Located in the west of Henan Province in central China, Luoyang occupies quite an important geographic location. It is in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and is encircled by mountains and plains. To its east and west are the Hu Lao Pass and Han Gu Pass which were essential domestic transportation junctions in ancient times. To its north, Mengjin County was an important ferry crossing of the Yellow River. Thus, Luoyang was selected as the capital city by 13 dynasties starting from the Xia Dynasty (21st-16th century BC) in the 21st century BC. In the period following the Han Dynasty (206BC-220), and particularly during the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, the city experienced a period of growth and prosperity and ranked as one of the international metropolitans of the time.
Its long history endows Luoyang with a profound sense of culture. The city is the cradle of Chinese civilization where many Chinese legends happened, such as Nvwa Patching the Sky, Dayu Controlling Flood and the Chinese ancestor Huangdi Establishing the Nation. The city is also famed as the 'Poets Capital' as poets and literates of ancient China often gathered there and left grand works, including 'Book of Wisdom' ('Daode Jing'), 'Han History' ('Han Shu') and 'Administrative Theory of Admonishing Official' ('Zi Zhi Tong Jian'). Religious culture once thrived here. Taoism originated there and the first Buddhist temple set up by the government was located there. Luoyang is also the hometown of many of the scientific inventions of ancient China, such as the seismograph, armillary sphere, paper making, printing and the compass.
Luoyang has rich historical and cultural sites. The Longmen Grottoes are one of China's three most precious treasure houses of stone sculptures and inscriptions. The White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple and is honored as the 'Cradle of Buddhism in China'. Mt. Mangshan is where ancient tombs of emperors, nobles and literates in the past dynasties collected. The Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum is the world's first example of the kind and presents thousands of treasures discovered in the tombs. Shaolin Temple is the place of origin for Chinese Zen Buddhism and the cradle of Chinese Martial Art. Landscapes in Luoyang hold the same attraction as the cultural sites. White Cloud Mountain, Funiu Mountain, Long Yu Wan National Forest Park, Ji Guan Limestone Cave and the Yellow River Xiaolangdi Scenic Area are all worth a visit. Additionally, Luoyang is particularly well known for its peonies. Every year in April, the flowers blossom and attract tourists from all over the world.
Dining in Luoyang is quite an enjoyable experience. Various kinds of local dishes, including Water Feast, Yan Cai and others which use the famous Yellow River carps as an ingredient, together with the uniquely flavored soups, will greatly satisfy your taste buds. Luoyang's local specialties such as Palace Lanterns, bronze vessels and Tri-colored glazed potteries will no doubt delight your eyes and offer you ideal souvenirs. Being a modern city as well, Luoyang has hotels of all standards which provide you quite a broad choice for your stay. Most of the hotels have reasonable room prices and perfect services.
Transportation is well developed in Luoyang. Beijiao Airport has many domestic flights extending to many large cities in other provinces. It's also very easy to get to Luoyang by train because one of China's most important railway lines Long Hai Railway traverses the city and connects most cities in east, west and central China. The convenient city buses and taxies can carry you around the city. Near the railway station, special tourist buses can take you to the tourist spots in the suburban areas of the city.
Luoyang, a charming city filled with the fragrance of peonies and the primitive atmosphere of ancient civilization, is waiting and welcoming guests from all over the world. Putting the city into the list of your exploration in China, you will get far more than what you expect.
Recommended Luoyang Package Tour Itineraries:
Spotlights of Luoyang: 3 Days White Horse Temple & Shaolin TempleRecommended Tours including the visit to Luoyang:
Chinese Kungfu Tour: 10 Days Beijing-Xian-Luoyang (Shaolin Temple)-Shanghai
Jewish Tour: 9 Days Beijing-Harbin-Zhengzhou-Kaifeng-Luoyang-Shanghai
Hiking Tour: Information about hiking in Lijiang for your reference
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Q & A on Luoyang City
1.
Dec. 16,2009 07:31 Reply
Ms.Christine(Canada) said:
Hi
I will be tavelling to China with 14 high school students in April. I heard that we could take Kung Fu classes at the Shaolin Temple??? Does any one have that info.
Thanks
Christine from Canada
Dec. 17,2009 02:29
Mr.John replied:
I have heard that there are people from other countries ask for a Kong Fu lesson for ten days at the foot of Songshan Mountain, not free of course. It seems not impossible to learn Kong FU inside the temple.
2.
Dec. 10,2009 08:53 Reply
Mr.long(China) said:
hi Nina:
Hope it is not to late to reply.I stayed in Australia for four years.I just came back to my hometown-Luoyang. Now I am looking for job in Luoyang.So I am kind of free. If u do come to Luoyang.I would like to guide you around. Email me on yiwanping@hotmail.com
3.
Oct. 6,2009 00:10 Reply
Ms.Nina(Australia) said:
Hi,
I am travelling through China with some friends in December and we want to visit Luoyang to see the Longman Grottos and Guanlin Temple. We also want to travel to Shaolin Temple to see the kung fu show. Where should we stay in Luoyang and is it very far to Shaolin Temple from Luoyang or do you suggest we stay in Zhengzhou? We also would like to travel to Beijing from here. Do you recommend travelling from Luoyang or Zhengzhou?
Thanks
Oct. 9,2009 22:52
Mr.Paul replied:
It seems there are shuttle bus between Longmen Grottoes to Shaoling Temple. Here is my suggestion, after the visit of Longmen grottoes and Guanlin Temple, you can go directly to Zhengzhou city and stay in Zhengzhou. You can get to Shaolin Temple from Zhengzhou easily and it is more convinient to go beijng from Zhengzhou for more train and there are bullet train which can take you to Beijing in 5 hours.
Oct. 12,2009 09:16
Ms.Nina(Australia) replied:
Thanks Paul.
How long does it take from Zhengzhou to Shaolin Temple? And what time is the kung fu show on?
Oct. 14,2009 01:56
Mr.Paul replied:
Shaolin Temple is about 1.5 hours drive from Zhengzhou by bus. The shows are performed at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. Every show lasts 30 minutes. No need to pay for the show.
Oct. 24,2009 06:41
Mr.swanhouw@yahoo.com(Netherlands ) replied:
In 2007 I stayed in a hotel just 50 meters next to right handside of the station exit. Very simple, clean rooms and cheap ( about 150 Rmb maximum per night). When U cross the station square on the left side there is a kind of busstation where every 12 minutes there is a ordinary city-bus departing to LongMen Grottoes ( it's the end of the line). Just ask at the hotel the number of the bus ( I forgot sorry).
For the Shaolin tour I would suggest you collect data at the hotel.
As we were in a budget hotel in the centre of town there were many possibilities to choose from and we booked directly upon arrival for the next morning to take the daytrip to Shaolin. You will be guoided to 5 spots of which 3 are temples( White horse temple etc). The bus location to commence the tour will be told to you by the person where you register the trip. As December is the winter season in our Northern hemisphere, I am not so sure about the frequency of the bus tours. I was there in October, which is the ideal month to visit China.
Have a pleasant tour and lots of good luck.
Oct. 24,2009 06:56
Mr.swanhouw@yahoo.com(Netherlands ) replied:
October 24,2009
Sorry I forgot to tell that I used Luoyang as my starting point. ZhengZhou is a little to big and too busy for me.
Besides I went with 2 elderly chinese friends, so I was in good hands and they did the talking for me. After 3 days we were picked up by some nephews of them and we drove to Ji Yuan village ( about 70 km north of LuoYang. Many sigghtseeing spots within 30 K from JiYuan, we visited the Wang WU Shan mountains to admire the autumn leaves and also saw a more than 1000 years old tree, and paid a visit to the Huang He ( Yellow river) hydropower-basin.
Oct. 24,2009 19:42
Ms.Nina(Australia) replied:
Thanks for your help!
I just wanted to know also if I take the K16 train from Luoyan to Zhengzhou (1217-1348) on the 23/12 will I have time to travel to Shaolin Temple after checking in at my hotel? Or should I take the earlier train (K890 0725-0909)?
Also is this itinerary possible?
Dec 22: Arrive in Luoyang on the K84/K81 train (0835-1336). Check into hotel. Go to Guanlin Temple (1hr) then spend the rest of the day at the Longman Grottos.
Dec 23: Take a train to Zhengzhou, check into hotel then travel to Shaolin Temple. Stay overnight in Zhengzhou.
Dec 24: Take a flight to Beijing
Also is travelling around Luoyang to Guanlin Temple and the Longman Grottos possible by taxi? Would it be difficult for us if we do not know Manderin? Would you be able to give me the names in Chinese?
With Shaolin Temple I have read that I can ask the hotel to arrange bus tickets is this correct? Or is there a website where I can buy return tickets?
Thanks so much for your help
Thank you for yoru help
4.
Jan. 28,2009 03:19 Reply
Mr.Ali(Indonesia) said:
I wonder if the shaolin temple really worth seeing?anybody can give me some advice where else to go in Luoyang?I am planning to go there this mid-feb.
@Mr.Harvey..wow, you really have a strong feeling to this place, you even married a local girl..must be a really nice place..and wonderful girl for sure
Mar. 3,2009 21:31
Ms.erica (china) replied:
all travel place not so much different. many people. but i know the stamp showing will hold in luoyang this year. my hometown is luoyang. last year spring festival i went to shaolin temper. not so much interesting. but i think worth you go have a look. in spring festival we didnt see kongfu showing.
luoyang antoehr place is that big budi figer, longmen ??. long ment will more supprised you than shaoling i think.
Oct. 24,2009 11:25
Mr.SWANHOUW(Netherlands) replied:
Hi Mr Ali,
I hope u will enjoy ur trip to Henan province. Of course it is a personal taste and nobody can advise u whether it is worth or not to go there.
First of all Feb means winter on the northern hemisphere, so I would suggest to go in October ( 15-30 Oct), this is the best season to visit China.
Another point is that U should be ready to do a lot of walking and have also the physical endurance to walk a lot otherwise u will always stay behind and cannot enjoy the explanations of the guide.
I myself like walking and discovering new places, so as long as I still can walk I surely will enjoy every place I visit in China.
And last but not least U must prepare urself by reading the good travelguide books like Lonely Planet. It is very useful to know something about the area and its people before going there. A map of the whole area is always a plus. U might download maps from the internet.
5.
Oct. 24,2009 10:49 Reply
Mr.SWANHOUW(Netherlands) said:
I took the nite train from ChongQing[Sichuan], arrived about 10:30 at LuoYang station. Booked a hotel just nextdoor [righthandside when leaving the main exit]. Took a few steps to the busterminal to find small restaurants where the food was delicious. Then we [ 3 of us] took the local city -regionnbus to the Longmen grottoes. We were lucky no rain, nice weather till the evening.
Wonderful place.
Next day joined a daytrip with local chinese and a few Taiwanese to the Shaolin temples and trainingcampus.
The guide picked us up from the hotel as we were very close to everything in LuoYang
The bus departs from the terminal only 100 yards from the station.