The most cost-effective guide to visiting Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang is here!||
||. One of China's four major grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, is located in the southern suburbs of Luoyang, Henan Province, China. It is situated on the cliffs of Longmen Mountain and Xiangshan Mountain on both sides of the Yi River. The grottoes here were mainly excavated over a period of more than 400 years from the Northern Wei to the Northern Song dynasties. To this day, there are still more than 2,100 niches (or wall niches) with over 100,000 Buddha statues and more than 3,600 inscriptions. Most of these are located on the west bank of the Yi River. The excavation of the Longmen Grottoes spanned multiple dynasties, beginning in the Northern Wei period under Emperor Xiaowen, flourishing in the Tang Dynasty, and concluding at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Currently, there are 2,345 existing niches and over 110,000 statues.
✅ About tickets 🎫: Day tickets and night tour tickets (both are 90 per person)
⚠️ PS: Recently, in summer, it is recommended to buy tickets for around 5 PM, so you can see both the daytime and nighttime illuminated scenery. Especially for those who come specifically to check in, you will definitely see more and not miss out!
⚠️ Differences between day and night tours:
❤️ During the day, you can see: Xishan Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, Bai Garden (Bai Juyi's cemetery)
‼️ At night, you can see: Xishan Grottoes and Xiangji Temple, but you can see the illuminated effect of the grottoes from the opposite Lifo Terrace, which is truly stunning!
✅ Tour route: Northwest Service Area (this is the closest) → Enter the scenic area → Xishan Grottoes (this is where everyone takes photos and checks in online) → Cross the submerged bridge (note that the scenic area is a one-way tour, once you exit, you can't re-enter) → Lifo Terrace (wait for the lights to turn on, around 7:20 PM) → Take the electric car back to the Northwest Service Area (it's about 700 meters to the entrance)
⚠️ Notes: The Xishan area is where everyone will definitely stay the longest because many people want to take photos. Specifically, there are Binyang Cave, Wanfo Cave, Lianhua Cave, and Fengxian Temple. When taking photos, be sure to find multiple angles. Use a wide-angle lens for full-body shots, or use a value of around 3 for half-body shots near the railing!
❤️ The lights turn on around 7:20 PM. Wait a little longer until it's completely dark for a better viewing experience.
✅ Travel tips:
Shoes: Make sure they are comfortable, preferably sports shoes, as there is quite a bit of walking!
Clothes: Black, white, and red all look good in photos, or if you have time, you can dress up for the occasion.
Transportation: There are direct buses (10 yuan per person) from Luoyi Ancient City, White Horse Temple, Yingtian Gate, and Luoyang Longmen High-Speed Railway Station. After watching the lights at Lifo Terrace at night, be sure to buy electric car tickets quickly, as there are many people and you will need to queue. Around 8 PM, there are also buses (5 yuan per person) from the Northwest Service Area to downtown attractions.
❤️ No matter where you travel, always pay attention to safety! Go out happily and return home safely!