Longmen Grottoes
龙门石窟
Imperial rock-cut caves carved between the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties, with over 100,000 statues. The smiling face of the Vairocana Buddha represents the peak of Chinese stone sculpture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Longmen Grottoes lie on both banks of the Yi River, 12 km south of downtown Luoyang. The Longmen Mountain (West Hill) and Xiangshan Mountain (East Hill) face each other across the river like a gate. Carving began after Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang and continued for over 400 years through the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Tang and Song dynasties. Today there are more than 2,300 niches and over 100,000 statues. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The core is on the West Hill: the Binyang Three Caves (Northern Wei imperial caves, with the original relief of the emperor and empress making offerings to Buddha), the Wanfo Cave (15,000 small Buddhas) and the Lianhua Cave, as well as Fengxian Temple, home to the Vairocana Buddha, carved at the expense of Empress Wu Zetian. The statue is 17.14 meters tall, with a full face and a faint smile at the corners of its mouth. It is believed to be modeled on Wu Zetian and is the soul of Longmen. On the East Hill are Kanjing Temple and Leigutai, and the view across the river toward Fengxian Temple is a classic shot. Xiangshan Temple and the tomb of Bai Juyi (Bai Garden) are also located on the East Hill. Suggested route: Enter from the North Gate, visit the West Hill (about 2 hours), cross the bridge to the East Hill (about 1 hour), then Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden. The full visit takes about 3–4 hours. Tickets cost RMB 90 (covering both hills, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden) and must be booked in advance through the official WeChat account with real-name registration. Night tours (roughly April to October, after 18:30) are sold separately, and the Buddha lit up at night is especially striking. Take Metro Line 2 to Longmen Avenue Station or a taxi to the site. An electric shuttle runs from the entrance to the caves. Note: Fengxian Temple has many steps, and queues can form at busy times. It is hot and humid by the Yi River in summer, so bring water. A guide or audio guide is strongly recommended.
Opening hours
Peak season 8:00 am–6:00 pm (night tours until 10:00 pm); off-season 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Nearby sights
- Guanlin Temple
- Dingding Gate Site Museum
- Sui-Tang Ruins Botanical Garden
- Luoyang Museum
- China National Flower Garden
- Luopu Park
- Xigong Snack Street
- Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall of Luoyang