
Longmen Grottoes
龙门石窟 · Lóngmén Shíkū
Over 100,000 Buddha statues carved into the cliffs on both banks of the Yi River, crowned by the giant Vairocana Buddha.
Booking requiredBring your passport3–4 hours
Tip
Walk the West Hill first, cross the bridge and look back from the East Hill: the view of the Vairocana Buddha across the river is the classic shot. Go at opening time to beat tour groups.
- Opening hours
- 1 Mar–31 Oct 08:00–19:00; 1 Nov–28 Feb 08:00–18:00 (closing times are when the site is cleared; entry stops earlier). Evening opening on some dates in peak season.
- Price
- ¥90; covers the West Hill and East Hill caves, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden. Electric carts and boats cost extra.
- How to book
- Real-name online booking since April 2026; ticket windows are mostly closed. Book on the official WeChat account “龙门石窟” (choose Passport as ID type) or on Trip.com, ideally a few days ahead. Enter by scanning your passport. To be confirmed Could not get tickets? Tell us what you need
- Getting there
- About 4 km (10 min by taxi) from Longmen Station; buses 71 and 81 also go there
- Address in Chinese
- 河南省洛阳市洛龙区龙门石窟景区
Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China · CC0
From other travelers
Write a reviewIn the encyclopedia
Encyclopedia · PeopleWu Zetian 武则天The giant Vairocana Buddha, finished in 675, was partly paid for by her; legend says its face was modelled on hers.Encyclopedia · DynastiesTang dynasty 唐朝Cliffs of Buddhist carvings crowned by the giant Vairocana Buddha, carved under the Tang.Encyclopedia · Ideas and beliefsBuddhism in China 中国佛教Over 100,000 Buddha images carved into the cliffs of the Yi River, crowned by the great Vairocana Buddha.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-27. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Not yet confirmed by an official source: How to book
More in Luoyang
白马寺White Horse TempleTraditionally China’s first Buddhist temple, founded in the 1st century, with Indian, Thai and Burmese-style halls built next to it.少林寺Shaolin Temple (day trip)The birthplace of Zen Buddhism and kung fu on Mount Song, with a forest of monks’ stone pagodas and daily martial-arts shows.洛阳博物馆Luoyang MuseumA big, free museum covering 13 dynasties that ruled from Luoyang, with superb Tang tri-colour pottery and bronzes.丽景门Lijing Gate and the Old TownA rebuilt Ming-style city gate with its barbican and moat, opening onto the lanes and snack stalls of Luoyang’s old town.