Things to do in Luoyang

It's not very entertaining and doesn't seem suitable for children, but it's great for adults. It's very moving and thought-provoking; the stolen Buddha head and the historical events surrounding the Buddhist reforms serve as evidence of the entire East Asian Buddhist statue civilization. It was truly heartbreaking to see.

I highly recommend spending 80 yuan for the aerial photography at the summit; I personally think it's well worth the money. The footage is very clear and excellent. We started climbing at 10 am. It was the off-season, so the first-level cable car wasn't crowded. After reaching the top, we started hiking. Zhongtianmen requires walking up stairs (if you can't climb, take the second-level cable car 🚡). The rest of the path was very gentle, all the way to the summit. The weather on the mountain was a bit cold, probably around 0 degrees Celsius, but it didn't snow; it just drizzled a little (I still recommend bringing a raincoat just in case). There were many people on the mountain. The descent involved both cable car and toboggan rides. A complete tour takes about 7 hours.

There was a slight unpleasantness with the merchant's customer service when making the reservation, as I had booked a guided tour of the Longmen Grottoes, but the merchant's page description was incorrect and I requested a refund, which they refused. I only got a refund after contacting the platform's customer service. Because of this unpleasant experience, I didn't have high expectations for the tour. However, once inside the museum, Mr. Pei's explanation was truly dedicated, and he was a very kind person; it was clear he genuinely loved the experience. Special praise! 👍 He made up for the merchant's shortcomings! 👍

Luoyang has always been an ancient capital I admire, and upon visiting it, I was right. The ancient city boasts a rich cultural heritage, as evidenced by the Yingtian Gate ruins. The museum built on the ruins is ingeniously designed, offering the opportunity to see the relics and learn something new – a truly rewarding experience.

Teacher Zhou's professional explanations, both in detail and easy to understand, helped us understand the history of Baima Temple and its related Buddhist culture. It was a pity that two halls were under renovation, which we could only consider a minor disappointment, but it will serve as motivation for our next visit.

The ruins of Luoyang City during the Sui and Tang Dynasties are located in the suburbs of Luoyang City. Construction began during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, and its layout was modeled after the Sui Dynasty's Daxing City. At that time, it was known as the Eastern Capital or Tokyo. It served through the Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, and Northern Song Dynasties, lasting for over 500 years, acting as the Eastern Capital of the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the Western Capital of the Northern Song Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, the palace city, imperial city, and outer city were built successively. Five wards were established south of the outer city, and three more were opened to the northeast. In the second year of the Qianfeng era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (667 AD), the Yang Palace was built southwest of the imperial city.

From Yuntaishan, we boarded a bus bound for Luoyang. The journey was long — more than four hours on the road. We left at 2:30 pm and only arrived close to 7:00 pm, which meant our first day in Luoyang was largely consumed by travel. That evening, drained from the ride, I managed only a brief visit to Yingtianmen, illuminated against the night sky.The following day was devoted entirely to two of Luoyang’s most iconic sites: the Longmen Grottoes and the White Horse Temple. After exploring the temple, we caught bus no. 58 directly to Luoyi Ancient City. By then, the hours of walking through grottoes and temple grounds had left us physically exhausted. Still, the ancient city welcomed us with free admission and a promise of cultural immersion.Dinner was taken at a basement food court along Minzhu Street. By the time we finished, night had fallen, and Luoyi Ancient City had transformed. The streets glittered with lanterns, music pulsed through the air, and the atmosphere was electric. Crowds gathered near the lake to watch 天女散花 — the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” dance performance — though we chose not to linger.Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城) remains one of China’s most authentic living historic districts. Here, 3,000 years of dynastic history — from the Zhou to the Ming — can still be felt in its preserved city walls, pagodas, canals, and performances. It is not simply a relic of the past, but a vibrant cultural stage where history and daily life coexist.

Quite an interesting and special museum to visit. I have learned lot of “knowledge” related to the ancient tombs during the 2 hours tour with the guide.

A wonderful place to visit at night! It’s much quieter than Yingtianmen, making it a perfect spot to enjoy the atmosphere without the crowds.It’s also the ideal place for a photoshoot, which is exactly what I did!I was lucky enough to catch a live performance during my visit, which made the experience even more special.Definitely worth visiting!

The electric shuttle buses in the scenic area are quite convenient. Everyone says peonies are the most beautiful flowers in the country, and after seeing them, I truly understand why. Unfortunately, my schedule was limited, so I had a slight regret about not being able to visit. I recommend going during the peak viewing season.