LUOYANG ● CITY BOARD
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Luoyang 洛阳

China's ancient capital for 13 dynasties, home to the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes and the country's first Buddhist temple.

AIRPORT LYATYPICAL STAY 2-3 DAYSPEAK APR-MAY · SEP-OCTTHE ANCIENT CAPITAL — HSR HUB · ZHENGZHOU · XIAN
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The essentials

SEE · EAT · KNOW — LUOYANG CITY DESK

📍Don't miss

Longmen Grottoes 龙门石窟White Horse Temple 白马寺Luoyang Museum 洛阳博物馆Guanlin Temple 关林庙Yingtian Gate 应天门Wangcheng Park 王城公园Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits 天子驾六博物馆

🥢Eat this

  • Luoyang Water Banquet 洛阳水席 — 24 soup-based dishes, the city's signature imperial feast
  • Yan Cai 燕菜 — steamed radish in nourishing soup, first dish of the Water Banquet
  • Mu Dan Yan Cai 牡丹燕菜 — peony-shaped radish dish, Luoyang's most famous plate
  • Ba Bao Fan 八宝饭 — eight-treasure rice pudding, sweet sticky dessert
  • Luoyang Hula Tang 洛阳胡辣汤 — spicy peppery beef soup, breakfast staple
  • Jiang Mian Tiao 浆面条 — fermented sour noodle soup, local comfort food
  • Peony Cake 牡丹饼 — flaky pastry with peony petal filling

✦Good to know

Best seasonApril for peonies; September-October for clear skies
Stay2-3 days
Getting aroundMetro Lines 1-2 + bus, taxi cheap (¥8 start)

Tip Foreigners cannot visit Laojun Mountain, Baiyun Mountain, or any site in Yiyang, Luanchuan, or Song counties — these areas are closed to non-Chinese passport holders. Book Longmen Grottoes tickets online in advance during April peony season; the site sells out by mid-morning.

Luoyang in pictures

CITY SNAPSHOTS
Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang
White Horse Temple, Luoyang
Yingtian Gate, Luoyang

On the Luoyang wall

PINNEDNational wall →
Restricted areaOFFICIAL

Foreigners barred from three counties

Yiyang, Luanchuan, and Song counties — including Laojun Mountain and Baiyun Mountain — are closed to foreign passport holders. No permits are issued; do not attempt to visit.

Official source ✓
Ask the board →
Quick fixOFFICIAL

Book Longmen Grottoes ahead

Tickets ¥120; April weekends sell out by 10:00. Buy via WeChat mini-program or official site; passport required for entry.

Official source ✓
Ask the board →
SeasonalOFFICIAL

Peony Festival pricing

Wangcheng Park charges ¥30 during April festival (normally free). White Horse Temple raises from ¥35 to ¥50 on public holidays.

Official source ✓
Ask the board →
Landing at LYA

From the airport

To the centre
Taxi ~¥30-40, 20 min · Bus 27/83/98 ¥1-2, 40-50 min
Facilities
Domestic terminal · basic food · ATMs · no e-gates

Tip LYA is a small domestic airport; international travelers fly into Zhengzhou (CGO) or Xi'an (XIY) and take the high-speed train to Luoyang Longmen station.

Getting in & out

Transport basics

  1. Arrive by HSRLuoyang Longmen Station (洛阳龙门站) on Zhengzhou-Xi'an HSR; 40 min from Zhengzhou, 1.5-2 h from Xi'an; ¥60-120 second class
  2. Metro to sightsLine 1 east-west through old town, Line 2 north-south; ¥2-4 per ride; Line 1 to Yingtian Gate, Line 2 to Luoyang Museum
  3. Bus to Longmen GrottoesBus 81 from train station direct to grottoes; ¥1-2, 40 min; taxi ¥25-30
Open the trains guide
This week

What's on

  • APR

    Luoyang Peony Culture Festival

    City-wide peony blooms; Wangcheng Park main venue; ¥30 entry during festival

  • APR-MAY

    Peony peak bloom

    Best viewing mid-April to early May; airport and hotels busiest

  • SEP-OCT

    Autumn clear skies

    Best weather for Longmen Grottoes photography

  • OCT

    National Day Golden Week

    Oct 1-7; expect crowds at all major sites

Full Luoyang calendar