How to Visit Longmen Grottoes (Travel Tips, Photos and Maps)

Plan your Luoyang Tour? Longmen Grottoes are a must see attraction for first time visitors. Longmen Grottoes are among top four sites of ancient grottoes in China. The other three are Maijishan Grottoes in Tuanshui, Yungang Grottoes in Datong and Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

Longmen Grottoes are located 12km in the south of Luoyang city center. They are dotted 1km along Longmen Hill (west hill) and Xianshan Hill (east hill) which are opposite to each other and cut through by Yi River running from south to north.

Most of the grottoes are on the Longmen Hill, hence Longmen Grottoes. “Longmen” literally means “Dragon Gate”, indicating the “gate” formed by the two hills standing by the both sides of Yi River.

Longmen literally means Dragon Gate, indicating the Gate formed by the two hills standing by the both sides of Yi River.

How to get to Longmen Grottoes?

Starting from Luoyang Longmen Railway Station

Basically, visiting Longmen Grottoes takes about 3-4 hours. If you arrive at Longmen Railway Station from Xian or Zhengzhou before noon, you are highly advised to go directly from Longmen Railway Station to Longmen Grottoes. Longmen Grottoes are located 12km in the south of Luoyang city center and 5km south of Longmen Railway Station.

Luoyang Tourist Map

So it saves both time and money to visit Longmen Grottoes directly from Longmen Railway Station. The taxi ride from Longmen Railway Station to Longmen Grottoes costs between RMB20 and 30. Or you may take the public bus No. 67 or 71 within close proximity to Longmen Railway Station (bus fare RMB1).

Starting from Luoyang Railway Station

Luoyang has two main train stations: Longmen Railway Station ( mainly for high speed trains) and Luoyang Railway Station ( regular trains). If you arrive at Luoyang Railway Station and prefer going directly from Luoyang Railway Station to Longmen Grottoes, you may take a taxi to Longmen Grottoes at the rate of about RMB50. Or you may take a public bus no.81 direcly from Luoyang Railway Station to Longmen Grottoes (bus fare RMB1).

Starting from Luoyang City Center. 

There are several public bus lines running to Longmen grottoes – No.60, 67, 71 and 81. Or you may take a taxi from the city center to Longmen Grottoes at the rate of about RMB50.

Starting from Luoyang Airport. 

The taxi ride from Luoyang airport to Longmen Grottoes costs about RMB 150

Remark:
1)All the buses and taxis will take you to the west entrance to a 2km-long pedestrian commercial street leading to the north entrance to Longmen Grottoes (on the west hill).

2)Some of the shops on the walking street offer luggage deposit service with RMB 5 for each piece. Leave your big suitcases and take your valuables.

How to visit Longmen Grottoes?

The site of Longmen Grottoes is composed of 4 sub-attractions – Caves on the west hill, caves on the east hill, Xiangshan Temple (on the east hill) and Bai Juyi’Tomb (on the east hill).

The two hills are connected by two bridges, forming a loop line tour. A complete loop line visit of Longmen Grottoes takes about 3 or 4 hours. If you are pressed for time, you just forget the attractions on the east hill and focus your time on the west hill which takes you about 2 hours.

Visiting Longmen Grottoes on the west hill (Longmen Hill).
To reach the entrance to Longmen Grottoes on the west hill, you have to walk along a 2km commercial street teemed with shops and restaurants.

If you feel tired and don’t want to walk such a long distance, you may take a local electric bus for a small amount money directly to the entrance to Longmen Grottoes.

Buy the entrance tickets at the ticketing office by the northern gate to the Longmen Grottoes on the west hill. After visiting the caves dotted on the west hill, then backtrack to the northern gate.

A loop line visit of Grottoes
If you want to make a total visit to all the attractions in Longmen Grottoes, then after you have visited the caves on the west hill, you should continue to visit by crossing the bridge linking the east hill and the west hill in the south.

On the east hill from south to north are scattered with grottoes on the east hill, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Juyi’s Tomb. After visiting Bai Juyi’s Tomb, again you are required to cross the bridge connecting the east hill and the west hill in the north, then again walk along the 2km commercial street and back the bus stops.

Entrance ticket:
RMB 120 (covering 4 sub-attractions – Caves on the west hill, caves on the east hill, Xiangshan Temple (on the east hill) and Bai Juyi’Tomb (on the east hill)

Opening Hours:
07:00 – 19:50 (March 1 – October 31 ) 07:30 – 18:50 (November 1 – February 28 )

The 2km Pedestrian Street leading to the entrance to Longment Grottoes
Some of the convenience shops ( selling snacks, drinks, cigarettes ) along the pedestrian street leading the Longmen Grottoes have the Baggage deposit service.

But please don’t leave your valuables in your deposit bags, and always your valuable with you. Actually, these baggage services are offered by the local vendors, not by officially registered left luggage offices. deposit fee: about RMB 10 per unit.

The 2KM Pedestrian Street leading to the entrance to Longment Grottoes

The Entrance to Longmen Grottoes on the west hill.

The Entrance to Longmen Grottoes on the west hill

The Grottoes on the west hill (Lomgmen Hill)

The Grottoes on the west hill (Lomgmen Hill)

The Bridge over Yi River linking the west hill and the east hill

The Bridge over Yi River linking the west hill and the east hill

The Grottoes on the east hill (Xiangshan Hill)

The Grottoes on the east hill (Xiangshan Hill)

Xiangshan Temple (on the east hill)

Xiangshan Temple (on the east hill)

Bai Juyi’s Tomb

Bai Juyi’s Tomb on the east hill

The Grottoes on the West Hill

So the major grottoes are carved on the West Hill. Now follow me to visit the caves on the West Hill.

Walk up along the steps to the caves on the hill
Visiting the caves and statues
Middle Binyang Cave

Fengxian Temple (on the west hill), the largest of all caves viewed from the east hill

Fengxian Temple (on the west hill), the largest of all caves viewed from the east hill

A close look at Fengxian Temple

A close look at Fengxian Temple

 

Tip:  Hassle-free Luoyang Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Luoyang Guided Tours:

Luoyang Tour
Luoyang Car Rental
Luoyang One Day Private Tour
Luoyang- Shaolin One Day Private Tour
Beijing Luoyang 2 Day Round Trip Tour
Xian Luoyang Day Tour by Bullet Train

Further Readings


Top 10 Attractions in Luoyang
How to Visit Shaolin Temple
Where to Stay in Luoyang
Luoyang Museum Guide
Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits
How to visit White Horse Temple
Longmen Grottoes Travel Tips
Kung Fu Show at Shaolin Temple
Longmen Railway Station
Luoyang Taxi

18 thoughts on “How to Visit Longmen Grottoes (Travel Tips, Photos and Maps)

  1. Hello Anne,

    Yes, the site of Longmen Caves has some accessible service and wheel-chair users can visit some caves, not all the caves. Have a nice trip!

  2. Can i buy ticket for the West Hill only (include Fengxian temple ). If so, how much.
    Also how much is the electric car ride for the 2km walk. How long does the local bus take from Luoyang train station to the Grottoes. What time is the last bus from Grotto back to Luoyang city
    Thank you.

  3. Hello chin yuen,

    The site of Longmen Grottoes is charged in a form of all-in-one ticket (RMB120) which include West Hill Grottoes, East Hill Grottoes. It cannot be charged separately. The round trip for the electric car ride is RMB16. It takes about half hour from Longmen Train Sation to the bus stop for Longmen Grottoes. But from the bus stop, there is about 500m – 700m’walk before you get to the entrance to Longmen Grottoes.

  4. Hello Kob,

    Yes, some of the covnenience shops ( selling snacks, drinks, cigrattes ) along the passway leading the Longmen Grottoes have the Baggage deposit service. But please don’t leave your valubles in your deposit bags, and always your valuble with you. Actually, these baggage services are offered by the local vendors, not by officially registered left luggage offices. Depisit fee: about RMB 10 per unit.

  5. Hello, we are arriving at Luoyang in the morning and Im a bit confused, because the train station is called Guanlin, which I have not seen in any discussion. Is there any direct bus either to Longmen Grottoes or to the Shaolin temple? thank you for your help.

  6. Hi aneta,

    Gualin Railway Station is about 12km to the northeast of Longmen Grottoes. You may take a taxi from Guanlin to Longmen ( about 25 yuan ) or use the public buses Bus Line 96 and 53.

  7. Hi Michael,

    The public transportation at the main entrance to Longmen Grottoes is a little bit chaotic. Taxis are available, but there are some online complaints about the service on part of some cab drivers. Alternatively there are quite a few public bus options. Don’t expect too much on the buses either.

    But if you can manage your time, I suggest you take a bus going to Longyang Railway Station or city center by bus.

    Have a good time in Luoyang!

  8. Hi Alvin,

    As far as I know, there is no direct bus from Longmen Grottoes to Shaolin Temple. Basically you need to take the Bus 33 ( or other bus lines) from the bus station near Longmen Grottoes to Luoyang Railway STation. Then you take the long-distance bus from the bus station opposite to the train station to Shaolin Temple. Check out the link below for information:

    http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/henan-travel/luoayng-travel/luoyang-travel-tips/how-to-visit-shaolin-temple

    Have a good time in Luoyang and Shaolin Temple!

  9. Hi Daniel
    Can you please tell me if there is a left luggage room at Luoyang Longmen railway station? I have read that there is left luggage at Longmen grottoes and also at the older Luoyang railway station but I’m specifically looking for left luggage at the fast train station.

  10. Hi Jenni,

    Both Longmen Railway Station and Luoyang Railway Station have luggage storage facilities. Have a nice trip!

  11. hello,
    is it easy to find a taxi from longmen grottoes to luoyang longmen railway station, as we are just coming for one day, and need to take the train back to xi’an.

  12. Hi Priya,

    Yes, it is easy to locate a taxi or the public bus taking you from Longmen Grottoes to Longmen Railway Station.

  13. Dear Elena,

    Yes, but they are in Chinese. Basically you need to buy your entrance ticket on the spot.

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