How to Plan a Luoyang Tour: Ultimate Planner to the Ancient Capital of China

Written by Natalia | Updated January 20,2026

You must have heard of the city of Luoyang if you’re a fan of Chinese history. It is one of the four ancient capitals of China alongside Beijing, Xi’an, and Nanjing. Its history dates back to over 4,000 years ago. Emperors of 13 dynasties settled their court here as the imperial capital. The city saw its golden age in Han Dynasty, and served as the starting point of the earliest Silk Road.

Thanks to its ancient history and rich culture, lots of people travel to Luoyang in Henan Province to see the historical sites and retrace the country’s heritage. This article is here to help you plan a Luoyang tour. We will discuss what to do in Luoyang, the city’s transportation, weather, itinerary suggestions, and other practical travel tips.

Content Preview

• Why Visit Luoyang?
• What to See in Luoyang?
• How to Get to Luoyang?
• How to Get Around in Luoyang?
• Best Time to Visit Luoyang
• What to Eat in Luoyang?
• Where to Stay in Luoyang?
• What Souvenirs to Buy in Luoyang?/a>
• How Many Days Do You Need in Luoyang?/a>
• Ideas to Extend Your Luoyang Tour
• Plan Your Luoyang Trip with China Xian Tour

Why Visit Luoyang?

• Ancienthistory: Luoyang is most famous for its history as the country’s capital city. In fact, it was one of the earliest capitals of China. Many historical sites have been around for a long time. You can also learn much about the city at museums.
• Silk Road heritage: Luoyang is an important hub along the historical Silk Road of China. When the road first channeled China and the west of the continent, Luoyang was the eastern end. You can still see proofs of the city at its peak during Han Dynasty and many Buddhist influences from the west.
• Thecity of peony: Peony is the city flower of Luoyang. There’s a long history of peony plantation in the city. There are as many as 16 peony gardens in Luoyang.

What to See in Luoyang?

Longmen Grottoes

• Location: 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of downtown Luoyang
• Opening hours: from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm (April to October) and from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (November to March)
• Tickets: CNY 100 per person (April to October) and CNY 80 per person (November to March)
• Recommended visit time: about 3 hours
• Highlights: Buddhist stone carvings, ancient Chinese art and culture

Longmen Grottoes were built upon the cliffsides of Yi River, with its construction lasting for over 1,000 years. Different dynasties left behind their own touch regarding the status of Buddhism in people’s lives. It is one of the top Buddhist grottoes in China for its long history and impressive number of statues. There are a total of 110,000 stone statues inside its mant grottoes. Many of them will show you the rich history of the Silk Road.

Longmen Grottoes is only about 12.5 km from the downtown area of Luoyang. If you take a taxi, it’ll take about half an hour for CNY 50. From Wangcheng Park Station, you can take Metro Line 1 then transfer to Line 2 to reach the Longmen Grottoes in around 55 minutes.

Recommended tour

1 DAY

Luoyang Highlight Tour: Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple

Explore This Tour

White Horse Temple

• Location: Baima Temple Town, Luolong District
• Opening hours: 7:40 am-6:40 pm (April to October); 8:00 am-5:30 pm (October to March)
• Tickets: CNY 35
• Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours
• Highlights: Buddhist history, architecture

White Horse Temple of Luoyang is a significant Buddhist religious site in China. It was the first Buddhist temple in China built in Eastern Han Dynasty (68 AD). The emperor’s envoys and two Indian monks brought back important Buddhist scriptures to Luoyang carried by a white horse. The temple thus was built in honor of this important exchange.

The temple still houses important Buddhist scriptures and treasures today. You can visit the halls to see traditional temple architecture.

From downtown Luoyang, take metro line No. 1 to Yangwan Station, the last stop of the line. Exist from Exit A, then transfer to Bus No. 5. It’ll take you straight to the temple.

See more famous temples and monasteries in China.

Luoyi Ancient City

• Location: 2 Liulin South Road, Laocheng District
• Opening hours: 9:00 am-10:00 pm
• Tickets: free
• Recommended visit time: 2 hours
• Highlights: traditional architecture, local culture, bustling nightlife

Luoyi Ancient City is a scenic area reconstructed based on what Luoyang looked like back in its golden days. It’s especially busy at night. The traditional styled architecture is lit up by the warm glow of lanterns. Locals put up their stalls at the night market selling all kinds of snacks, street foods, and craftworks. One of the top things to do in Luoyang is to rent a Han costume, put on makeup, and do a photoshoot as you walk down the ancient streets of the city.

Luoyang Museum

• Location: Nietai Road, Luolong District
• Opening hours: 9:00 am-5:00 pm (closed on Mondays)
• Tickets: free
• Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours
• Highlights: historic artifacts on local civilization

Luoyang Museum is a significant museum in China showcasing local history. Heluo civilization of Henan Province and the Yellow River is one of the earliest Chinese civilizations. Many visitors who travel to Henan will make a stop here to learn about its history. It’s easily accessible from downtown Luoyang.

Luoyang Peony Festival & Peony Gardens

Peony is named the King of Flowers in China, and Luoyang is the best city to admire various peony flowers. Every April, the city hosts the Peony Festival that attracts many visitors. The best time of year to see peony in full bloom is usually from mid to late April. Here are some of the most popular peony gardens to visit on your Luoyang tour.

More Attractions Close to Luoyang

How to Get to Luoyang?

By Flight

Luoyang Beijiao Airport is the major airport of the city. This airport operates flights to/from many other major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Kunming. If you’re traveling to Luoyang directly from your home country, it is a good idea to make a transfer in one of those gateway cities and then fly to Luoyang. Here are some travel times from major cities for your reference:

• Luoyang – Shanghai: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Luoyang – Guangzhou: 2.5 hours
• Luoyang – Chongqing: 1 hours 40 minutes
• Luoyang – Kunming: 2 hours 25 minutes

Luoyang Beijiao Airport is about 11 kilometers (6 miles) from the downtown area. There are city buses and shuttle buses that operate between the city center and the airport, but since it’s pretty close, taxis are good options. It usually only costs CNY 20-30 to get to downtown Luoyang from the airport.

If you can’t find one flight from your destination to Luoyang Beijiao Airport, an optional option is to fly to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, which offers more frequent domestic flights and some international flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Seoul. It’s a popular option for people going on a Henan tour.

By High-Speed Rail

The high-speed rail is another great option if you are getting to Luoyang from nearby cities.  Luoyang Longmen Railway Station is for high-speed trains. It is about 8 km from the city center. You can easily take the metro or a taxi. The Luoyang Railway Station currently mainly operated regular train services.

High-speed trains is a fast and convenient way for traveling between nearby cities on your China tour. Here are some popular destinations connected to Luoyang through high-speed trains:

• Luoyang – Beijing: 4 hours
• Luoyang – Shanghai: 5.5 hours
• Luoyang – Xi’an: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Luoyang – Chengdu: 5 hours
• Luoyang – Zhengzhou: 30 minutes
• Luoyang – Guangzhou: 6 hours

How to Get Around in Luoyang?

• Metro: Luoyang has a metro system newly built in 2021. Line No. 1 and 2 are currently in operation connecting major attractions and districts. It’s the cheapest and most convenient way for visitors to get around. Signsand services are available in English.
• City bus: The city bus system of Luoyang is very developed. It covers a lot more of the city with a lot more stops. However, it only has signs in Chinese, and a lot of the times you have to know about the area, where you’re going, to be able to use it.
• Taxi: Taxis are readily available across the entire city especially with on-demand ride-hailing apps like DiDi.
• Public bike: China has a bike-sharing system across the country. You’ll see public bikes on most streets of Luoyang. You can rent one by scanning the QR code on it and pay a small fee.

Best Time to Visit Luoyang

The best time to visit Luoyang is spring, especially from mid-April to early May. The weather is nice and pleasant. The peonies are in full bloom across the city. It’s the most beautiful time of year in Luoyang.

Overall, the weather of Luoyang is temperate with four distinct seasons. Here is a seasonal breakdown.

What to Eat in Luoyang?

Luoyang cuisine has a long history. Many elements are preserved and passed down from the royal style. Luoyang is known as the city of soup because of how many different types of soup that locals love. Dishes have a signature spicy and sour flavor. To go with the soup, there are all kinds of pancakes, dumplings, and noodles. Here are some classic dishes to try in Luoyang.

• Luoyang Water Banquet: This is a culinary tradition from Tang Dynasty. The banquet has 24 classic Luoyang soup dishes in total with all kinds of ingredients and flavors. You can order the ones most appealing to you.
• Beef or mutton soup: Locals like to have a hot beef or mutton soup for breakfast in the morning. It makes a hearty meal with pancakes dipped in it. It’ll warm you right up.
• Hulatang: Also known as pepper soup, Hulatang is probably the most common soup for northern China breakfasts. It is slightly spicy and sour making it a great appetizer.

Where to Stay in Luoyang?

There are in general three areas to stay in in Luoyang, each of which offers a range of accommodation options.

• Near Yingtian Gate/Lijing Gate: you’ll be in the old city area with lots of historic attractions. You’ll have access to the metro system, lots of dining options. You’ll be in the center of old Luoyang local life.
• Near Luoyi Ancient City: This is a busy area right around the attraction. There’ll be night markets, restaurants, and other entertainment options.
• Near Longmen Grottoes: If you are traveling to Luoyang specifically for Longmen Grottoes, it’s a good idea to stay near the scenic area, as it is a little distance away from the city center.

What Souvenirs to Buy in Luoyang?

The best souvenir from Luoyang is Tang Tri-colored glazed pottery (Tang Sancai). It is a traditional craft that primarily uses three colors red, green, and yellow. Locals still carry on the practice from Tang Dynasty, and you can buy them to bring home as great souvenirs or gifts. There are also many peony-themed items from flower tea, pastries, to elegant tea sets. Longmen Grottoes has its own themed souvenirs that are very popular.

There are many local markets where you can do your shopping for a cheap price. Luoyang Old Town Market is great for handicrafts and street snacks. Wangcheng Park Market also has fresh produce sold by local farmers. Both markets are located in the heart of the city. You’ll have fun just browsing through the options.

How Many Days Do You Need in Luoyang?

We recommended planning 2-3 days for your Luoyang tour so you can cover the highlights of the city and get a sense of its local culture. A day tour is also possible, but that means you’ll have to choose only a couple of attractions that really appeal to you. Here are some sample Luoyang itineraries for your reference.

Luoyang 1-Day Itinerary – Best Highlights

Shaolin Temple (watch a Kung Fu show) – Longmen Grottoes – Luoyang Old Street

or

Longmen Grottoes – Luoyang Museum – Guanyu Temple – White Horse Temple

Recommended Luoyang Day Tours:

• Luoyang Highlight Day Tour: Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple
• One Day Luoyang Classic City Tour
• Luoyang Day Tour to Longmen Grottoes from Xi’an to Beijing

Luoyang 2-Day Itinerary – Classic City Tour

Day 1: Luoyang arrival – White Horse Temple – Shaolin Temple

Day 2: Longmen Grottoes – Luoyang departure

Recommended Luoyang 2-Day Tours:

• 2 Days Best Luoyang Tour with Local Experts
• 2-Day Luoyang Layover Tour from Xian to Beijing by Bullet Trains

Ideas to Extend Your Luoyang Tour

Other cities in Henan Province: Henan Province is named the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. Other cities in the province like Dengfeng, Kaifeng, and Zhengzhou also have impressive historical sites. Transportation is made easy with high-speed rail services.

• 6 Days Henan Tour: Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Dengfeng, Luoyang

To Xi’an or Beijing: Luoyang is located in between Beijing and Xi’an, two of the most famous cities of China and two gateway cities. You can easily find international flights to Beijing, then travel to Luoyang and Xi’an by high-speed train. It takes only 4 hours from Beijing to Luoyang, and under 2 hours from Xi’an.

• 7 Days Xian & Luoyang Tour
• 8 Days Beijing Luoyang Xian Cultural Tour

Plan Your Luoyang Trip with China Xian Tour

Go on a Luoyang Trip with China Xian Tour. Let us know where you want to go and your plans, we can customize the ideal itinerary for you. With our professional travel guide and private transfer service, you’ll have little to worry about except to just enjoy yourself.