How many days in Luoyang: two, unless you add a day trip
Two days covers Luoyang's core. A third day only earns its place if you want a road trip out of the city.
Three things you came for sit on one axis: the Longmen Grottoes south of town, White Horse Temple in the north-east, and the old city in between for the evening. With one day you drop either the grottoes or the temple. With two you do both without running. With three you add Shaolin Temple or Laojun Mountain, each of which takes a whole day.
| Time you have | What fits | What you lose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Longmen Grottoes in the morning, Lijing Gate and the old city after dark | White Horse Temple |
| 2 days | Longmen, then White Horse Temple the next morning and Mingtang and Tiantang after dark | Nothing essential |
| 3 days | The above plus Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, or Laojun Mountain | A slow evening in the old city |
| 4 days | Both day trips, with the grottoes on a second, quieter morning | Nothing |
The grottoes set your schedule
The ¥90 ticket is one combined pass for West Hill, East Hill, Xiangshan Temple and Bai Garden. The gates open at 08:00. The route is a one-way loop with no backtracking: two hours for West Hill alone, three to four for the whole circuit. Booking is real-name and online up to seven days ahead, and foreign visitors book with a passport rather than an ID card, so do it the day before at the latest. From April to October a separate ¥90 night ticket lights West Hill and Xiangshan Temple only.
White Horse Temple takes a morning
Founded in AD 68, it is the temple Chinese Buddhism traces itself back to, and admission is ¥35. Hours are 07:40–18:40 from April to October and 08:00–17:30 outside that window. Two to three hours is enough; go early, because the tour groups arrive from mid-morning.
A closure to plan around
Luoyang Museum has been shut since 19 October 2026 for a rebuild expected to run about a year. Selected pieces are being shown instead at the Zhou Royal Chariot and Horse Pits Museum, the Sui–Tang Grand Canal Museum and the Han–Wei Luoyang City Site Museum. Skip the museum stop and your second day gains the afternoon back.
Where to sleep
Base yourself in the old city near Lijing Gate, where the food street is on your doorstep and the grottoes are a short ride south. Hotels fill early in April for the peony festival.
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Last checked: 2026-11-04
Keep reading
Where to stay in Luoyang: old city or Longmen station
The old city suits most first visits; the Longmen station belt suits one-night transit stays. Metro lines, taxi times to the grottoes and typical room rates for each Luoyang base.
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