Getting Around Luoyang
Luoyang sits on the northern bank of the Luo River, and its layout is easy to grasp once you orient yourself around a few landmarks. The main train station lies just north of the town center, with Jinguyuan Lu (金谷园路) connecting the station to Wangcheng Square. Eastward lies the Old Town, while Wangcheng Park marks the west. Transportation inside the city is very convenient, and you have a good spread of options: metro, city buses, taxis, and plenty of walking in the historic core.
Metro
The Luoyang Subway is the quickest way to cross the city, and its two lines are straightforward for visitors to use.
- Line 1 runs through the Old Town, passing several scenic spots along the way.
- Line 2 links the new town with the Old Town, and also connects to Luoyang Longmen high-speed railway station.
If you are arriving by high-speed rail, Line 2 is your link into the center. Hongshan Station (红山站) is the starting point for Line 1, and Gushui Station (谷水站) sits on the south side of the Zhongzhou and Xihuan Road intersection, forming a key part of the planned Gushui integrated transportation hub.
Buses
City buses are the convenient and affordable way to travel in Luoyang, and they offer beautiful scenery all around the city. There are two kinds of city buses, costing ¥1 or ¥1.5 per ride. For most short hops around the center, a bus is a cheap and simple choice.
Several routes are useful for specific connections:
- Bus No. 5, 48, or 81 run from downtown Luoyang to Luoyang Station.
- The same routes (5, 48, 81) also serve Luoyang Bus Station; alternatively, take Metro Line 2 to Luoyang Railway Station and walk about 10 minutes.
- Bus No. 71, 75, or 76 reach Luoyang Longmen Station.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful and metered. The basic fare is ¥8.00, with ¥1.70 per vehicle per kilometre (effective 1 March 2022). For shorter trips within the center, a taxi is a reasonably priced option, and it is often the easiest way to reach a specific address when you are carrying luggage or traveling late at night.
Walkability
Luoyang rewards walking, especially in the Old Town east of the center, where the metro's Line 1 puts several scenic spots within reach. Wangcheng Square, at the heart of the city, and Wangcheng Park to the west are both pleasant on foot. The area around the main train station is compact enough to navigate on foot as well, with Jinguyuan Lu running straight down to Wangcheng Square.
Arriving by Air
Luoyang Beijiao Airport (洛阳北郊机场, LYA) sits about 10 km north of the city center. Flights are available from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and a few other major cities. The airport's contact number is +86 379 62328666.
For a wider choice of destinations, consider Xinzheng Airport in Zhengzhou instead. It has a much better selection of flights and sits on a high-speed rail line, but note that you need to change at Zhengzhou East to reach Luoyang, and it may not be obvious how to do this.
Arriving by Train
Luoyang has two train stations, and which one you use depends on the type of service you are on.
- Luoyang Longmen Station (洛阳龙门站), at Tongqu Road 19 in Luolong District, serves all high-speed trains, including high-speed sleeper services. Reach it via Metro Line 2 to Longmen High-Speed Railway Station, or by bus No. 71, 75, or 76. It operates 06:20–22:50. A direct shuttle bus to the Longmen Grottoes is available outside the station exit.
- Luoyang Station (洛阳站), at Daonan Road 1 in Xigong District, handles all low-speed trains, including most sleepers. It is open 24 hours. Reach it by bus No. 5, 48, or 81 from downtown. Left luggage is available near the exit for ¥10 per bag.
Travel times give a sense of how the city connects to the rest of the country: from Luoyang Longmen, the shortest trip to Beijing West is about 3 hours and 7 minutes, Xi'an takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, Zhengzhou is about 40 minutes away, and Shanghai can be reached in 5 to 6 hours (or 9 hours on the D-class sleeper). From Luoyang Station, low-speed services run roughly 8–11 hours from Beijing, 17 hours from Shanghai, and 24 hours from Guangzhou.
Arriving by Long-Distance Bus
Luoyang has two major bus stations, plus a smaller terminal in the south.
- Luoyang Bus Station (洛阳汽车站) is the main one, across the plaza from Luoyang train station at the corner of Jinguyuan Road and Daonan Road. Reach it by bus No. 5, 48, or 81, or take Metro Line 2 to Luoyang Railway Station and walk about 10 minutes. It serves Anyang (about 4 hours), Guangzhou (about 27 hours), Jinan (about 9 hours), Kaifeng (about 4 hours), Taiyuan (about 8 hours), Xi'an (about 5 hours), Zhengzhou (about 2 hours), and other destinations.
- Luoyang East Long Distance Bus Station (洛阳长途汽车站) serves a similar collection of destinations at similar times and prices, though for most common destinations it has fewer buses.
- Guanlin Bus Terminal (关林汽车站) on Longmen Avenue in Luolong District, in the south, has occasional service, mainly to minor destinations.
Practical Tips
- Keep small change handy for buses, since fares are paid per ride at ¥1 or ¥1.5.
- Use Metro Line 2 if you are connecting between the high-speed rail station and the Old Town.
- If you are heading to the Longmen Grottoes from the high-speed station, look for the direct shuttle bus outside the station exit.
- For a wider range of flights, weigh Zhengzhou's Xinzheng Airport against the convenience of Luoyang Beijiao, and remember the change at Zhengzhou East if you take the rail route.