Overview
Longmen Grottoes, located in Luoyang, Henan Province, is one of China's three major grottoes and a World Heritage Site. Carved over 400 years from the Northern Wei to the Tang Dynasty, the grottoes now contain over 2,300 caves and more than 100,000 Buddhist statues. The core masterpiece is the Vairocana Buddha in Fengxian Temple, standing 17.14 meters tall. Legend has it that it was modeled after Empress Wu Zetian and is hailed as the "Mona Lisa of the East."
Suggested visit time: 3 to 5 hours. Best time to visit: Spring (April to May, during Luoyang's peony season) and Autumn (September to October, with clear skies and crisp air).
How to Get There
By Plane: After arriving at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, proceed to Zhengzhou East Railway Station and transfer to the high-speed train to Luoyang Longmen Station (approximately 1.5 hours).
High-Speed Train (Recommended): Get off at Luoyang Longmen Station. Take a taxi to the Northwest Service Area of Longmen Grottoes (approximately 10-15 minutes, fare approximately 10-20 RMB). Be sure to choose the Northwest Service Area, as it is closest to the ticket gate.
By Train: After getting off at Luoyang Station, take bus route 81 directly to the scenic area (approximately 1 hour), or take a taxi (approximately 30 minutes).
By Bus: From the city center, take bus routes 81, 60, 71, 99, etc., directly to the scenic area entrance. The fare is only 1-2 RMB.
Recommended tour route: West Hill Grottoes (highlights area) → Causeway Bridge → East Hill Grottoes → Buddha Worship Platform → Xiangshan Temple → Baiyuan Garden, the entire route is a one-way trip without backtracking.
What to Expect
The scenic area's tour route primarily involves walking and climbing stairs, covering approximately 3 to 4 kilometers. There are many steps, some quite steep, so wearing non-slip athletic shoes is recommended. The Northwest Service Area features the official cultural and creative gift shop "Longmen Fengwu Fang" and a pastry and souvenir shop. Both the Northeast and Northwest Service Areas offer free luggage storage. The scenic area provides multilingual signage and English audio guides, which are available free of charge to foreign tourists.
Practical Tips
- Please note the photography regulations. Flash photography is strictly prohibited inside the caves to protect the cultural relics. Drones are prohibited from being flown within the scenic area without permission.
- Burning incense is prohibited inside the caves of Xishan Grottoes. If you wish to offer incense, please go to the compliant incense burner at Xiangshan Temple.
- The "Night Tour of Longmen" project opens access to the Xishan Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple. Baiyuan Garden and Dongshan Grottoes are open only during the day. A separate ticket is required for the night tour; daytime tickets cannot be used for night tour admission.
