature around 33℃(91℉). It has a mild temperature in Spring and Autumn days. Please check Luoyang Climate & Weather.
Luoyang has one airport, two railway stations and several bus stations for passenger use.
►By flight. Luoyang Beijiao Airport is located in Mengjin county, about 19 kilometers to Luoyang downtown and 45 minutes of driving. Major cities in China have direct flights to Luoyang.
To Luoyang Beijiao Airport
Beijing | Shanghai | Guangzhou | Hangzhou | Chongqing | Urumqi | |
Duration | 01:50 | 02:10 | 02:20 | 02:05 | 01:40 | 03:50 |
►By train. Luoyang Railway Station and Luoyang Longmen Railway Station are the two used for passenger, Luoyang Railway Station is close to the Luoyang downtown, 15 kilometers away from Longmen Grottoes. Luoyang Longmen Railway Station is the one most high speed trains use, 11 kilometers away from Longmen Grottoes.
High speed train to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station
Beijing | Shanghai | Xi’an | Guangzhou | Chongqing | Chengdu | Hangzhou | |
Duration | 3.5-4.5 h | 5.5-6 h | 1.5-2 h | 7-7.5 | 7.5 | 5.5-6.5 h | 5-6 h |
Second seat price/CNY | 368 | 512.5 | 174.5 | 696.5 | 583.5 | 437.5 | 496.5 |
► Cities to Luoyang: Xian to Luoyang, Zhengzhou to Luoyang, Beijing to Luoyang, Taiyuan to Luoyang, Datong to Luoyang
The best time to visit Luoyang is in spring and autumn, especially April to May and September to November. Summer days may be too hot and Winter days could be cold.
April, May, September, November |
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June, July, & August |
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December, January & February |
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How Many Days in Luoyang/ How Many Days Luoyang Needed
One day tour | Longmen Grottoes & White Horse Temple |
Two day tour | Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple, Mount Songshan |
Notes:
►This does not count your arrival time and departure time.
►The above attractions are essence of Luoyang, if you have much more time, and want a deep Luoyang tour, you may go to see other attractions and hang around in the downtown.
►Taxi: available in anywhere & anytime
►Public bus: lots of buses shuttling around the city.
No. 83 public bus could bring you from Luoyang Airport to Luoyang Railway Station.
No. 56 are from Luoyang Railway Station to White Horse Temple and Luoyang Old Street.
No. 81 public buses from Luoyang Railway Station to Longmen Grottoes.
An ancient city with Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple
What are the best places in Luoyang?
Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple, Mount Songshan
→Recommended reading: Best Places to Visit in Luoyang
Visit Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple, Mount Songshan
Hang around in the Luoyang Old Street
Eat Luoyang local food and snacks, like Water Feast, and peony cake
Watch Kong Fu Show in Shaolin Temple & watch Shaolin Zen Music Ritual
Enjoy Peony Culture Festival(April-May
Practice Taiji or Kong Fu
→Recommended reading: What to Do in Luoyang
Luoyang Water Feast(洛阳水席), especially Peony Swallow Dish(牡丹燕菜)
Soup with Pepper(胡辣汤)
Mutton Soup(羊肉汤)
Beef Soup(牛肉汤)
Bufan Soup(不翻汤)
Peony Cake(牡丹饼)
→Recommended reading: Recommended Delicious Foods in Luoyang
Luoyang Old Street( address: Zhongzhou east road, Laocheng district,Luoyang/洛阳老城区中州东路)
No, the entrance ticket does not cover tour guide service. 150 yuan for hiring an English-speaking tour guide, and 240 for a senior English-speaking tour guide.
→Recommended reading: Where to Eat in Luoyang
Everyday, there are several Kong Fu Shows, and the time table is listed as bellow: 9:30-10:00(Summer only), 10:30-11:00, 11:30-12:00, 14:00-14:30, 15:00-15:30, 16:00-16:30. 17:00-17:30(Summer only).
Easy to go. Travelling on your own in Xi’an won’t be a problem to you, in that you will find modern facilities and English-speaking staff to meet you need.
English will do. Airport, railway station, metro use both Chinese and English signs, attractions has English-speaking tour guide.
Smart phone, big helper. Most staff on flights, trains, and in hotels, stores and restaurants can speak English, still body language, and smart phone will do you a big favor.
Useful apps. Google Maps or Baidu Map, Google Translate or Youdao Translate.
VPN. VPN is what you need to browse some foreign websites and log in some foreign apps。
If online booking of flight, train, attraction entrance ticket won’t work, please go to the ticket office.
If you are in need of a single tour service, like car rental, please contact us. We offer tour packages, and also single tour service.