Luoyang

Immerse Yourself in the Landscape of Longmen Mountain

13 Kilometers to the south of Luoyang, Longmen Mountain is located on the banks of the River Yi. The beauty of Longmen Mountain lies in the grottoes on the mountain. Strolling on the bank of the Yi River and appreciating the Buddhist statues makes visitors appreciate the historical atmosphere. The landscape of Longmen Mountain contains not only Longmen Cave and its Buddhist statues, but Xiangshan Temple and the middle reaches of the Yi River.

As one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Longmen Cave should not be missed.

Eat Luoyang Water Banquet

It is said that the Luoyang Water Banquet was formed during the Sui (581 CE – 618 CE) and Tang dynasties. Luoyang Water Banquet is composed of 24 different meat and vegetable dishes eaten one after another. The banquet is characterized by soup and is very notable for its sour and spicy flavors.

See Luoyang Peonies

Luoyang Peonies bloom in April and are regarded as the ‘king of all flowers’. When peonies bloom, Luoyang quickly becomes crowded with tourists. Peonies began to be planted during the Sui Dynasty and was given the title of Flower King during the Song Dynasty (960 CE – 1279 CE). Luoyang has become a great place to watch peonies since ancient times. When you happen to visit Luoyang in April, you will be see exactly why the peonies are so highly regarded.

Watch opera in Luoyang

In China, many places have their own local operas, and Luoyang is no exception. The plots of the opera in Luoyang are derived from the daily lives of common people and folklore. Watching helps to understand more about the life of common people and the history of this ancient city.

From April 1st to May 10th of each year, the peony fair takes place in Luoyang and the weather in Luoyang is typically warm and comfortable. During this period, tourists can see the peonies in the main attractions and parks and gardens. Autumn is also a good time to visit as the weather is very enjoyable and you can climb the mountain in the cool weather in Luoyang.

Historical Art

The world-famous historical art found in Luoyang is in the Longmen Caves. As one of four great grottoes in China, the Longmen Caves lie on the bank of the River Yi, 13 kilometers to the south of Luoyang. The Longmen Caves have been damaged by earthquake, water erosion or looters, but the most of them remain and are still impressive. The ancient craftsmen used the riverside cliffs to create 1,352 caves with over 70 pagodas and about 100,000 statues.

On November 30th, 2000, the Longmen Cave was entered into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Traditional Architecture

As one of Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Luoyang retains some traditional buildings such as Shaolin Temple and White Horse Temple.

Located in the eastern Laocheng District of Luoyang City, White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple constructed when Buddhism was officially introduced into China. Some rare and precious ancient Buddhist statues can be found in the temple. The surviving buildings can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368 CE – 1644 CE) but many of buildings use the original Han bricks.

Shaolin Temple, in Dengfeng County, is known as the hometown of kungfu. At the foot of Song Mountain, about 300 meters away from the temple, lies Pagoda Forest including about 250 pagodas constructed during different dynasties, which show the various architectural styles in different dynasties.

Traditional Opera

Heluo Bass Drum performance has been dated back to the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912). The local people regard Heluo Bass Drum performance as storytelling. The performance is usually showed in the courtyard of countryside.

Traditional Art

Tang Dynasty tri-colored glazed pottery (Tangsanci) mostly used yellow, green and white during process of producing. Because the earliest Tangsanci was produced in Luoyang, it was also called Luoyang Tangsanci. With history of over 1,000 years, Tang Dynasty tri-colored glazed pottery enjoy the reputation being a rare cultural commodity.

What to eat in Luoyang

Luoyang Water Banquet

Luoyang Water Banquet is a traditional and famous dish. There are 24 dishes which accompany the soup. There are two reasons for the name Water Banquet. The first one is that all dishes are served with soup, while the second reason is that the dishes are provided one after another. The food features meat and vegetable dishes with sour, spicy, sweet and salty flavors.

Hula Soup

Hula Soup is very popular dish for breakfast so that it is eaten in most part of China. The Hula Soup in Luoyang is very authentic and tasty. More vegetables and other ingredients such as chopped beef and peanuts are added into the soup. When eating, you can pour some vinegar and sesame oil into the soup for added taste and texture.

Carp

The carp in Luoyang are caught from the Yellow River. It is very popular for the local people and tourists. When the carp is steamed, the cook makes its head tilt, which symbolizes happiness and good luck.

Bufan Soup

Bufan Soup was created by Liu Zhensheng and developed by his offspring. It is a typical and tasty local dish in Luoyang.

Where to Eat in Luoyang

Yaxiangluo Restaurant
Address: No.4 Anhui Road, Jianxi District, Luoyang
Telephone: 0379 64921555

Mutton Soup Restaurant
Address: Third floor, Xinduhui Square, No.56 of Jiefang Road, Xigong District
Telephone: 0379 63106886

Old Luoyang Noodles Restaurant
Address: Wangcheng Road
Telephone: 0379 65363855

Zhenbutong Restaurant
Address: No359 Zhongzhou Zhong Lu, east of the Xiguan Bus Stop
Telephone: 0379 62515566

What to Buy

Tri-colored Glazed Pottery of Tang Dynasty

Prevalent during the Tang Dynasty, the Tri-colored Glazed Pottery is a kind of pottery made at low temperature. With the history of a thousand year, the Tri-colored Glazed Pottery represents the essence of Tang Dynasty art. Tri-colored Glazed Pottery is mainly in the shape of horses, camels, female figures and soldiers. The Tri-colored Glazed Pottery you can buy is the replicas of ancient unearthed ones.

Bronze Vessels

Luoyang is considered the birthplace of bronze vessels in China. The production of bronze vessels can be dated back to the Xia Dynasty, the first dynasty of China, and prevailed during the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE – 771 BCE). Luoyang Art Institute and Luoyang Art and Craft Factory have duplicated the bronze vessels since 1973. The replicas of the ancient bronze vessels not only display some aspects of Chinese history but also make people appreciate the art of bronze vessels as indoor decorations.

Luoyang Paper-Cut

Luoyang Paper-Cut is a very traditional decorative art which can be traced back to Han and Tang times. In the beginning, the ancient maiden used gold and silvery foils and brocades to cut the shapes of flowers and birds and then pasted them on both temples. With gradual development, the paper-cuts were pasted on the windows and doors during the festivals. It is one of best choices for your souvenirs.

Luoyang Embroidery

Luoyang Embroidery is a kind of very traditional artwork with a history of more than 2,000 years. Luoyang embroidery is made of linen weaved in unique techniques with the help of pharmaceuticals. The patterns of Luoyang Embroidery includes human figures, flowers, birds, animals, mountains, rivers and gardens. Luoyang Embroidery is characterized by bright colors and exquisite craftsmanship.

Luoyang Palace Lantern

According to folk legend, the Luoyang Palace Lantern was made for celebrating the unification of China by Emperor Guangwu after establishing the capital in Luoyang. The various lanterns were suspended in the palace when the emperor feasted with his courtiers, hence the name. Then the palace lanterns began to become popular among the commoners. There are various kinds of Palace Lanterns in Luoyang. The common lanterns you can see are red round yarn lanterns, white square lanterns, dragon head lanterns with six colors, butterfly lanterns, lanterns with the pattern of two dragons playing with a ball and others. Among them, red round yarn lanterns with elegant shape enjoys a strong high reputation.

Where to Buy

Luoyang Wangfujing Department Store
Address: No.429, middle Zhong Zhou Road Luoyang

Lianhua Dongfang Department Store
Telephone: 0379 64275366
Address: No.46 Jinghua Road of Jianxi District

Henan Local Products Store
Telephone: 0379 63530800
Address: No.1-7, Lijing Gate, Laocheng District

Xinduhui Business Center
Telephone: 0379 63106188
Address: at the crossing of South Shachang Road and Middle Zhongzhou Road, Xigong District

Wanda Plaza
Address: on Liaoning Road