Central Plains

Longmen Grottoes Travel Guide

Vairocana Buddha · Fongxian Temple · Xiangshan Temple

The Longmen Grottoes are royal grottoes carved after the Northern Wei moved their capital to Luoyang, spanning the Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties for more than four hundred years. There are currently over 2,300 caves and niches, with nearly 110,000 statues. The Vairocana Buddha of Fengxian Temple is one of the highest achievements of Tang dynasty sculpture.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonApr–May / Sep–Nov

Suggested stay3–4 hours

Key highlightsFengxian Temple Vairocana Buddha · Binyang Three Caves · Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave · Xiangshan Temple

Admission ticketXishan Grottoes Xiangshan Temple Baiyuan Combined Ticket

RemindThe entire route involves walking and many stairs, so wear comfortable shoes.

The Longmen Grottoes are located about 13 kilometers south of Luoyang city on both sides of the Yi River, with the Western Hills facing the Eastern Hills. The Yi River runs through the middle, so the grottoes are divided into the Western Hills and Eastern Hills sections. The walking route follows a one-way loop: Western Hills Grottoes → Cross the bridge → Xiangshan Temple → Baiyuan → Exit the scenic area.

Key Highlights

Fengxian Temple's Vairocana Buddha

Standing 17 meters tall, it is the largest Buddha in Longmen. It is said to be modeled after Empress Wu Zetian, with a full face and downward gaze. When viewed from below, the proportions have been perspective-corrected, creating a visually harmonious effect. The disciples, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, and guardian figures on both sides are well-preserved, serving as a complete example of Tang dynasty stone carving.

Binyang Three Caves

A representative work of the Northern Wei royal project. The central cave's "delicate-boned clear figures" contrast sharply with the plumpness of the Tang Dynasty sculptures, allowing direct observation of the aesthetic differences between the two eras.

Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave and Guyang Cave

The walls of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave are densely covered with small niches, and it is one of the main sources of masterpieces from the "Twenty Calligraphy Styles of Longmen"; Guyang Cave is the earliest excavated cave.

Recommended Duration

3 hours: Western Hills Grottoes → Cross the bridge to Xiangshan Temple.
4 hours or more: Add Baiyuan and the entire Eastern Hills.

Local Tips

The scenic area's trails are long and have many steps; elderly visitors with lower stamina may consider only viewing the core section of the Western Hills.
Touching the grottoes is prohibited; some caves are covered with glass.
There is no shade at noon, and the light in the early morning and late afternoon is more suitable for viewing the volume of the stone carvings.