Once a prominent trading route on the Silk Road and the ancient capital of the Eastern Han dynasty, Luoyang is a hub of history. There are plenty of things to do in Luoyang, so hop on a plane or train and head to Henan. You can explore the Longmen Grottoes Buddhist carvings; visit White Horse Temple, said to be China’s first Buddhist temple; and head out to Shaolin to see monks practicing kung fu, and take a lesson yourself.
Head to Luoyang anytime from March to October. Winters are cold and bleak, so it’s best to avoid traveling then. It gets warm in the summer, so be prepared for dry heat. In April and May, you can catch the Luoyang Peony Festival, when thousands of flowers bloom. The first weeks of May and October are national public holidays, so everything is extra crowded.
You can fly or take the train to Luoyang from most major Chinese cities. Once there, you can take city buses to get around town and to major attractions. They are inexpensive but could be difficult to navigate if you don’t speak Chinese. Another option is to hire readily available taxis. To avoid confusion, have your destination written in Chinese. There’s also a subway that connects the Old and New towns.
Be sure to make the 1.5-hour trip to Shaolin from Luoyang, as it’s a must-see place. There are hundreds of kung fu students of all ages who room and board there, training long hours and also putting on performances for visitors. You can also learn some kung fu maneuvers while you’re there, so bring some comfortable clothes for training.
