Journey to Luoyang · Ancient Capital for a Thousand Years

Luoyang, nestled in the heart of China along the banks of the Yellow River, is honored as the ‘Capital of Nine Dynasties’ — one of China’s most enduring capitals, with the longest history of imperial rule and the largest number of dynasties in its past. From the dawn of Chinese civilization to the rise and fall of thirteen dynasties, Luoyang has witnessed countless historical changes and carries the cultural soul of the Chinese nation. It was also a key crossroads of both the Silk Road and the Grand Canal of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Strolling through Luoyang feels like walking slowly through the rings of Chinese history.

History & Culture · The Elegance of an Eternal Capital

Luoyang lies at the heart of the Heluo Culture, where Chinese civilization flourished. It was here that three of China’s Four Great Inventions — papermaking, printing, and the compass — came to life, and where Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, and Mohism developed and intertwined, shaping a distinctive intellectual climate.

Known as the ‘cradle of Chinese Buddhism,’ Luoyang’s White Horse Temple was the first government-built Buddhist temple after the religion entered China, dating back over 1,900 years. The Longmen Grottoes, another treasure of Buddhist art, feature thousands of exquisitely carved statues that vividly reflect the evolution of Buddhist sculpture from the Northern Wei to the Tang Dynasty.

The city’s legacy extends beyond religion — Luoyang has been a center for calligraphy, painting, music, and dance for centuries, each art form preserving fragments of its imperial grandeur.

Folk Customs & Local Charm · The Lifestyle Essence of Luoyang

Luoyang locals embody both the openness of the Central Plains and the refined elegance nurtured by millennia of culture. Every spring, the Luoyang Peony Festival draws throngs of visitors to witness the city in full bloom — a tradition immortalized in the saying, ‘Only the peony is the true queen of flowers; when it blooms, the whole capital stirs.’ Temple fairs, book gatherings, traditional ‘Shehuo’ performances, and shadow plays add vibrant life to this ancient capital.

Flavors of Luoyang · The Taste of the Central Plains

• Luoyang Water Banquet – A traditional feast with over 1,000 years of history, featuring 24 dishes, most served in soups or broths, with flavors that are sour, spicy, salty, and savory.

• Beef Soup – A beloved breakfast, simmered with beef bones and spices for hours, yielding a rich, aromatic broth. Best enjoyed with shredded flatbread or crispy baked bread dipped directly into the soup.

• Guotie (Pan-fried Dumplings) – Golden and crisp outside, juicy and flavorful inside.

• Jiang Mian Tiao (Fermented Flour Noodles) – A local specialty with a pleasantly tangy and rich broth.

Landmarks & Timeless Heritage · Historical Treasures Sculpted by Time

• Longmen Grottoes – One of China’s four great grottoes, with 2,345 niches and over 100,000 Buddha statues, ranging from 17.14 meters to just 2 centimeters in height. Each sculpture tells a story etched in stone over a millennium.

• White Horse Temple – China’s first Buddhist temple, blending Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Burmese architectural styles in a unique ‘Four-Nation Temple’ complex.

• Sui-Tang Luoyang City National Heritage Park – Climb the towering Yingtian Gate and step into the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

• Luoyi Ancient City – A preserved Ming and Qing old town with stone-paved streets, red lanterns, and flowing waterways. Rent a Hanfu robe, stroll its lanes, and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a thriving ancient capital.