Longmen Grottoes: A Practical Guide to Luoyang’s Cave Art
Contents
On both banks of the Yi River south of Luoyang, the Longmen Grottoes preserve more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into limestone cliffs along a stretch of about one kilometre. UNESCO counts nearly 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions. The carvings span centuries, with the most intensive work from the late fifth to the mid-eighth century. UNESCO's Longmen Grottoes overview.
Choose what to see
For the early cave groups, focus on the West Hill. UNESCO names Guyangdong and the Three Binyang Caves among the earliest West Hill caves. The same overview describes the large Tang sculptures at Fengxiansi Cave as representative of the site's cave-temple art. These are useful anchors if you want to prioritize sculpture rather than try to cover every area.
The visitor-information page lists four areas: West Hill Grottoes, East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden. The East Hill lies across the Yi River from the West Hill; adding all four makes for a broader visit than concentrating on the main west-bank caves. Check the Longmen Grottoes visitor-information page for current area access and ticket details.
Things to Do
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GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Hours, tickets and getting around
At the time checked on 8 October 2026, the visitor-information page showed this daytime schedule:
| Season listed on the page | Ticketing and entry schedule | Plan around |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Entry from 08:00; ticket sales stop at 17:30; entry checks stop at 18:00; clearance at 19:00 | Use the earlier ticket-sale and last-entry cutoffs, not the later clearance time |
| Winter | Entry from 08:00; ticket sales stop at 16:30; entry checks stop at 17:00; clearance at 18:00 | Check the date-specific schedule before setting out |
The same page's ticket block summarizes opening hours as 08:00 to 18:00 from 1 March to 31 October, and 08:00 to 17:00 from 1 November to 28 February. These summary hours do not replace the earlier ticket-sale cutoffs shown above; confirm the applicable last-entry time for your date. It displays a personal ticket-reservation QR code but no readable admission price. Check whether the ticket you select covers the areas you plan to visit.
For arrival, the page lists a taxi from Luoyang Longmen high-speed rail station or city bus 71. Inside the scenic area, it lists electric carts from the Northeast and Northwest service areas to the grottoes' ticket-check area: about 25 or 20 minutes on foot respectively, or CNY 10 per person one way by cart. The page also mentions a Yi River boat, but gives no fare. Verify routes, service and prices for your visit date.
For broader trip planning, see the China travel guide.
Sources and background
These sources support the topics listed below, not every statement or current price in this article.
- [1] Longmen Grottoes visitor-information website (lmsk.cn): Longmen Grottoes visitor information: hours, listed areas and transport. Retrieved October 8, 2026. Access, Transport
- [2] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Longmen Grottoes. Retrieved October 8, 2026. Culture
Frequently Asked Questions
UNESCO describes more than 2,300 caves and niches, nearly 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, over 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions. The site records the development of Chinese Buddhist stone carving, especially from the late Northern Wei through the Tang period.
For early West Hill carving, UNESCO names Guyangdong and the Three Binyang Caves. It also highlights the large Tang sculptures at Fengxiansi Cave. These are good starting points if you have limited time.
The Longmen visitor page lists West Hill Grottoes, East Hill Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden. Check current access and ticket details before planning to visit all four.
The page checked on 8 October 2026 lists summer entry at 08:00, ticket sales stopping at 17:30, entry checks at 18:00 and clearance at 19:00. Winter times are 08:00 entry, 16:30 ticket-sale cutoff, 17:00 last entry check and 18:00 clearance. Its ticket block also shows a simpler opening span, so verify the current last-entry time.
The visitor page displays a personal reservation QR code but does not show a readable admission price. Check the current booking page and confirm which areas the ticket covers.
The visitor page lists a taxi from Luoyang Longmen high-speed rail station and city bus 71. Treat these as the site’s listed options, then verify the current route and service before travel.
The page lists electric carts from the Northeast and Northwest service areas to the grottoes ticket-check area, at CNY 10 per person one way. It estimates 25 and 20 minutes on foot from those respective service areas. It also mentions a Yi River boat but gives no fare.
The visitor page lists all three alongside West Hill Grottoes as open areas. Because the East Hill is across the Yi River and the published schedule has last-entry cutoffs, check current access and allow time for the areas you choose.
