Journey Through Millennia of Stone Carving Art, Encounter the Splendor of Luoyang in Spring

I. Scenic Spot Highlights at a Glance 1. World Cultural Heritage: The foremost of China's four major grottoes, with 2,345 existing Buddhist niches and over 100,000 statues, showcasing the peak of stone carving art from the Northern Wei to the Tang and Song Dynasties. 2. Four Core Scenic Spots: - West Hill Grottoes: The Lushena Giant Buddha (Fengxian Temple), the Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave, and the Binyang Three Caves, a cluster of royal grottoes. - East Hill Grottoes: The Kanjing Temple (a special grotto featuring Tang Dynasty Arhat reliefs) and the Leigutai Three Caves. - Xiangshan Temple: The Qianlong Imperial Stele Pavilion, the Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling Villa, and a panoramic view of the Yi River Valley. - Bai Garden: The tomb of Bai Juyi, a poet's gallery, and a tranquil retreat in the Qinggu District. 3. Immersive Experiences: The "Lanterns at Longmen" night tour (open until 9:00 pm from April 2025), VR grotto restoration, and XR digital art exhibitions. --- II. Recommended Itineraries 📅 One-Day Highlights Tour - Morning: West Hill Grottoes (Lushena Giant Buddha, Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave) → East Hill Grottoes (Kanjing Temple) → Xiangshan Temple - Afternoon: Bai Garden (Poet's Gallery, Pipa Peak) → Yi River Cruise (panoramic view from the Worship Platform) - Evening: Longmen Ancient Street night tour, savor the Water Banquet and local snacks, and experience the "Lanterns at Longmen" light show. 👨👩👧 Family/Parent-Child Tour - Stroll through the pine forest → Binyang Middle Cave (interactive light and shadow display) → Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave (educational exhibit on 15,000 small Buddha statues) → Group photo at the Worship Platform → Bai Garden Poet's Gallery (interactive poetry games). 🎨 Calligraphy and Culture Tour - Binyang Middle Cave (Yi Que Buddhist Niche Stele) → Guyang Cave (Longmen Twenty Inscriptions) → Xiangshan Temple (Qianlong Imperial Stele) → Bai Garden Poet's Gallery (Bai Juyi poetry rubbing experience). --- III. Practical Information Guide 🚗 Transportation - Main Transportation: 10-minute taxi ride from Luoyang Longmen Station (high-speed rail station); 30-minute taxi ride from Luoyang Beijiao Airport. - Within the Scenic Area: - Electric Shuttle Bus: From the Northeast/Northwest Service Area to the ticket gate, CNY 10/person for a one-way trip. - Cruise: From Fengxian Temple Pier to Bai Garden, enjoy a boat ride on the Yi River and admire the grottoes on both banks. 🕒 Opening Hours (Updated April 2025) - Daytime: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm (last ticket entry at 5:30 pm). - Night Tour: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm ("Lanterns at Longmen" light show). - Park Closure: 9:00 pm. 🎫 Tickets - Full Price: CNY 90/person; Half Price: CNY 45/person (students, seniors, etc.). - Special Grotto Reservation: Kanjing Temple requires advance online booking (available from April 2025). --- IV. Food and Accommodation 🍜 Must-Try Cuisine - Luoyang Water Banquet: "Shui Xi Yuan" on Longmen Ancient Street, "Zhen Bu Tong Restaurant" in the old town (recommended: Peony Swallow's Nest, Continuous Soup with Sliced Meat). - Local Snacks: Longmen Sandan Mutton Soup, Nanguan Small Bowl Soup, Hu La Soup, Guo Tie (fried dumplings). - Leisurely Tea Break: Xiangshan Tea House in Bai Garden, cafes on Longmen Ancient Street. 🏨 Accommodation Recommendations - High-end: Dongshan Hotel (garden-style, walking distance to the scenic area), high-end guesthouses on Longmen Ancient Street (Hua Zhu Luxury). - Cost-effective: Longmen Grottoes Yuelai Inn (inside the ancient street), Yishui Hotel (next to the Northeast Service Area). --- V. Tips and Avoiding Pitfalls 1. Guide Service: The scenic area offers human guides (approx. CNY 200/group) or scannable "Smart Longmen" audio guides. 2. Photography Taboos: Do not use flash photography, and avoid wearing yellow clothing (attracts bees). 3. Safety Tips: The grotto area can be slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. Kanjing Temple has limited capacity, so allow ample time. 4. Anti-Scam Guide: Be cautious of "low-price guides" outside the scenic area. Park in the official parking lot (Northeast/Northwest Service Area). --- VI. Recommended Nearby Attractions - White Horse Temple: China's first ancient temple, explore Buddhist halls in Indian and Burmese styles (15 km from Longmen). - Sui and Tang Luoyang City: Yingtian Gate, Jiuzhou Pond night view, experience the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty (10 km from Longmen). - Luoyi Ancient City: Hanfu experience + night photography, immerse yourself in a journey through millennia. --- 🌸 April-Exclusive Experiences - Peony Culture Festival: The peony garden on Longmen East Hill is in full bloom, perfect for photos with the Lushena Giant Buddha. - Spring-Exclusive Activities: The "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" themed restaurant inside the scenic area offers a Peony Banquet, paired with grotto-themed cultural and creative products. --- 📌 Call to Action "April peonies reflect the Buddha's light, the Zen of the Yi River accompanies your journey. Longmen Grottoes awaits your dialogue across millennia!" Book your tickets now and start your Longmen journey!