Longmen Grottoes - UNESCO heritage site featuring thousands of Buddha grottoes
Last Update: 9th October 2020
What are the Longmen Grottoes?
Located around 9 kilometers from the heart of the City of Luoyang, the Longmen Grottoes were originally excavated in the Period of Emperor Xiaowen (467 - 499) in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534). Then, the ancient people finally completed the great project through more than 400 years of the Eastern Wei (534 - 550), Western Wei (535 - 556), Northern Qi (550 - 577), Sui (581 - 618), Tang (618 - 907), the Five Dynasties (907 - 960), and Song (960 - 1279) Dynasties. The grottoes are 1 kilometer long from south to north. There are existing 2,345 niches for Buddha with 97,000 statues of Buddha and more than 2,800 steles of inscriptions.
Interested in visiting the Longmen Grottoes during a Xian Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Longmen Grottoes, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
What to expect at the Longmen Grottoes
Longmen Grottoes are situated in the cliffs of the Western and Eastern Mountains by Yi River. The largest Buddha is up to 17.14 meters tall. There are more than 50 large and medium-sized grottoes in the cliffs of the Western Mountain. The grottoes were created during the Northern Dynasties (386 -581), Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Excavated in 493 AD, Guyang Grotto is the earliest grotto of the Longmen Grottoes, with the most abundant Buddhist content, and the highest art level of calligraphy. In the grotto, you will admire 20 pieces of calligraphy works. Binyang Grotto offers 4 layers of exquisite reliefs which present stories of Vimalakirti Sutra and Jataka. Thousands of Buddha Grottoes got the name from 15,000 statues of small Buddha. With a structure of front and rear chambers, the grotto is the most complete one of the combinations of statues. The small statues are only 4 centimeters tall. Lotus Grotto is named after the fine high relief of a lotus on the ceiling. Fengxian Temple Grotto is the largest and most exquisite group of cliff sculptures in Longmen Grottoes. Nine large statues are situated in the grotto. The Lushena Buddha is located in the middle of the nine Buddhas. It is 17.14 meters tall. The construction of the grotto was completed in 675.
If interested, you could walk up to the top of the Western Mountain to explore Xiangshan Temple and walk up to the top of the Eastern Mountain to visit the Cemetery of Bai Juyi – the famous poet in the Tang Dynasty.
The grottoes in the cliffs of the Eastern Mountain were excavated in the Tang Dynasty. You will find some 20 large and middle-sized grottos there. On the mountain, you will enjoy the panoramic view of Lushena Buddha.
Visitors are required to visit the grottoes in the order of the Western Mountain Grottoes, the Eastern Mountain Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, and Cemetery of Bai Juyi. Visitors need to enter the area from the northwest entrance.
Excavated in 493 AD, Guyang Grotto is the earliest grotto of the Longmen Grottoes, with the most abundant Buddhist content, and the highest art level of calligraphy. In the grotto, you will admire 20 pieces of calligraphy works. Binyang Grotto offers 4 layers of exquisite reliefs which present stories of Vimalakirti Sutra and Jataka. Thousands of Buddha Grottoes got the name from 15,000 statues of small Buddha. With a structure of front and rear chambers, the grotto is the most complete one of the combinations of statues. The small statues are only 4 centimeters tall. Lotus Grotto is named after the fine high relief of a lotus on the ceiling. Fengxian Temple Grotto is the largest and most exquisite group of cliff sculptures in Longmen Grottoes. Nine large statues are situated in the grotto. The Lushena Buddha is located in the middle of the nine Buddhas. It is 17.14 meters tall. The construction of the grotto was completed in 675.
If interested, you could walk up to the top of the Western Mountain to explore Xiangshan Temple and walk up to the top of the Eastern Mountain to visit the Cemetery of Bai Juyi – the famous poet in the Tang Dynasty.
The grottoes in the cliffs of the Eastern Mountain were excavated in the Tang Dynasty. You will find some 20 large and middle-sized grottos there. On the mountain, you will enjoy the panoramic view of Lushena Buddha.
Visitors are required to visit the grottoes in the order of the Western Mountain Grottoes, the Eastern Mountain Grottoes, Xiangshan Temple, and Cemetery of Bai Juyi. Visitors need to enter the area from the northwest entrance.
Best time to visit the Longmen Grottoes
The best time to visit is in the morning as it takes several hours to explore the main grottoes.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
How to get to the Longmen Grottoes
You could take Bus 99, 71, or Bus 81 to the Stop of Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟站) from the City of Louyang. Or just rent a vehicle to the grottoes.
Additional Longmen Grottoes Travel Advice
- Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00 (February 1 – March 31, visitors are not allowed to enter the area from 17:00);08:00 – 18:30 (April 1 – October 7, visitors are not allowed to enter the area from 17:30); 08:00 – 18:00 (October 8 – October 31, visitors are not allowed to enter the area from 17:00); 08:00 – 17:00 (November 1 – January 31, visitors are not allowed to enter the area from 16:00)
- As at 9th October 2020, the entrance pricing to the area is 90 CNY per person; the ticket for the shuttle bus is 10 CNY per person; children under 1.2m tall (1.2m tall not included) are free of charge. For the latest pricing information, please contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com)
- Peony show is regularly held from April 1 to May 10 every year that many visitors will explore the grottoes during the period of time.
Interested in visiting the Longmen Grottoes on a Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Longmen Grottoes, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.