Luoyang, one of China’s ancient capitals, is home to the magnificent Longmen Grottoes carved along the Yi River, the White Horse Temple, and — every April — a city-wide blaze of peonies.
“Peonies in April, grottoes an hour out, and one of the oldest skylines in the plain.”
1–2 days in Luoyang
The same sights, spread over 1–2 days rather than one; Apr (peonies) & Sep–Oct is the friendliest window; room for a day trip and one unplanned afternoon.
Use this planWhat to bring home
Porcelain from this region, shipped with your trip. Browse the shop →
Best time to go
Apr (peonies) & Sep–Oct. Shoulder weeks are quieter and cheaper.
Getting there & around
High-speed rail links most of this from the majors. Rail guide · Voiture privée et chauffeur
Visa & entry
Transit and visa-free rules change often — check the current list against your passport before booking.
Best time to visit
April for the Peony Festival is the signature month; September–October is cool and clear. Summers are hot and winters are cold, but weekday Longmen visits are calmer off-season.
How many days
- 2 jours — Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple, old-town night.
- 3 jours — add Dengfeng / Shaolin Temple or the Tang palaces.
Getting there & around
High-speed rail: Xi’an ~1.5h, Zhengzhou ~40min; Luoyang Beijiao and Longmen South stations plus the metro link the sights. Longmen is ~30 min from downtown by metro or taxi.
Top things to do
- Longmen Grottoes — tens of thousands of Buddhas carved into the cliffs, best late afternoon.
- White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple in China.
- Luoyang Museum for bronzes and Tang tomb figures.
- Lijingmen and the old town’s night market and food streets.
- Guanlin, the temple of the warrior Guan Yu.
- Tiantang Mingtang and the Yingtian Gate night light show.
- Peony gardens in April — Wangcheng Park and the Sui-Tang gardens.
A 2-day Luoyang itinerary
- Jour 1 — Longmen Grottoes (half/full day) → old town + Lijingmen by night.
- Jour 2 — White Horse Temple → Luoyang Museum → Guanlin and the night light show.
What to eat
The famed Luoyang Water Banquet (shuixi), beef-and-lamb soups, hot-dry noodles and old-town snack streets around Lijingmen.
FAQ
- How many days do you need in Luoyang? — Two days covers the Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple and the old-town night scene; add a third if you combine it with Dengfeng and the Shaolin Temple.
- When is the best time to visit Luoyang? — April, during the Peony Flower Festival, is the classic — the whole city blooms. September–October is cool and clear; summers are hot.
- What is Luoyang famous for? — The UNESCO Longmen Grottoes, the White Horse Temple (Buddhism’s first Chinese temple), its peonies, and being one of ancient China’s great capitals.
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