Luoyang is the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties and also the land of peonies. In three days and two nights, between the grottoes and the sea of flowers, you encounter the glory of a divine capital.
The Vairocana Buddha at Longmen Grottoes is said to have been sculpted after Wu Zetian's face, smiling with compassion and confidence. The caves on both banks of the Yi River are continuous, serving as stone footnotes to the grandeur of the flourishing Tang dynasty.
White Horse Temple is China's oldest temple, where Buddhism spread eastward. The bells between the red-walled ancient pagodas echo far away, and even Indian and Burmese-style Buddhist halls have settled here, resembling a mini-Buddhist United Nations.
In April, the peony festival fills the city with Yao Huang and Wei purple hues, "Luoyang's peonies are the best in the world." Only by being in the sea of flowers can one understand why the ancients "bought bones" and "intoxicated the flowers" for them.
At the night market at Lijingmen and the Old Town Crossroads, the water feast and soup are steaming hot. Eat a bowl of Luoyang water feast, and history melts away on your tongue.
Luoyang's nobility is carved into stone for its prosperity. When you pause before the smile of Lushna, you will understand: true grace will not fade even after a thousand years.
Route fragment
3 days and 2 nights
- Day 1 Longmen Grottoes
- Day 2 White Horse Temple, Lijingmen
- Day 3 Peony Garden, return trip