Luoyang is an ancient city that I decided to visit. I was interested in seeing the Longmen Grottoes and the Shaolin Temple. It is recognized as Chinese civilization's cradle because it was the capital of 13 dynasties that spanned different epochs.
If you are planning to visit Luoyang, read on.
Guide
I looked for the cheapest possible route that will take me from Beijing to Luoyang. The first leg was Beijing to Zhengzhou with a hard seat ticket, the second leg was a standing ticket from Zhengzhou to Luoyang. I had to stand by the door for an hour before arriving at my final stop. I went straight to the hostel and planned my itinerary for the next day.
Things to Do
Longmen Grottoes
The Longmen Grottoes is one of famous places in the country that contains stone inscriptions. The emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty had the caves built during his reign. Subsequent dynasties added to it over the centuries up to the Northern Song Dynasty. The details of the inscriptions were striking. These depicted anything from religious life to daily routines. It could take half a day to admire and read about the different inscriptions. There are also other places of interest you can visit, but I only went for the grottoes. This destination is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entrance fee: CNY90
How to go: Bus 99 will take you to the grottoes, it is the last stop.
Shaolin Temple
Another ancient site I wanted to see during my trip was the Shaolin Temple. The temple complex has a history that dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty. You'll find living quarters, halls, caves and monasteries where shaolins live, meditate and practice their religion.
The pagoda forest is one of the attractions you can visit. It is a graveyard of Buddhist dignitaries FYI.
You'll also find ancient temples if you follow the trails.
One of the highlights of my trip was the performance at the Wushu Training Center. Kids and teenagers displayed their skill in martial arts.
Entrance fee: CNY80 (includes the shaolin performance and fees for other attractions within the complex)
How to go: There's a bus from Jinyuan Bus Station that passes by the Shaolin Temple. Just tell the conductor you'll alight at the temple. Get their phone number for the ride back.
Before I left, I decided to drop by the city's old town. It was nice and atmospheric; I felt like I was teleported to a different era. The traditional houses and shops evoked a sense of nostalgia for a bygone epoch.
How to go: Bus 9 takes you to the old city.
Other places you might want to visit while in Luoyang
- Song Mountain
- Luoyang Museum
- White Horse Temple
- White Cloud Mountain
I stayed in Heartland Hostel, the location was OK. The biggest advantage was that just outside of it is a bus stop and a handful of mini-restaurants. The dorm bed was really affordable too. They had a nice, homey common area to hang out in as well. There are other accommodations in the city which fit your budget, whether you want to save or splurge.
Getting Around
The main sites in Luoyang are a bus ride away from the city center and Luoyang Train Station. There are many buses that go around the city, the route is easy to navigate because Luoyang isn't a big city. Bus fare is cheap too, somewhere around CNY1-CNY3 depending on your stop. I walked most of the time as well.
How to Go
There are regular and bullet trains traveling from Beijing to Luoyang, you have plenty of options depending on your budget and how much time you have. You can book via www.trip.com.
Suggested Next Destinations
Beijing
China's capital is an interesting city with a mix of old and new. This can be your base to visit famous attractions such as the Bird's Nest, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven just to name some.
Read my post:budget and itinerary for Beijing
Suzhou
Suzhou is a possible addition to your itinerary after Luoyang. This city has an extensive network of canals that pass through traditional homes and shops. It is also famous for the many classical Chinese gardens listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Read my post:budget and itinerary for Suzhou
Hangzhou
You can go directly to Hangzhou by train from Luoyang. It has beautiful traditional areas and water towns nearby. One of its main attractions is the UNESCO-listed West Lake.
Wuyishan
This destination provides scenic overlooking views of the river and surrounding mountains. I enjoyed exploring this park for two days.
Read my post:budget and itinerary for Wuyishan
Expenses
Here's an expenses guide budget and itinerary for Luoyang.
*Everything's in Chinese Yuan
93 - Beijing West Train Station to Zhengzhou (hard seat ticket)
19.5 - Zhengzhou to Luoyang (standing ticket, I had no choice)
206 - Food and drinks
47 - Transportation
70 - 2 nights in Heartland Hostel
19 - Bus to Shaolin Temple
20 - Return bus to Luoyang
80 - Entrance to Shaolin Temple
90 - Entrance to Longmen Grottoes
245.5 - Luoyang to Hangzhou (hard sleeper ticket)
890 - Total
