Stand on the reconstructed ramparts of Lijingmen Gate in the late afternoon and the old city opens out below you: grey tiled rooftops, the line of the moat, and the pedestrian streets running east towards the Wenfeng Pagoda. It is the clearest single view of what Luoyang keeps of its old shape, and it costs nothing to walk through the gate arch at street level.
Luoyang suits travellers who are drawn to dynastic history, Buddhist art and archaeological sites rather than nightlife or shopping. The city spreads out, so plan on buses, the metro and taxis rather than walking between sights. This guide covers the sites named in the source material, grouped so you can pair nearby places in a single outing.
Top things to do in Luoyang
1. Longmen Grottoes
One of the finest Buddhist rock sculptural sites in China and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, cut into the cliffs south of the city. The carvings began under the Northern Wei, and the site is the single strongest reason to come to Luoyang.
It is open from 0800 to 21:00, so a late-afternoon visit lets you finish in cooler air. Take Bus No. 81 from Luoyang Railway Station or Metro Line 2 to Longmen Station. Combine it with Guanlin Temple, which sits on the same bus route.
2. Baima Temple
Revered as China's first officially sanctioned Buddhist temple and one of the oldest in the world, dating back nearly 2,000 years. It has been rebuilt multiple times but keeps its historical and spiritual weight, and it draws many domestic visitors.
The complex also holds an international section with temples donated by Thailand, Burma and India, including a Thai marble vihara and a replica of the Chinnarat Buddha statue, an India Buddha Hall inspired by the Sanchi Stupa, and a Burmese-style hall modelled on Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. It is 12 km east of the city centre; take bus no. 56, 58, 87 or 801. Tickets are normally ¥35 but cost ¥50 on public holidays.
3. Luoyang Museum
The museum holds relics from Luoyang's era as a capital of thirteen dynasties, with an extensive collection of Zhou Dynasty bronzes and Han and Tang Dynasty porcelains, nearly all made and found in the area. The rooms are broad and uncrowded, and the air conditioning makes it a good way to beat the summer heat after the Longmen Caves.
It is open 09:00–17:00 with no entry after 16:30, and closed on Mondays. Take Bus No. 77 or Metro Line 2 to Wenbo Park Station. Entry is free.
4. White Horse Temple
The first Buddhist temple established in China, built in 68 AD during the Eastern Han Dynasty and considered the cradle of Chinese Buddhism. You can see the ancient pagodas and the quiet halls, as well as the neighbouring Indian and Thai style temples.
It is open 09:00–17:00 and entry is ¥35. Take Bus No. 56 from Luoyang Railway Station. Allow time for the neighbouring international temples rather than treating the main halls as the whole visit.
5. Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum
The world's first museum dedicated to ancient tombs, with restored tomb chambers from different dynasties that you enter as underground palaces. It offers an unusual, immersive way to learn about burial customs and art.
It is open 09:00–17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and closed on Mondays. Entry is free, but you need your passport and an advance reservation. Take a bus to Airport Road Station, or a taxi of about 20 minutes from Luoyang Railway Station.
6. Guanlin Temple
This temple commemorates Guan Yu, the great warrior of the Kingdom of Shu and a main character in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms". It is built over the mausoleum that houses the general god's head and contains several halls dedicated to the deified man.
It is open 08:00–18:30 and entry is ¥40. Bus 81 from the train station stops near here before continuing to the Longmen Grottoes, which makes the two easy to pair. Note that the side halls are under construction.
7. Luoyi Ancient City
A cultural tourism area built in the style of an ancient Chinese city, known for its Tang Dynasty-style architecture and its night views. It is a popular place to wear Hanfu, the traditional Chinese clothing, and it includes the Wenfeng Pagoda and the site of the ancient Jin-Yuan city wall.
It is open 09:00–22:30 and entry is free. Come in the evening for the lighting, and reach it via Luoyigucheng metro station.
8. Lijingmen Gate
The grand reconstructed western gate of Luoyang's ancient city, complete with a moat, a barbican and upper-level temples. Climbing the battlements gives you elevated views over the old town rooftops, and the gate arch leads directly into the historic pedestrian market streets.
The gate tower is open 08:30–22:00 while the street level is open around the clock. It is free at street level, with a charge of about ¥45 to climb the ramparts and tower. Take Metro Line 1 to Lijingmen Station (Exit A) and walk five minutes south.
9. Dingding Gate Ruins Museum
Built during the Sui and Tang dynasties when Luoyang was the capital of the Chinese empire, the Dingding Gate was the city's main gate until the Song Dynasty, when it was gradually abandoned. The ruins are housed inside a building complex designed to resemble what the gate may have looked like in its heyday.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00 with no entry after 16:30, and closed on Mondays. Entry is ¥30. Take bus no. 3 or 55; the site is 400 m west of the intersection of Gucheng Road and Longmen Avenue.
10. Duke of Zhou Temple Museum
A memorial temple dedicated to the Duke of Zhou, the statesman and aristocrat who acted as regent of the Zhou Dynasty from 1042 BC to 1035 BC. The temple was commissioned in 618 AD by the Sui Dynasty general Wang Shichong and rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00, and closed on Mondays. Entry is free. It sits about 100 m north of the intersection of Dingding South Road and Kaixuan Road, served by many bus routes including 33, 52, 53, 55 and 81.
11. Eighth Route Army Luoyang Office Museum
The museum occupies a traditional Chinese mansion built in 1831 as the home of a wealthy merchant. Between 1938 and 1942 the mansion served as the Luoyang office of the Eighth Route Army, created from the Red Army when the Communists and Nationalists formed the Second United Front against Japan.
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00, and closed on Mondays. Entry is free. It is at 222 Jiudu East Road, reachable by bus nos. 7, 16, 17, 23, 57, 74, 206 and 980.
12. Luoyang Folk Museum
A museum of local folk life on Xin Street in the old city. It is a short stop rather than a half-day, and it fits naturally into a walk through the Laocheng District streets.
The nearest bus stop is Xin Street and Jiudu East Road, which puts it within easy reach of the Eighth Route Army Luoyang Office Museum on the same road.
13. Laojun Mountain
The main peak of the Funiu Mountain range and a sacred Taoist site where Laozi, the founder of Taoism, is said to have retreated for cultivation. The Golden Summit Taoist complex is built in Ming-Qing imperial palace style and includes Laojun Temple, Wumu Golden Hall, Liangbao Terrace and Yuhuang Summit, along with the "Ten-mile Gallery" and its peak forest landscapes and sea of clouds.
It is open 07:30–18:00. Entry is ¥100 and includes Laojun Mountain, Zhuimeng Valley and Zhaigou; the Level 1 cable car is ¥130 round-trip and the Level 2 cable car ¥80 round-trip. Entry is free for children under 12 and seniors over 60, and half price for students and ages 12–18. It lies in Luanchuan County, so treat it as a full day out from the city: take a bus from Luoyang Railway Station to Luanchuan County and then a taxi of about 30 minutes to the scenic area.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Longmen Grottoes when the site opens at 0800, taking Bus No. 81 or Metro Line 2 to Longmen Station. Give the carvings the best part of the morning, then ride the same bus route back to Guanlin Temple for its halls and mausoleum.
Afternoon: Head to the Luoyang Museum, arriving well before the 16:30 last entry, to see the Zhou bronzes and Han and Tang porcelains. If you have time left before it closes, the Dingding Gate Ruins Museum is open until 17:00 with no entry after 16:30.
Evening: Go to Lijingmen Gate while the gate tower is still open, climb the ramparts for the view over the old town rooftops, then walk through the arch into the pedestrian market streets. Finish at Luoyi Ancient City, which stays open until 22:30, for the Tang-style architecture and night views.
Frequently asked questions
Which day of the week should I avoid for museums?
The Dingding Gate Ruins Museum, the Luoyang Museum, the Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum, the Duke of Zhou Temple Museum and the Eighth Route Army Luoyang Office Museum are all closed on Mondays. Plan those visits for Tuesday to Sunday.
How do I reach the Longmen Grottoes and Baima Temple without a car?
For the Longmen Grottoes, take Bus No. 81 from Luoyang Railway Station or Metro Line 2 to Longmen Station. For Baima Temple, take bus no. 56, 58, 87 or 801; it lies 12 km east of the city centre.
Which sights cost nothing to enter?
The Luoyang Museum, the Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum, Luoyi Ancient City, the Duke of Zhou Temple Museum and the Eighth Route Army Luoyang Office Museum are free. Lijingmen Gate is free at street level, with a charge of about ¥45 to climb the ramparts and tower.
Is Laojun Mountain doable as a day trip from Luoyang?
It is a full day rather than a half day. Take a bus from Luoyang Railway Station to Luanchuan County and then a taxi of about 30 minutes to the scenic area, or take the high-speed train to Luoyang Longmen Station and transfer to a bus to Luanchuan before catching a taxi.
Work out which of these fit your days, check the Monday closures against your dates, and start building your Luoyang itinerary around the Longmen Grottoes.