Luoyang｜In the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, collide fully with the flourishing Tang Dynasty

Luoyang｜In the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, collide fully with the flourishing Tang Dynasty🏮

“If you ask about the rise and fall of ancient and modern times, please just look at Luoyang city.” This ancient capital, steeped in three thousand years of history, holds the marks of dynasties in every brick and tile. When the morning bell breaks through the mist, and the peonies dye the spring light, why not follow this guide to unlock the poetry and depth of Luoyang?

🌿 Must-visit time-space fragments

- Longmen Grottoes: The epic of stone carving art by the Yi River. The smile of the Vairocana Buddha transcends a thousand years, the grottoes glow with a gentle blue-gray in the morning light, and at sunset, the light and shadow in the Buddha niches seem to tell stories of reincarnation.
- White Horse Temple: China’s first government-established temple. Red walls reflect the ginkgo trees, incense curls hide Sanskrit chants, and the Buddhist halls in Indian and Thai styles blend with traditional Chinese temples, like a cross-border dialogue of faith.
- Yingtian Gate & Ming Tang: The skyline of the flourishing Tang Dynasty. When night falls, the light show at Yingtian Gate turns the blue bricks into molten gold. Standing in the center of the Ming Tang ruins, you can almost hear the jade chimes from Empress Wu Zetian’s court meetings.
- Laojun Mountain: The Taoist immortal mountain in the sea of clouds. The golden summit appears and disappears in the clouds, fallen leaves on the winding mountain road form a golden carpet, and after winter snow, it looks like a glass world, with the air carrying a crisp Zen feeling.
- Luoyi Ancient City: Thousand-year-old streets lit by lanterns. The bluestone paths wind through, red lanterns hang under flying eaves, and at dusk, smoke and mist blend, making you feel as if you’ve stepped into a corner of the “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” painting.

📜 Three-day travel itinerary

- Day 1: Longmen Grottoes (morning) → Guanlin Temple (afternoon, experience the loyalty of the Three Kingdoms) → Yingtian Gate light show (night)
- Day 2: White Horse Temple (morning) → Luoyang Museum (afternoon, admire the dazzling Tang Sancai) → Luoyi Ancient City night tour
- Day 3: Laojun Mountain day trip (recommended early start, take the cable car up and hike to see the sea of clouds, return in the evening)

🍜 Taste of Luoyang

- Beef soup/Lamb soup: The morning bustle rises from the soup shops, with snowy white broth and crispy pancake strips, sprinkled with scallions, warmth spreads from the stomach.
- Water Banquet: Peony and swallow’s nest dishes are a must-order, radish carved into peony shapes served with broth, the sour, spicy, and fresh flavors hide cleverness.
- Fermented noodle soup: The homey taste of old Luoyang, sour fermented noodles served with peanuts and celery, refreshing and cleansing the palate.
- Plum blossom cake: A sweet treat at the gate of Luoyi Ancient City, crispy on the outside, soft and glutinous inside, topped with small glutinous rice balls like falling snow.

🚌 Transportation and accommodation tips

- The high-speed train to Luoyang Longmen Station is the most convenient, and metro lines 1 and 2 cover major attractions in the city.
- Stay near the old city or Luoyi Ancient City, within walking distance to the night market, and you can enjoy authentic soup shops in the early morning.
- For Laojun Mountain, self-driving or booking a day tour is recommended, as the mountain roads are steep; wear comfortable sports shoes.

Standing at the highest point of Ming Tang, watching the sunset dye Luoyang city honey-golden, you suddenly understand why the ancients always called it the “Divine Capital.” The wind here carries the scent of peonies, the rain the coolness of the grottoes, and even a bowl of soup holds the fire of a thousand years.

Come to Luoyang, let the glaze colors of Tang Sancai brighten your eyes, let the temple bells dispel your worries, and in the folds of time, pick a piece of your own flourishing Tang moonlight.