CN · Henan · 34.62°N 112.45°E

luoyang

Cliffside Buddhist carvings, peony gardens and old streets busy with soup stalls.

Best time
April for the peonies, and the crowds. May and September–October are comfortable; July–August is hot, and winter is cold and dry.
How long
2 days
Getting there
Fly direct from KL to Zhengzhou (about 5.5 hours), then take the high-speed train to Luoyang Longmen (about 40 minutes). Malaysians can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days.
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CN · Henanluoyang34.62°N 112.45°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Cliffside Buddhist carvings, peony gardens and old streets busy with soup stalls.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLuoyangCN, Henan
KLluoyang
≈ 3,673 km from KL, as the crow flies
Caves of Longmen

Photo: Rialfver Original uploader was Rialfver at nl.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Capital of 13 dynasties on the Yellow River plain. The Longmen Grottoes, with tens of thousands of Buddhas carved into river cliffs, are the big draw, and in April the city fills with peony gardens.

Makan

  1. Beef soupA big bowl of beef broth with flatbread torn into it, Luoyang's breakfast.Map ↗
  2. Water banquetA traditional 24-course meal of soups and saucy dishes.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Longmen GrottoesOver 2,000 caves and niches on both banks of the Yi River, up to the 17-metre Vairocana Buddha.Map ↗
  2. White Horse TempleSaid to be China's first Buddhist temple, founded in 68 AD, with halls built by India, Thailand and Myanmar in its grounds.Map ↗
  3. Shaolin TempleThe kung fu temple on Mount Song, about 1.5 hours away.Map ↗
  4. Lijing Gate and the old townA rebuilt city gate and old streets that fill with food stalls in the evening.Map ↗
  5. Peony gardensWangcheng Park and the National Peony Garden are full of blooms in April.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Many of Luoyang's beef soup shops are run by Hui Muslims and are halal; look for the qingzhen (清真) signs.
  • Luoyang Longmen station is handy for the grottoes but a taxi ride from the old town.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.