Best Travel Time: April-May (peony season) and September-October (pleasant weather) offer the best visiting experience.
Transportation:
External transport: Luoyang Beijiao Airport has direct flights to multiple cities; Luoyang Railway Station and Luoyang Longmen Railway Station (high-speed rail) are major hubs, with Longmen Station closer to scenic spots.
Local transport: Metro Lines 1 and 2 cover key attractions; buses are frequent, and renting a car or taking taxis is also convenient.
Essential Items: Comfortable walking shoes (large scenic areas), camera (for ancient architecture and natural landscapes), and rain gear (seasonal rainfall).
II. Recommended Attractions
Longmen Grottoes (World Heritage Site)One of China’s four major grottoes, first carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty and expanded through dynasties, featuring over 100,000 Buddha statues, with the giant Lushena Buddha being the most spectacular.
Allow 3-4 hours. Visit both East and West Mountains; climb Xiangshan Temple in the evening for a panoramic view.
White Horse Temple (China’s First Ancient Temple)
Established during the Eastern Han Dynasty, it is the first government-built temple after Buddhism was introduced to China, housing numerous ancient buildings and cultural relics.
The new International Buddhist Temple Area, blending Indian, Thai, and other styles, is perfect for photos.
Guanlin
Said to be the burial site of Guan Yu’s head (a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period), it is China’s only complex combining a mausoleum, temple, and forest, known alongside Qufu’s Confucian Forest as "Guanlin and Konglin."
Luoyang Museum
Houses over 170,000 cultural relics, with highlights including Xia-Shang-Zhou bronzes, Han-Wei pottery figurines, and Tang tri-color glazed pottery. Free admission (advance booking required).
Yingtianmen Ruins Park
Ruins of the south gate of Sui-Tang Luoyang City, with a grand restored tower. The night light show recreates the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, worth watching.
III. Local Cuisine
Water Banquet: Luoyang’s signature feast with soup-based dishes. Highlights include "Peony Yan Cai" (mock swallow dish) and "Lotus Chicken." Recommended at "Zhenbutong Restaurant."
Soups: Beef, mutton, and tofu soups are breakfast staples, often paired with youxuan (twisted cakes) or shaobing (baked sesame cakes). Try "Tiexie Lisong Mutton Soup."
Others: Luoyang potstickers, bufantang (unflipped soup), and Xin’an roast chicken, available at Laocheng Cross Street Night Market.
IV. Itinerary (3 Days)
Day 1: Longmen Grottoes (morning) → Xiangshan Temple & Bai Juyi’s Tomb (afternoon) → Yingtianmen Light Show (evening)
Day 2: Luoyang Museum (morning) → Guanlin (afternoon) → Laocheng Cross Street (dinner + night market)
Day 3: White Horse Temple (all day) → Departure
V. Accommodation Tips
Stay in Laocheng District (for food and nightlife) or near Longmen Grottoes (quieter, close to attractions).
VI. Notes
Some attractions require advance booking (e.g., Luoyang Museum, Longmen Grottoes) via official platforms.
During the peony season (April), Wangcheng Park and China National Flower Garden are crowded; plan to visit during off-peak hours.
