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Longmen Grottoes and around
A day in Luoyang · 9:30–15:30 · 3 stops
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mapvivid.com/luoyang/itineraries/longmen-grottoes-and-aroundA walking day around Longmen Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple, with a lunch break nearby and Bai Garden to end the day.
Every stop on Google Maps: open the list
Morning
9:301Longmen Grottoes ↗2 h 30 minGo early · Allow a few hours
UNESCO cliffs carved with over 100,000 Buddhist statues along the Yi River.
- Night illumination runs in warmer months
↓ 9 min walk
12:152Hillside temple on Longmen's east bank with views of the grottoes.
- Included in the Longmen ticket
- Terrace looks straight at the west cliffs
Lunch
13:15Lunch break nearby · Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps ↗
↓ 2 min walk
Afternoon
14:303Bai Garden ↗1 h
Tranquil garden around the tomb of Tang poet Bai Juyi.
- Part of the Longmen east bank
- Shady paths for a rest
Good to know. Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.
Luoyang tips
Cultural
- Try the water banquet: Luoyang's shuixi banquet serves a sequence of soupy dishes, a tradition said to date back to the Tang dynasty.
- Celebrate the Peony Festival: each April the city celebrates its peonies with gardens and events across town.
- Visit White Horse Temple: considered China's first Buddhist temple, it includes halls built by India, Thailand and Myanmar.
Local Hacks
- See Longmen at night: the grottoes are lit up on some evenings, offering a different view of the giant Vairocana Buddha.
- Visit Yingtianmen: the reconstructed Sui-Tang gate hosts evening light shows.
- Day trip to Shaolin: Shaolin Temple on Songshan is a manageable day trip from Luoyang.
Saving
- Visit Luoyang Museum for free: the museum holds treasures from the city's thirteen dynasties, with free entry by reservation.
- Eat Luoyang soup for breakfast: locals start the day with beef or mutton tang soup and flatbread, cheap and filling.
- Explore Laojie at night: the old street near Lijing Gate is free to wander, with cheap snacks and lantern-lit buildings.
Security
- Carry your passport: ID checks are common at stations, hotels and Longmen Grottoes; keep your passport handy.
- Avoid fake guides: decline unofficial guides at Longmen and White Horse Temple; book official guides at the ticket office.
- Agree prices for Hanfu photos: costume photo studios around Lijing Gate offer packages; confirm what is included before you pay.
Transportation
- Arrive at Luoyang Longmen station: high-speed trains from Xi'an, Zhengzhou and Beijing stop at Longmen station, close to the grottoes.
- Ride Luoyang Metro: the metro lines connect Longmen station, the old city and Lijing Gate; pay with Alipay or WeChat QR codes.
- Use DiDi for out-of-town sights: DiDi or a hired car is easiest for White Horse Temple or a day trip to Shaolin Temple.
Weather/Clothing
- Visit in April for peonies: spring is pleasant and peak peony season; bring layers as mornings are cool.
- Pack light for hot summers: July and August are hot and humid; carry water and sun protection at Longmen.
- Bundle up in winter: winters are cold and dry; pack a warm coat and moisturiser.
Planned with MapVivid. Opening hours change, so check each place before you go. This day, with the map: mapvivid.com/luoyang/itineraries/longmen-grottoes-and-around
Day 2 of 29:30–15:303 stops
Longmen Grottoes and around
A walking day around Longmen Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple, with a lunch break nearby and Bai Garden to end the day.
Opens Google Maps with every stop of the day, ready to save to your own list.
Morning
109:30 · 2 h 30 minUNESCO cliffs carved with over 100,000 Buddhist statues along the Yi River.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Allow a few hours
1 tip
- Night illumination runs in warmer months
📷 Photos
9 min walk
212:15 · 1 hHillside temple on Longmen's east bank with views of the grottoes.
3 tips
- Included in the Longmen ticket
- Terrace looks straight at the west cliffs
- Walk on to Bai Juyi's tomb garden
📷 Photos
Lunch
Lunch break nearby · 13:15
Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps2 min walk
Afternoon
314:30 · 1 hTranquil garden around the tomb of Tang poet Bai Juyi.
3 tips
- Part of the Longmen east bank
- Shady paths for a rest
- Poems carved on stone tablets
📷 Photos
Take this day with you
Add the stops to your calendar
Times are local time in Luoyang. Apple Calendar adds every stop at once (Outlook too). Google Calendar adds one event per link.
Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.