Luoyang's must-see Longmen Grottoes: Each grotto a world, each wall a history book

As a must-visit World Cultural Heritage site in Luoyang, the Longmen Grottoes are definitely worth a visit.✌🏻Half a day is enough! 🚗 Transportation Guide • High-speed Rail/Train: Take a taxi from Luoyang Longmen Station for about 15 minutes to reach the scenic area (fare is about 15 yuan). If arriving at Luoyang Station, take bus No. 81 (Longmen Grottoes special line, about 50 minutes). We took the subway and transferred to a bus. Self-driving/Taxi: The scenic area is about 12 km from downtown Luoyang, a 25-minute drive. Scenic Area Shuttle: The entrance is about 1 km from the core scenic spots. It is recommended to take the scenic sightseeing bus (10 yuan/person one way) or walk (about 15 minutes) on the way back. 🎟️ Tickets and Opening Hours Tickets: 90 yuan/person (including West Hill + East Hill + Xiangshan Temple + Bai Garden) Scenic bus: 10 yuan/trip (not required, but saves energy) 🎤 Guided Tours: Audio guide rental 20 yuan/unit Or hire a tour guide (about 10 people per group, 30-50 yuan/tour) ⏰ Opening Hours: Peak season (April-October): 8:00-17:30 Off-season: Entry stops at 17:00 Currently, night tours are suspended, and only daytime visits are available. 🗺️ Core Tour Route 👣 Recommended route: Dashimen Entrance → West Hill Grottoes (Fengxian Temple → Guyang Cave → Binyang Three Caves → Wanfo Cave) → Manshui Bridge to East Hill Grottoes (Kanjing Temple → Thousand-Hand Guanyin Shrine) → Xiangshan Temple → Bai Garden → Exit. If time is limited, you can just visit the West Hill Grottoes. Visitors have reported that there aren't many highlights on the East Hill Grottoes, but you can visit if you have time. 🌟 Must-See Attractions 🔵 The Lushena Grand Buddha: The iconic statue of the Longmen Grottoes, 17.14 meters high, is said to be modeled after Wu Zetian's face. Its smile is known as the "Oriental Mona Lisa." It is recommended to take photos in the early morning or evening when the light is soft. 🔵 Wanfo Cave: There are 15,000 small Buddha statues carved on the north and south sides of the cave, each only 4 cm high. Completed during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, it combines the essence of the four major grotto art styles. 🔵 Binyang Three Caves: Carved by Emperor Xuanwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty for his parents, the main Buddha, Sakyamuni, is 8.4 meters high. The lotus caisson and the relief flying apsaras on the cave ceiling are of great artistic value. 🔵 Guyang Cave (some areas under maintenance): The earliest excavated and most exquisitely carved grotto in Longmen, containing the essence of Wei stele calligraphy, the "Twenty Dragon Gate Inscriptions." 🔵 Xiangshan Temple: The residence of Bai Juyi in his later years. You can overlook the entire Longmen Grottoes from the viewing platform. The "Nine Elders Hall" in the temple commemorates the elegant gathering of Bai Juyi and the Nine Elders of Xiangshan. 🔵 Bai Garden: The location of Bai Juyi's tomb, with a tranquil environment. It features a poetry corridor, a music pavilion, and more, suitable for literature lovers to stroll and contemplate. 📌 Travel Tips: 👟 Wear sneakers (you need to climb stairs) and bring a thermos (it's windy by the Yi River, so keep warm in winter). There are many mosquitoes by the river, so it's recommended not to wear bright-colored clothes, as they will follow you all the way, which is very annoying! 🔥 Avoiding Crowds: During peak season, it is recommended to arrive before 8:00 am or enter after 4:00 pm to avoid peak tour group times. 🧳 Luggage Storage: The visitor center offers free luggage storage for a more relaxed visit. 📸 The East Hill Grottoes are the best spot to take panoramic photos of the Lushena Grand Buddha. A telephoto lens is recommended.