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Plan your Luoyang Tour? While in Luoyang, if time permits, you are highly recommended to make a side trip to Shaolin Temple (80km southeast of Luoyang), the cradle of Zen, a school of Mahayana Buddhism as well as the Kung fu hometown. Click “How to Visit Shaolin Temple ” for more travel information.
Visiting Shaolin Temple takes you about 2-3 hours. Your entrance ticket includes a half hour kung fu show to be held at martial arts gym in the temple area.
Luoyang – Shaolin just 60km, 1 hour and 20 minutes by car
The Shaolin Kung Fu Show Theatre is located not far from the main entrance. There are 5 fixed daily performances at the theatre. The kung fu show lasts half hour including a few minutes’interaction on the part of the visitors and the actors.
Kung Fu Show Time Table Morning Kung Fu Show 9:30 – 10:00 11;30 – 12:00
Afternoon Kung Fu Show 14:00 – 14:30 15:00 – 15:30 16:00 – 17:30
So well schedule your visiting time in Shaolin Temple, avoiding losing the exciting kung fu show. The Kung Fu Show is performed by the professional performance team from Shaolin Tagou Wushu School.
Shaolin Kung fu is the most influential martial arts schools in China. In the less than half performance, you will see “Shaolin Boxing” and “Shaolin Stick” typical of Shaolin Kungfu. The most impressing performance is Tongzigong.
“Tongzigong” literally means “children’s kung fu”, a form of qigong exercise stressing flexibility, part of the curriculum of Shaolin Kung Fu. It is learned at very early and must be practiced before the body becomes matured.
The exterior of Shaolin Kung Fu Performance Theater. Inside the theater of Shaolin Kung Fu Performance Theater, the hostess is introducing Shaolin Kung Fu.
Inside the theater of Shaolin Kung Fu Performance Theater
Mantis boxing
Shaolin.Iron.Claws
Forefinger deep meditation
Tongzigong 2
Tongzigong 3
Tongzigong 5
Tongzigong 6
Tip: Hassle-free Shaolin Temple and 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:
Plan your Luoyang Tour? White Horse Temple should be listed on your Luoyang Trip. There are a few temples in the name of White Horse Temple, but the White Horse Temple in Luoyang is the most famous both at home and abroad.
The White Horse Temple in Luoyang is the first Buddhist temple in China, the important cradle of Chins’s buddhism, which was introduced into China from India in 68AD in Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD) , the same year when the white horse temple was built.
The name of “White Horse Temple” was given by Emperor Ming in Eastern Dynasty to honor two white horses carrying the two monks, namely Matanga and Gobharana, who came from India to Luoyang aimed at spreading Buddhism and translated the Buddhist scriptures into the Chinese language.
Now the main buildings in the temple compound were rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912). Along the axis from south to north there are several buildings including Shamen, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Great Buddhism, the Hall of Hall of Mahavira, Hall of Greetings, Cool and Clear Terrace.
The highlights of the white Horse Temple lie in its long history and great architecture. Now follow me into the world famous White Horse Temple.
The white horse temple is located about 20km east of Luoyang City center. You may take the public bus No.56 starting from Luoyang Railway Station and ending at the White Horse Temple. Or you may take a taxi (RMB 50) directly from downtown Lulyang to the entrance to White Horse.
The location of the White Horse Temple
Entrance (景点大门)
The entrance fee is RMB 50. The ticket office is by the entrance, which is still about over 100 meters leading to Shanmen, the real gate to the White Horse Temple.
Enter the entrance, you still need to walk about 100 meters before you reach Shanmen Hall, which means the entrance of the temple. Shanmen Hall means the entrance to the temple.
The ticket office is by the entrance
Shanmen Hall (山门)
Shanmen Hall, which means the entrance of the temple. Shanmen Hall means the entrannce to the temple.
Shanmen Hall means the entrance to the temple
The Hall of Heavenly Kings (天王殿)
The hall honors the statue of Maitreya, popularly known as the laughing Buddha,sitting right at the forefront of the hall. On both sides of the statue there are four heavenly kings, each representing one fourth of the universe.
the Hall of Heavenly Kings
Great Buddha Hall (大佛殿)
It houses a statue of the Buddhist founder – Sakyamuni standing in the middle of the hall. He is flanked by two of his disciples – Kasyapa and Ananda.
Hall of Great Buddha
The high incense burner placed front of Great Buddha Hall
The the high incense burner placed front of Great Buddha Hall
Again a cone incense burner in an oblong shape placed in front of the Great Buddha Hall
Again a cone incense burner in an oblong shape
Hall of Mahavira (大雄宝殿)
Behind Great Buddha Hall stands the Hall of Mahavira in which there are statues of three principal Buddhas. The statue in the middle is the Sakyamuni Buddha.
The statue is accompanied on the left by the Bhavisyajya guru and on the right by Amitabha. They are protected by two heavenly generals named Weituo and Weili.
Hall of Mahavira
Hall of Greetings (接引殿)
The Hall of greeting is the smallest hall in the temple compound. This small hall houses the statues of three western paradise (Indian) saints.
Hall of Greetings
Cool and Clear Terrace (清凉台)
The terrace is 43m long, 33mwide and 6m high, one of the most beautiful places in the temple.
Cool and Clear Terrace
Kunlu Pavilion (昆卢阁)
The terrace also has a pavilion – Kunlu Pavilion with halls on its east and west that house the statues of the two eminent monks, She Moteng and Zhu Falan.
Kunlu Pavilion
Plum blossoms and tablets by the red wall
Plum blossoms and tablets by the red wall
After you visit the white horse temple, you are highly recommended to take the Bus no.56 by the roadside.
Normally you will get a seat on the bus since White Horse Temple is the starting point from east. boarding the Bus No.56
boarding the Bus No.56
Bus No.56 Stop Sign
Bus No.56 Stop Sign
On a bus running from White Horse Temple to Luoyang Railway Station
On a bus running from White Horse Temple to Luoyang Railway Station
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:
Plan yourLuoyangTour? Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits is an interesting place to visit no matter you are a cultural history buff or not.
The museumm is built over the sacrificial pit area for the emperors in Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770BC – 256BC) with its capital at the site of the present day Luoyang. The burial of the royal horse and chariots here in Luoyang is earlier than that of Terracotta Warriors during Qin Dynasty (221–206 B.C.) in Xian.
The city of Luoyang went through thirteen dynasties and 105 emperors starting Xia Dynasty (2070BC-1600BC), Shang Dynasty (1600BC-1046BC), Eastern Zhou Dynasty(770BC-256BC), Beiwei Dynasty (493AD-534AD), Sui Dynasty (605AD-619AD) and more with a history of over 4,000 years! It should be definitely included in your Luoyang tourprogram.
The museum’s former English name is quite long while it is colloquially called “Tianzi Jialiu Museum”. “Tianzi” means emperors while “Jialiu” means their chariots driven by 6 horses. The discovery of the Tianzi Jialiu Site has great impact on the Chinese archaeology and history.
It is a proof that in the Zhou Dynasty, the emperors had 6 horses to drive their chariots; the vassals 5 horses; the ministers 4 horses; scholar-bureaucrats 3 horses; scholar-officials 2 horses and Common People 1 horse, a kind of strict etiquette formed in Zhou Dynasty, which had been only recorded in ancient books before it was discovered underground in 2002. So the number of the horses indicated the rank and identity of the nobles.
In 2002, the expansion construction of the Luohe Center Plaza stumbled upon the sacrificial site of the Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits. Its discovery immediately arose the great attention of the local government. A special expert team was set up to access and study the site ending up with a detailed protection proposal.
The construction expansion of Luohe Central Plaza was halted and a new museum was established. On October 01, 2003, the museum was open to the public. So the horse and chariots site has been there for over 2000 years!
Tianzi Jialiu Museum covers an area of 1,700 square meters. It is located underground centrally in the Dongzhou Wangcheng Square 王城广场 (Eastern Zhou Emperor City Square). The museum has three sections – One for the brief introduction of Eastern Zhou Dynasty; second for Eastern Dynasty Mausoleum the third for the pit itself.
So the Tianzi Jialiu Museum is located centrally in the city of Luoyang. It is walkable along the axis down south from Luoyang Railway Station. Many buses take you there including buses 6, 41, 50, 52, 56, and 86 and get off at Wangcheng Square (王城广场).
The statue of th six horses is the symbol of the Wangcheng Square as well as the sign for the entrance to the underground museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits.
The statue of th six horses above the ground.
Exhibition One: The brief introduction to Eastern Zhou Dynasty
The Eastern Zhou Dynasty began when King Ping moved his capital to Luoyi (today Luoyang) in BC770 and was destroyed by Qin state in BC 256 and lasted 515 years.
Totally there were 25 kings ruled the Easern Zhou Dynasty, also called Spring and Autumn, and Warring States period in history books. Two cities in Luoyang area, named King City and Cheng Zhou City respectively, the became the capital of Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
The layout of the city in Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Timeline of Emperors in Eastern Zhou Dynasty
The layout of the kinf city in Eastern Zhou Dynasty
A model of the King City of Eastern Zhou Dynasty
A model of the King City of Eastern Zhou Dynasty
Eastern Dynasty Mausoleum
Then move on to next section – Mausoleum Exploration. The tombs in this area (King city) is the important mausoleum in Eastern Zhou Dynasty. All the 25 kings were buried in Luoyang. Their mausoleums are located on three areas – King City, Chengzhou City and in the summit of Zhou Mountains.
Bronze Chime-Bells in Eastern Zhou Dynasty
In ancient China, the jade wares were revered and wildly used. It is said that a man of great honor is equal to a precious jade. In Eastern Zhou, nobles were asked to wear jades to keep different form common people. Many of the jade wears have been unearthed in Luoyang.
A set of delicated Jade Wares within Changping District
Horse and Chariots Pit
In ancient China, the number of horses pulling the chariots for emperors represent the rank and nobles. A snap of horses pulling the chariots Pit.
the number of horses pulling the chariots for emperors
4 horses driving the chariots
4 horses driving the chariots
2 horses driving your chariots car or van
Two pulling the chariots
Six Horse pulling the horse.
Six Horse pulling the horse.
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:
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