Henan Luoyang Longmen Grottoes + Laojun Mountain + Shaolin Temple · 5 days

independent sightseeing options Recommendation: Luoyi Ancient City

The Longmen Grottoes (simplified Chinese: 龙门石窟; traditional Chinese: 龍門石窟; pinyin: Lóngmén Shíkū; lit. ‘Dragon’s Gate Grottoes’) or Longmen Caves are some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. Housing tens of thousands of statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and his disciples, they are located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of present-day Luoyang in Henan province, China. The images, many once painted, were carved as outside rock reliefs and inside artificial caves excavated from the limestone cliffs of the Xiangshan (香山) and Longmenshan, running east and west. The Yi River (Chinese: 伊河) flows northward between them and the area used to be called Yique (伊阙; ‘The Gate of the Yi River’). The alternative name of “Dragon’s Gate Grottoes” derives from the resemblance of the two hills that check the flow of the Yi River to the typical “Chinese gate towers” that once marked the entrance to Luoyang from the south.There are as many as 100,000 statues within the 2,345 caves, ranging from 1 inch (25 mm) to 57 feet (17 m) in height. The area also contains nearly 2,500 stelae and inscriptions, hence the name “Forest of Ancient Stelae”, as well as over sixty Buddhist pagodas. Situated in a scenic natural environment, the caves were dug from a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) stretch of cliff running along both banks of the river. 30% date from the Northern Wei and 60% from the Tang dynasty, caves from other periods accounting for less than 10% of the total. Starting with the Northern Wei dynasty in 493 AD, patrons and donors included emperors, Wu Zetian, members of the royal family, other rich families, generals, and religious groups. Planning note: Shaolin and Longmen are in different places. For a meaningful visit, separate them into two days or choose one; fit the confirmed Longmen entry slot around your transport.^[6]

In 2000 the site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity,” for its perfection of an art form, and for its encapsulation of the cultural sophistication of Tang China.

Mount Laojun (also called Jingshi Mountain 景室山) is a mountain in Henan Province, China. Planning note: Do not pay for non-refundable transport to Laojun until foreign-visitor access and the exact cableway/entrance arrangements have been confirmed. If access cannot be confirmed, use a Luoyang city day instead.

Along with the Jiguan Cave, the mountain forms part of a tourist scenic area that is rated as AAAAA, the highest category in the tourist rating system. Historically, the mountain was a retreat for Laozi, the founder of Taoism.

White Horse Temple (Chinese: 白馬寺) is a Buddhist temple in Luoyang, Henan that, according to tradition, is the first Buddhist temple in China, having been first established in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han dynasty.

The site is just outside the walls of the ancient Eastern Han capital, some 12–13 kilometres (7.5–8.1 mi) east of Luoyang in Henan Province. The temple, although small in comparison to many others in China, is considered by most believers as “the cradle of Chinese Buddhism”. The geographical landmarks to the south are Manghan mountain and Lucoche River.

The main temple buildings, a large complex, were reconstructed during the Ming (1368 to 1644) and Qing (1644 to 1912) dynasties. They were refurbished in the 1950s, and again in March 1973 after the Cultural Revolution. It has numerous halls divided by courtyards and manicured gardens, covering an area of about 13 hectares (32 acres). The display plaques in Chinese and English give ample descriptions of the Buddhist deities installed in the halls. Significant statues include Śākyamuni Buddha, Maitreya (the laughing Buddha in China), Amitābha, the Jade Buddha, Bodhisattvas such as Guanyin, and arhats and stone statues of the two white horses which brought the Indian monks to China and two mythical lions at the entrance. Under international funding, the temple has undergone many changes, both structurally and internally. A cooperative project with India was completed in 2008 when the Sanchi Stupa and the Sarnath Buddha statue were erected.

Luoyang Museum is a history museum in Luoyang, Henan. Its collections introduce the cultural heritage of a city that served as a capital during several dynasties, including the Eastern Zhou and Eastern Han.

The museum was founded in 1958 and has moved during its history. Its collections include objects recovered from archaeological sites around Luoyang, including palace and temple remains, and trace the region from prehistoric cultures through later dynasties. Use the museum’s current visitor information for the address and reservations rather than its former locations.