Luoyang Travel Guide: Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple and How Many Days

Give Luoyang (洛阳, Luòyáng) two days: one for the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟, Lóngmén Shíkū), the Buddhist cliff carvings that are the reason most foreign visitors come, plus the White Horse Temple, and a second for the old town and the Sui–Tang palace sites. Add a third day if you also want the Shaolin Temple, which is not in Luoyang at all but in Dengfeng, a county-level city under Zhengzhou, about 55 km away by road. Getting here is easy by high-speed train: on one sample travel day, 29 October 2026, a typical train from Xi'an North to Luoyang Longmen Station took 1 hour 22 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, and most from Zhengzhou East took 36 to 37 minutes. That makes a day trip from Xi'an realistic. Book Longmen first: tickets are timed and real-name, officially sold only through two official WeChat accounts, and foreign passports are accepted.

Three things have changed this season and matter for anyone arriving in the next few months. The Luoyang Museum closed on 19 October 2026 for renovation and expects to stay closed for about a year. Longmen's night tours stop from 1 November 2026, and the 2027 start date has not been announced. From the same day Longmen switches to winter hours, with ticket sales ending at 16:30.

How many days, when to go and what to see first

One day is enough for Longmen in the morning and the White Horse Temple in the afternoon, with an evening walk in the old town if you are staying the night. It is tight but it works, and it is how most day-trippers from Xi'an or Zhengzhou do it.

Two days is what we recommend. It lets you see Longmen without rushing, then spend the second day on the Yingtian Gate and the reconstructed Mingtang and Tiantang halls of the old Sui–Tang palace, Luoyi Ancient City and the Lijing Gate area, and a long lunch of Luoyang's soup dishes.

Three days lets you add Shaolin as a full day out. It sits at Mount Song (嵩山, Sōngshān), between Luoyang and Zhengzhou, so it also works as a stop on your way from one city to the other.

When to go

April is Luoyang's big month. The China Luoyang Peony Culture Festival, held through April, is the city's best-known event. The flowers are lovely, and the city is at its busiest, with higher hotel prices and the most competition for Longmen time slots. Autumn, from late September into early November, is the calmer choice: comfortable walking weather and fewer tour groups, though by November the days are short and Longmen closes earlier. Summer is hot and humid for a site where you walk for hours along an open cliff face. Winter is cold and grey, but it is the quietest time to see the carvings. For a month-by-month view of China's weather and holiday crowds, see our guide to the best time to visit China.

How the city is laid out

Luoyang stretches east to west along the Luo River. The parts you will use are:

• The old town (老城, Lǎochéng) in the east of the centre, with Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城, Luòyì Gǔchéng) and Lijing Gate (丽景门, Lìjǐng Mén). This is where people go in the evening.
• The Sui–Tang palace sites (Yingtian Gate, Mingtang and Tiantang) in the middle of the city, north of the river.
• The Longmen Grottoes on the southern edge, where the Yi River runs between two hills. Allow 30 minutes or more by taxi from the old town, depending on traffic; check the route in your map app. They are about 4 km from Luoyang Longmen high-speed station.
• The White Horse Temple (白马寺, Báimǎ Sì) about 12 km east of the city.
• The Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, which belongs to Zhengzhou, not Luoyang.

The two big sights are at opposite ends of town, south and east, so plan your days around them rather than criss-crossing the city. Taxis and DiDi (China's main ride-hailing app) are the easiest way between them; our DiDi guide explains how to set it up with a foreign phone number and card.

Getting to Luoyang: Longmen Station or Luoyang Station

Luoyang has two railway stations, and the one you want is almost always Luoyang Longmen (洛阳龙门, Luòyáng Lóngmén), the high-speed station on the Zhengzhou–Xi'an line. On the sample day every train from Xi'an North, Zhengzhou East and Beijing West to Luoyang Longmen was a G (high-speed) train. The older Luoyang Station (洛阳站) in the north of the city mainly handles conventional K, Z and T trains and a few D trains; the fastest of these from Xi'an took 4 hours 28 minutes that day, and the fastest of the six slow trains from Beijing West took 7 hours 15 minutes. Check which station is printed on your ticket, because the two are on opposite sides of town.

Train times and fares

All figures below are from 12306, China Railway's booking system, for that one sample day, so treat them as a guide to how often trains run rather than a fixed timetable.

• From Xi'an North: 71 G trains that day, the first at 06:13 and the last at 20:01; the fastest took 1 hour 15 minutes. Second class cost 174 to 199 yuan depending on the train. Going back, the last train from Luoyang Longmen to Xi'an North left at 21:37.
• From Zhengzhou East: 75 G trains, from 06:43 to 22:11. Second class cost 65 to 75 yuan.
• From Beijing West: only 13 G trains, from 07:00 to 17:55, with the fastest taking 2 hours 59 minutes and most taking 3 hours to about 4¼ hours. Second class cost 353 to 419 yuan, with the faster trains at the top of that range. The last train back to Beijing West left Luoyang Longmen at 17:36, which is early, so plan your final day around it.

The table compares the three routes side by side, including first and business class. The main takeaway: Xi'an and Zhengzhou have trains all day, so outside holidays booking a few hours ahead on 12306 or Trip.com is usually enough, while Beijing has a handful of trains and they are worth booking ahead.

Booking train tickets with a passport

You can buy tickets on 12306 with a foreign passport. Its English site accepts foreign passports only, so other documents have to go through the Chinese site or a station ticket window. Tickets go on sale 15 days ahead, counting the travel day. At the station, passport holders use the staffed lane for the ID check rather than the automatic gates, so allow a few extra minutes. If you would rather book in English with a foreign card, Trip.com sells the same trains. Our step-by-step guide to booking China train tickets with a foreign passport covers both, and the high-speed train guide explains seat classes, luggage and boarding.

From Luoyang Longmen Station into town and to the grottoes

Luoyang Longmen Station is in the south of the city, which is handy for the grottoes. According to the Longmen Grottoes' own travel page, the grottoes are about 10 minutes from the station by taxi, or about 42 minutes on city bus 71, which runs to the Longmen Grottoes stop. From Luoyang Station the grottoes are about 30 minutes by taxi, or about 1 hour 5 minutes on bus 81. To reach the old town or a hotel in the centre from Longmen Station, a taxi or DiDi is the simplest choice. Luoyang also has a metro; check the current route and station in a map app such as Amap before you rely on it.

Flying in

Luoyang Beijiao Airport (洛阳北郊机场) is the city's small airport. It is about 19 km from the grottoes, roughly 30 minutes by taxi, or about 1 hour 45 minutes by bus 1 and then bus 81. A taxi or DiDi is the easiest way into town; ask at the arrivals hall about airport buses. For most travellers the train is simpler: Zhengzhou and Xi'an both have big airports, and from either one you can reach Luoyang by high-speed rail.

Entering China

Henan's port for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy is Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, and Shaanxi's is Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Most people still arrive through Beijing, Shanghai or Xi'an and continue by train. Whether you qualify, and which regions you can travel in, depends on your nationality and onward ticket; our guide to China's 240-hour visa-free transit explains the rules.

Longmen Grottoes: tickets, booking, hours and the route

The Longmen Grottoes are carved into the limestone cliffs on both banks of the Yi River (伊河), along a stretch about 1 km long. Work began around the time the Northern Wei court moved to Luoyang and continued through several dynasties to the Song. There are 2,345 caves and niches, more than 100,000 statues and over 2,800 inscriptions, and the site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000. Most of the famous carvings are on the West Hill. The East Hill across the river has fewer carvings but the best view back across the water to the whole cliff.

Tickets: what foreigners pay

A day ticket costs 90 yuan and covers all four parts of the site: West Hill Grottoes, East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden. The price is the same all year. Discounts are where foreign visitors often get caught out. Children aged 12 or under, or up to 1.4 m tall, go free whatever their nationality. Every other free or half-price ticket, including free entry for people over 60 and half price for students and teachers, is for Chinese citizens only, so a foreign visitor over 60 or with a foreign student card pays the full 90 yuan. Do not book a half-price ticket expecting to show a student card at the gate.

How to book

Longmen uses timed, real-name tickets. Booking opens at 00:10 each day for dates up to 7 days ahead, including the same day. Foreigners book with their passport through one of two official WeChat accounts, the official account "龙门石窟官微" (Longmen Grottoes Official) or the service account "龙门石窟" (Longmen Grottoes), under the menu "一站购票" (one-stop tickets) and then "门票预约" (ticket reservation), and enter with the original passport. The official notice also says it has not authorised any third party to sell "guide plus ticket" bundles, so be wary of anyone offering one.

In practice this means you need WeChat set up on your phone before you go; our WeChat setup guide walks through sign-up and adding a foreign card. The booking menus are in Chinese, and a camera translation app makes them manageable. For most of the year a booking a day or two ahead is fine. During the April peony festival, China's national holidays and on weekends, book as soon as your date opens. If you are on a day trip, choose a morning slot.

The full Longmen visitor notice, with ticket rules and concessions, is on the Longmen Grottoes official website (in Chinese).

Rules on the day

• A ticket is valid for one entry on the day you booked. You can buy one ticket per ID document per day.
• Tickets are checked four times along the route, so keep your passport and ticket in hand, not in the bottom of your bag. A used ticket cannot be refunded; an unused booking can be refunded if you apply within six months.
• Photography and filming inside the caves are not allowed, and neither is touching the carvings. Drones and live-streaming need permission, and pets are not allowed in the site. You can photograph the cliff and the big statues from the walkways outside.

Opening hours, summer and winter

Longmen opens at 08:00 all year. In summer hours (1 March to 31 October), ticket sales end at 17:30, ticket checks end at 18:00 and the site closes at 19:00. In winter hours (1 November to the end of February), sales end at 16:30, checks end at 17:00 and the site closes at 18:00. The site confirmed that winter hours start on 1 November 2026. In winter, aim to arrive by early afternoon at the latest. With four ticket checks along a single route, a late start leaves you rushing the East Hill and Bai Garden.

Night tours (paused for winter)

"Night Tour Longmen" (夜游龙门) is a seasonal evening opening. In 2026 it ran from 30 March and opened only the West Hill Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple; ticket sales ran from 17:30 to 19:30, entry from 18:00 to 20:00, and the site cleared at 21:00. Longmen announced that night tours pause from 1 November 2026, with the 2027 opening date to be announced. In 2026 the night ticket cost 90 yuan, was sold separately from the day ticket, and was only available through the same two official WeChat accounts. A Luoyang district government account suggested allowing about 2 to 2.5 hours for the night route. If you are coming in spring 2027, check the Longmen WeChat accounts in March for the restart date.

The route: West Hill, bridge, East Hill, Xiangshan Temple, Bai Garden

The site runs as a single one-way route in this order: West Hill Grottoes, East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, Bai Garden. You can move back and forth along the West Hill, but once you cross the bridge to the East Hill you cannot come back, so see everything you want on the West Hill first.

1. West Hill Grottoes (西山石窟). This is the main event: a walkway along the cliff past thousands of niches, from finger-sized Buddhas to the big caves of the Northern Wei and Tang. Highlights include the Binyang caves (宾阳洞) near the start and the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (万佛洞).
2. Fengxian Temple (奉先寺). About two-thirds of the way along the West Hill, a long flight of steps climbs to the largest group of carvings at Longmen. It was carved under the Tang emperor Gaozong and holds nine large figures: a Buddha, two disciples, two bodhisattvas, two heavenly kings and two guardians. The central Vairocana Buddha (卢舍那大佛) is 17.14 m tall, with a head 4 m high and ears 1.9 m long. Legend says the face was modelled on Empress Wu Zetian, who is said to have helped pay for it; the official site does not make that claim, so treat it as a story. Fengxian is open to the sky, so you can photograph it from the terrace.
3. Across the river. At the end of the West Hill you cross the Yi River by bridge to the East Hill.
4. East Hill Grottoes (东山石窟). Fewer visitors come here. The caves are later and quieter, and the riverside path gives the classic view back across the water to the West Hill and Fengxian.
5. Xiangshan Temple (香山寺). A working temple up a hill on the east bank, with more steps and a view down over the river.
6. Bai Garden (白园). The tomb and memorial garden of the Tang poet Bai Juyi (白居易), who spent his last years here. It is the calmest part of the visit and the exit end of the route.

Plan about half a day for the full route at a steady pace, longer if you like to read every panel. There are a lot of stone steps, especially up to Fengxian and Xiangshan Temple, so wear proper shoes.

Shuttle carts, boats and guides

The two car parks and visitor service areas are a walk from the ticket gates: about 25 minutes from the northeast service area and about 20 minutes from the northwest one. You can ride the site's shuttle cart instead, at 10 yuan per person each way, free for children under 1.2 m. There is also a boat on the Yi River with four docks, including one at Fengxian Temple and one at Bai Garden. Whether it runs depends on the weather and the river level, and Longmen does not publish the fare, so check at the ticket centre on the day.

The carvings make much more sense with someone explaining them. Longmen has its own guide service, which you can reach on +86 379 6993 2212; the general enquiries number is +86 379 6598 0972. Ask the guide service whether an English-speaking guide is available that day. Calls are usually answered in Chinese, so ask your hotel to call for you if needed.

White Horse Temple

The White Horse Temple is about 12 km east of the city. It is known as the first temple officially founded in China after Buddhism arrived, in 68 CE under the Eastern Han emperor Ming. The name comes from the story of the white horses that carried the first Buddhist scriptures from the west. Two stone horses stand at the gate.

It is a working monastery with monks, incense and a line of halls and courtyards, much smaller and calmer than Longmen. Next to the main temple is an area of Buddhist halls built in Indian, Thai and Burmese styles, which are worth the short walk for the contrast in architecture. Allow one to two hours in total.

The White Horse Temple posts its information on its WeChat account rather than a website, so check the ticket price and confirm opening hours there or at the gate before you go. A taxi or DiDi from the old town is the simplest way to get there. City buses also go out this way, and a map app shows the current route.

In the city: the museum, Yingtian Gate and the old town

Luoyang Museum: closed until further notice

The Luoyang Museum (洛阳博物馆) closed all its galleries on 19 October 2026 for renovation, expects to stay closed for about a year, and will announce the reopening date later. Leave it out of your plans unless you are visiting after it reopens; the reopening notice will be on the museum's announcements page (in Chinese). Before closing it was free with a real-name booking on its WeChat account, and passports were accepted; check whether the same rules apply when it reopens. If you pass through Zhengzhou, the provincial Henan Museum there is the obvious alternative for Henan's history; check its booking rules before you go.

Yingtian Gate, Mingtang and Tiantang

Luoyang was the eastern capital of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and the palace city stood in what is now the centre of town. Little of the original survives above ground, but there are large modern reconstructions on the old sites: Yingtian Gate (应天门, Yìngtiān Mén), the main gate of the palace city, and the Mingtang (明堂, "Bright Hall") and Tiantang (天堂, "Heavenly Hall"), the ceremonial hall and the Buddhist pagoda-hall built for Empress Wu Zetian. Inside are excavated foundations, models and exhibitions on court life. They are rebuilt, not original, but they give you a sense of the scale of the Tang capital, and many people visit in the evening when the buildings are lit. Ticket prices and opening hours vary by site and season, so check them at the ticket office or on a ticketing app before you go.

Luoyi Ancient City, Lijing Gate and the old town at night

Luoyi Ancient City is a rebuilt historic quarter in the old town, with lanes of grey-brick buildings, shops, snack stalls and lanterns. Many visitors walk through in Tang-style costume hired from the shops, especially in the evening. It is reconstructed, not an untouched old street, but it is the liveliest place in the city at night. Take Luoyang Metro Line 1 to Luoyi Gucheng Station, leave by Exit A1 and walk about 400 m along Minzhu Street to the north gate. Entry has been free and it stays open late into the evening; check the current entry rule on arrival.

Also in the old town, Lijing Gate (丽景门) is a rebuilt city gate tower at the head of the old town's market streets, with snack shops on the lanes around it. Check the price for climbing the gate tower at the gate. Both areas are good for an evening walk and dinner after a day at Longmen.

The Peony Festival

Luoyang has grown peonies since the Tang dynasty, and the flower is the city's emblem. The China Luoyang Peony Culture Festival (中国洛阳牡丹文化节) is held each spring: the 43rd festival opened on 1 April 2026 and ran through April, and the city now grows 1,445 varieties of peony. The 2027 dates had not been announced as of October 2026, so check the festival announcement in early spring. The Henan provincial government's English site carried the official report on the 2026 festival.

The main viewing gardens include Wangcheng Park (王城公园) in the city centre, the National Peony Garden (国家牡丹园) and the China National Flower Garden (中国国花园). Gardens usually charge an entry fee during the festival, and prices change from year to year, so check the current price at the garden gate or on a ticketing app. Bloom timing moves with the weather from year to year. Different gardens and varieties flower at slightly different times, so if one garden is past its best, another may still be in bloom.

Festival weeks are Luoyang's busiest. Book hotels well ahead, book Longmen as soon as your date opens, and try to visit the gardens early in the morning, when the light is soft and there are fewer people.

Shaolin Temple: is it worth it and how to get there

The Shaolin Temple (少林寺, Shàolín Sì) is in Dengfeng, which is administered by Zhengzhou, not Luoyang. The scenic area's own driving guide gives about 55 km and 1 hour 18 minutes by road from Luoyang, and about 86 km and 1 hour 23 minutes from Zhengzhou. It is the founding temple of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and the place Shaolin kung fu is named after. The main temple compound dates from 495 CE, and the scenic area also has the largest Pagoda Forest in China, a field of brick memorial pagodas for eminent monks.

Tickets and the martial-arts show

A ticket to the Shaolin scenic area costs 80 yuan and includes the main temple, the Pagoda Forest, Sanhuangzhai (三皇寨) on Shaoshi Mountain, the martial-arts show, and the smaller Chuzu and Erzu temples. The martial-arts show runs in the performance hall several times each morning and afternoon; check the notice board for that day's times. For concessions and opening hours, check at the ticket office or by calling +86 371 6274 5000. The scenic area's official FAQ page (in Chinese) has the ticket details.

Is it worth it?

Go if kung fu or Chan Buddhism is a real interest for you, or if you want a day in the hills of Mount Song. The Pagoda Forest is the part most people remember. Expect a busy, commercial site: the temple itself is a working monastery, but the area around it is full of martial-arts schools, shops and coach parties, and the show is a staged performance. If your time is short, Longmen is the better use of a day. Our guide to kung fu experiences in China covers classes and other shows if that is your main interest.

Getting there

The simplest options are:

• Taxi or DiDi for the day. Agree a round trip and waiting time with a driver before you set off; your hotel can help arrange it.
• A chartered car or a day tour from Luoyang or Zhengzhou, which handles transport and sometimes the ticket. Check exactly what is included.
• As a stop between the two cities. Leave Luoyang in the morning with your luggage, spend the day at Shaolin, and finish in Zhengzhou in the evening, or the other way round. This saves you the trip back and works well if you are flying out of Zhengzhou.

A Shaolin day is a full day either way: roughly two and a half to three hours on the road there and back, plus several hours on site.

For tickets, opening hours and how to get there, see Shaolin Temple.

Where to stay

For a first visit, stay in or near the old town around Luoyi Ancient City: you can walk to the evening lanes and to dinner, and Metro Line 1 runs past it. If you are arriving late or leaving early by high-speed train, a hotel near Luoyang Longmen Station saves time and is also the closest base for the grottoes, but the area is quiet in the evening. The city centre around Wangcheng Park and Zhongzhou Road sits between the two and is convenient for the peony gardens. Book a hotel that is set up to register foreign guests, because some small guesthouses are not; our guide to booking hotels and registration rules explains why. You can compare hotels by area on Booking.com.

One, two or three days in Luoyang

One day (or a day trip from Xi'an or Zhengzhou)

Morning: arrive at Luoyang Longmen Station and take a taxi straight to the Longmen Grottoes, about 10 minutes away. Walk the full route from the West Hill to Bai Garden. Afternoon: taxi across town to the White Horse Temple. Evening: if you are staying, dinner in the old town. If not, take an evening train back from Luoyang Longmen. Leave your bags at your hotel, or ask about left luggage at the station, before you start.

Two days

Day 1: as above: Longmen in the morning, the White Horse Temple in the afternoon, Luoyi Ancient City and Lijing Gate in the evening. Day 2: Yingtian Gate and the Mingtang and Tiantang halls in the morning, a soup lunch, then the peony gardens in April or a slow afternoon in the old town, and an evening train onward.

Three days

Days 1 and 2: as above. Day 3: Shaolin Temple as a full day, either back to Luoyang in the evening or on to Zhengzhou with your luggage. Try to arrive in time for a morning martial-arts show, then walk to the Pagoda Forest.

What to eat

Luoyang's food is built around soup. The Luoyang Water Banquet (洛阳水席, Luòyáng Shuǐxí) is the famous one: a sequence of dishes, most of them served in broth, brought out one after another. You don't have to order the full banquet; many restaurants in the old town serve a smaller set or single dishes, and the one to try is the "swallow vegetable" (燕菜, yàncài), a radish soup made to imitate bird's-nest soup. For breakfast, locals eat beef soup (牛肉汤, niúròu tāng) or mutton soup (羊肉汤, yángròu tāng) with flatbread, and many of the best soup shops close by late morning once the pot is finished. Also look for bufan soup (不翻汤, bùfān tāng, "no-flip soup"), a peppery, sour soup with thin mung-bean pancakes, and jiangmian tiao (浆面条, jiāng miàntiáo), noodles cooked in a slightly sour fermented-bean broth. English menus are rare outside hotels, so use photo menus or a translation app.

Going on to Xi'an, Zhengzhou and further

Luoyang sits on the high-speed line between Xi'an and Zhengzhou, so it fits naturally between them. In Xi'an, trains for Luoyang leave from Xi'an North; the newer Xi'an East Station mainly serves routes to the south and west, so check the station name on your ticket. Xi'an is typically 1 hour 22 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes away by G train; our Xi'an travel guide covers the Terracotta Army and how many days to spend there, the 2-day Xi'an itinerary lays out the days, and Xi'an day trips compares Luoyang with Mount Hua and the imperial tombs as a day out. Xi'an North Station is on metro Lines 2, 4 and 14, and Line 2 runs straight to the Bell Tower; see the Xi'an metro map to plan the connection. Zhengzhou is under 40 minutes away and has the bigger airport. Beijing is about three to four hours by direct G train, with only a few trains a day. If you are planning the whole trip, our Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai route shows where a Luoyang stop fits, and if you are heading west after Xi'an, the Silk Road route from Xi'an to Dunhuang picks up from there.

Money and internet

Mobile payment is the norm in Luoyang, as across China, and you will want Alipay or WeChat Pay working before you arrive. Alipay lets you register with a foreign phone number and add a foreign bank card, and asks for your passport details before your first payment. Cards with an accepted logo also work at merchants with card terminals, and you can ask at the till if you see no logo. UnionPay cards issued outside mainland China can also be added to both Alipay and WeChat Pay. Carry some cash for small soup shops and taxis. See how to use Alipay with foreign cards for the setup.

For data, an eSIM or local SIM card is the easiest option; our China SIM card and eSIM guide compares them, and the internet and VPN guide explains which foreign apps won't load.

Luoyang FAQ

If something goes wrong

Call 110 for the police; it works from any phone, needs no area code and is free. Call 120 for an ambulance, which runs 24 hours. At the Longmen Grottoes, the site's medical number is +86 379 6598 0188. Our guide to emergency numbers in China covers which lines have English speakers and what to say.

Last updated: October 2026