If you’re interested in Chinese history, stone carving art, or UNESCO world heritage, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, China is worth at least a half-day visit. The first time you come, we recommend spending 3-4 hours at the site, focusing on the West Hill Grottoes before enjoying the panoramic views across Yi River. If you’d also like to tour the East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, and Baiyuan, however, you’ll need at least 4-5 hours.
Highlights of Longmen Grottoes include Binyang Middle Cave, Wanfo Cave, and Fengxian Temple. Visitors who are interested in calligraphy and early Buddhist art can also visit Guyang Cave. Keep in mind that the scenic area has a lot of steps and will require a good amount of walking, though – we suggest focusing on just a few sites if you’re traveling with elders, kids, or anyone with limited mobility.
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- Why are the Longmen Grottoes Worth Visiting?
- What to See at the Longmen Grottoes
- Suggested Longmen Grottoes Visiting Routes
- Longmen Grottoes Tickets, Opening Hours, & Reservation
- How to Get to Longmen Grottoes
- Best Time to Visit Longmen Grottoes
Why are the Longmen Grottoes Worth Visiting?
Located in southern Luoyang, Henan Province, the Longmen Grottoes were first built around 1,500 years ago. With caves and niches carved into the cliffsides along Yi River, the construction went on for hundreds of years. Later, in 2000, the grottoes were officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What you’ll see here is more than the great Buddha statue – it’s the development of ancient art across centuries. The Buddha statues were a lot leaner in the earlier stages than in later works, where they were more round, with stretched-out postures. You’ll notice the difference between the statues in Binyang Middle Cave and Fengxian Temple even if you don’t know much about art or history.
If you’d like to learn about who the statues represent and why they are arranged that way, an English-speaking guide can tell you about the stories behind them – we strongly recommend hiring a professional guide to take your tour beyond just sightseeing and taking photos.
What to See at the Longmen Grottoes
Fengxian Temple: Admire the Vairocana Buddha & Tang-Dynasty Statue Group
Fengxian Temple is the most important Longmen Grottoes attraction for first-timers to visit. There’s a magnificent stone statue group with the Vairocana Buddha in the center and his disciples, Bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, and guardian deities on either side.
After you climb the stairs, you’ll be able to see the layout of the temple. We also suggest taking another look at the calm expression of the Buddha and how the guardian deities are portrayed with strength – there are a lot of details that you may miss if you just take a quick picture and move on.
Binyang Middle Cave: Learn about Northern Wei Dynasty Statue Art
Binyang Middle Cave is the best location to learn about the early carvings of Longmen Grottoes. The statues depicted here are thinner than those in Fengxian Temple, and you’ll see clear differences in the proportions of the figures, the details of their clothes, and their facial expressions.
While there’s no need to learn the names of all of the statues, we strongly suggest you take time to observe their postures and details.
Wanfo Cave: Observe the Miniature Figures in the Walls
The highlight of Wanfo Cave is the closely arranged group of smaller figures. Compared to the large statue group of Fengxian Temple, they have more impressive details of carving.
Guyang Cave: Marvel at Sculptures and Calligraphy from 1,500 Years Ago
Guyang Cave was one of the earliest caves of Longmen Grottoes. Here, you can see statues from almost 1,500 years ago as well as inscriptions carved into the stone that record why the statues and dedications were made. It’s particularly worth visiting if you’re interested in calligraphy or history.
Yi River East Bank: Panoramic View of the West Hill Grottoes
After visiting the West Hill, cross the bridge to the eastern bank of Yi River, where you’ll be able to see Fengxian Temple and the grottoes on the cliffs. This is a great photography spot for a panoramic shot of the cliffs, Buddha statues, and the river.
If you have time to spare, we also suggest visiting the East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, and Baiyuan. Baiyuan is associated with the Tang-Dynasty poet Bai Juyi, making it a great spot for visitors interested in ancient Chinese literature.
Suggested Longmen Grottoes Visiting Routes
Classic Half-Day Visit: 3-4 Hours
- West Hill Grottoes entrance – Binyang Middle Cave – Wanfo Cave – Fengxian Temple – Guyang Cave – Sightseeing on eastern bank of Yi River across the bridge – Leaving the scenic area
This Longmen Grottoes visiting route covers the site’s major highlights, so it’s a great option for first-time travelers. The estimated visit time includes time for walking, photography, and short breaks. Keep in mind, though, that if you’re visiting during holidays, queues or more detailed guided tours may take extra time.
In-Depth Tour: 4-5 Hours or More
- West Hill Grottoes and Yi River sightseeing from half-day tour – East Hill Grottoes – Sightseeing along the river – Xiangshan Temple – Baiyuan
This route is suitable for visitors who want to learn more about Chinese Buddhist art and the history of Luoyang. After touring the West Hill, you can continue or end your visit depending on the time and how you feel.
The scenic area’s entrance and exit may be subject to change, so be sure to refer to the map within the attraction on the day of your visit. When you arrange your transportation, make sure you confirm your location for pickup and dropoff with your driver beforehand.
Should I Take a Day Tour or Night Tour of the Longmen Grottoes?
In short…
- Day tours: Better for seeing the details in the facial expression and clothes of the statues.
- Night tours: Better for seeing the grottoes lit up and the gorgeous river views
When night falls, the statues of Fengxian Temple and the outline of the cliffs are lit up, the light reflecting in the Yi River. Standing at the Lifo Terrace of East Hill, you’ll be able to see the entirety of the grottoes from across the river, including the statues, cliffs, and water.
Longmen Grottoes night tours are not always available throughout the year, though. Please confirm the dates, scenic spots, and tickets with your travel consultant. If there’s the option for continuing your day tour into the night on the day of your visit, you can tour the main caves at West Hill in the afternoon, then wait for sunset to visit the eastern bank and enjoy the night views.
Additionally, if you’re catching a high-speed train after your night tour, make sure you double check your travel information and plan time for leaving the scenic area and getting to the railway station.
Longmen Grottoes Tickets, Opening Hours, & Reservation
Longmen Grottoes Tickets
The adult ticket price for day visits to Longmen Grottoes is ¥90, including entry to West Hill Grottoes, East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, and Baiyuan. There’s also a separate ¥20 fee for the shuttle service. Other optional expenses include a Yi River cruise ride and a scenic area guide.
Longmen Grottoes Daytime Opening Hours
Season |
Opening Hours |
Ticket Sales End |
Admission Ends |
Visiting Time Ends |
March 1st to October 31st |
08:00 |
17:30 |
18:00 |
19:00 |
November 1st to End of Next February |
08:00 |
16:30 |
17:00 |
18:00 |
We suggest spending 3-4 hours at Longmen Grottoes and arriving so that you can finish your tour before the visiting time ends. If you arrive close to the time of last admission, you may not have enough time for your visit.
How to Book Tickets as a Foreign Traveler
International travelers may encounter difficulties navigating the official webpage in Chinese, filling out your passport information, or making payments online. Here at China Xian Tour, we can help you with booking and save you a lot of trouble with communication and logistics.
Just contact us and let us know your travel date and party size. We’ll then follow up to get the information needed for booking the tickets, so all you have to do is remember to bring your physical passport with you on the day of your visit – not a copy or photo.
How to Get to Longmen Grottoes
Luoyang Longmen Railway Station to Longmen Grottoes
Luoyang Longmen Railway Station is the most convenient station to arrive in if you plan to visit the Longmen Grottoes. From there, it takes about 10 minutes by taxi to get to the scenic area, so you can plan 15-30 minutes for transportation, longer if there’s traffic. The estimated time does not include wait time for your ride or the walk to the admission office.
If you’re using other forms of transportation, keep in mind that even if there’s “Longmen” in the name of the station, it does not mean that you’ll be right at the entrance to the scenic area.
Luoyang City Center to Longmen Grottoes
Traveling from Luoyang’s city center to the Longmen Grottoes takes about 30-50 minutes by car. The specific time depends on the location of your hotel, which entrance you take to the scenic area, and the traffic. When you book your ride, we recommend providing the name of your hotel and the entrance you plan to take, as well as confirming your pickup time.
Xian to the Longmen Grottoes
A high-speed train from Xian North Railway Station to Luoyang Longmen Railway Station takes around 1.5-2 hours – for specifics, refer to the actual travel time of your chosen service. If you’re taking a day trip from Xian to the Longmen Grottoes and plan to return on the same day, take into account transportation in both cities, wait time for the train, going through security, and walking time in the scenic area.
Travel from Xi'an to Luoyang by high-speed train and spend the day exploring the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes, home to thousands of Buddhist cliff carvings, before visiting the legendary Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Chinese kung fu.
How to Use the Scenic Area Shuttle Service
From some of the site’s visitor centers, it takes 20-25 minutes to walk to the admission office. To save time, you can take a shuttle instead, though keep in mind that it’s not available for travelling between caves and won’t help you avoid all the stairs in the scenic area.
Should You Take a Yi River Cruise Ride?
A Yi River cruise is another experience at the Longmen Grottoes. It’s a great option for a change of perspective as it lets you see panoramic views of the statues, cliffs, and river. The cruise experience is not included in the admission ticket of Longmen Grottoes. If you’re interested, let us know beforehand and we’ll fit it into your itinerary plan.
Itinerary Plans Nearby Longmen Grottoes
If you’re planning for accommodation, transportation, and other attractions near Longmen Grottoes, you can read our Luoyang Travel Guide.
With 1 day: Tour the Longmen Grottoes in the morning. Depending on your interests, visit Luoyang Museum or White Horse Temple in the afternoon. You can also explore the ancient city at night if you have the energy. Check the opening days and reservation requirements of the museum beforehand. If you arrive in Luoyang relatively late in the day, you can focus on just the Longmen Grottoes and an evening walk.
With 2 days: Spend one day on Longmen Grottoes and Luoyang city attractions. Then, take a day trip to Shaolin Temple on the other day.
Witness an authentic Shaolin Kung Fu performance at the legendary temple, then explore Longmen Grottoes' tens of thousands of exquisite Buddha stone carvings.
Best Time to Visit Longmen Grottoes
The best times to visit Longmen Grottoes are April to May and September to October, as the temperature is more suitable for outdoor exploration and walking.
April to May: Luoyang’s peony season. However, April, the peak tourist season for seeing the blossoms, and Labor Day, a holiday in the first week of May, tend to see an influx of visitors, so we recommend booking your tickets and accommodation in advance.
September to October: Take your time to tour the caves and enjoy the riverside view in good weather. Just try not to visit during the National Day holiday in the first week of October to avoid crowds.
Summer months: Get to the scenic area as early as possible to avoid the mid-day heat. If you’d like to see the night view, communicate with your travel consultant and make sure the scenic area is open for night tours.
Winter months: It tends to get cold by the river and the opening hours are shorter. Stay warm and try to arrive early.
Plan Your Visit to Longmen Grottoes
Would you rather get an up-close view of the Great Vairocana Buddha statue or the shining grottoes, lit-up on a night tour? Maybe both? Well, whatever you’re looking for, we can make a personalized itinerary combining Longmen Grottoes with other Luoyang attractions according to your interests, travel style, and time. We’ll also arrange English-speaking tour guides, personal transfer service, and attraction booking so you can spend less time planning and more time on enjoying the journey.
Read about our Best Luoyang Tours to see if there’s any that suit your needs. Otherwise, contact us for a customized itinerary.
2-Day Beijing to Luoyang Tour: Longmen Grottoes & Shaolin Kung Fu
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