Luoyang Travel Guide: Longmen Grottoes, Stay
By China On Arrival Editorial Desk · Checked and updated 2026-09-23 · Research basis: First-hand visit — photographed on location by the site owner
At a glance
Capital of thirteen dynasties: the Longmen Grottoes' riverside Buddhas, the White Horse Temple and April's peony bloom - an easy 36-minute HSR hop from Zhengzhou.
Suggested stay: 2 days · Airports: LYA (Beijiao, few routes) · Train hubs: Luoyang Longmen (HSR, by the grottoes) / Luoyang Station (Line 2)
What is Luoyang known for?
- Longmen Grottoes
- White Horse Temple
- Luoyi Ancient City
What do you eat in Luoyang?
water banquet · beef soup. The 24-course water banquet and morning beef soup.
How do you arrive in Luoyang?
LYA (Beijiao, few routes) handle the international arrivals; Luoyang Longmen (HSR, by the grottoes) is the high-speed rail entry point.
Where should you stay in Luoyang?
Yingtianmen / Sui-Tang ruins is the default first-timer base — first-timers — night-lit ruins and old town. Before paying, check the property's guest policy and, for smaller hotels, confirm the front desk can register a foreign passport — licensing rules still exclude some budget properties. Hotel-by-hotel picks: where to stay in Luoyang →
| Area | Best for | The honest note |
|---|---|---|
| Yingtianmen / Sui-Tang ruins | first-timers — night-lit ruins and old town | the showcase core |
| Luoyi Ancient City / Cross Street | lantern-lit lanes and snacks | photogenic at night |
| Longmen HSR Station | grottoe-first mornings, rail links | 10 min to the gates; 20 min to town |
Area picks are editor research, verified 2026-09-23 — not sponsored placements. Book through the links below to support this site.
How do you get in from the airport?
LYA has few flights - most visitors land at Zhengzhou CGO and take the HSR from Zhengzhou East to Luoyang Longmen, 36-44 min (¥60/about $9). Longmen station sits by the grottoes with Line 2 into town; Luoyang Station serves conventional rail.
Plan your trip around these questions
- 🔍 The 3-day route that never doubles back
- 🔍 Do you even need a visa?
- 🔍 Booking train tickets as a foreigner
- 🔍 Booking train tickets as a foreigner
- 🔍 Which hotels can foreigners book
- 🔍 Paying without a Chinese bank card
Explore the Luoyang guides below, organised around the questions travelers ask before booking.